How does cancer begin?

Your body is made up of 100 million million cells. Cancer can

start when just one of them begins to grow and multiply too
much. The result is a growth called a tumour. Benign tumours
are localised growths - they only cause problems if they put
pressure on nearby tissues, such as the brain. Much more
serious are malignant tumours, which invade the surrounding
body tissues. Some malignant tumours also spread
throughout the body via the bloodstream: a process called
metastasis.

What causes cancer?

Cancer is abnormal cell growthCancer is abnormal cell

growth, which is the result of damage - mutation - to certain
crucial genes, the cell's instructions for making the proteins it
needs to survive, grow and multiply. Many factors can affect
the chances of the gene damage that may eventually lead to
cancer, including cigarette smoke and other chemicals, a poor
diet, ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburn, as well as some
infections. Chemicals that cause cancer are called
carcinogens. Is cancer inherited?
Usually cancer is not inherited. However, some people are
born with an increased risk of cancer because they inherit an
altered gene important for cell growth or for repair of damaged

DNA, for examIs cancer inherited? Usually cancer is not inherited. However, some
people are born with an increased risk of cancer because they inherit an altered gene important
for cell growth or for repair of damaged DNA, for example. Scientists have already identified
some of the gene alterations that predispose some people to various types of cancer, such as
breast, ovarian and colon cancer. In 2009 a baby was born after having been screened
alongside other embryos to ensure she was free of the mutated BRCA1 gene linked to
hereditary breast cancer.

alongside oSome virus infections can cause cancer, though

the disease often appears several decades afterwards. For
example, cancer of the cervix is linked to infection with the
human papilloma virus (HPV) that causes genital warts. In this
case, the DNA in the virus mixes with the cell's DNA,
triggering changes that make the cell grow and multiply. From
2009, girls in the UK have had access to a vaccine that
prevents infection with HPV and thus protect them from
developing cervial cancer as a result.ther embryos to ensure
she was free of the mutated BRCA1 gene li
nked to hereditary breast cancer.
How is cancer detected

, which is the result of damage - mutation - to certaines,

Regular screening already detects some cancers in their early
stages - for example smear tests for cervical cancer and
mammograms for breast cancer. In the future, a simple blood
or urine test could detect many other cancers very early on.
Lifestyle changes or medicines could then help prevent
serious problems later in life. Couples who have a history of

inherited cancer are already screening potential embryos to

ensure they have a child without the high-risk gene.the cell's
instructions for making the proteins it needs to survive, grow
an
Can cancer be prevented?

ly. ny factorThere are many ways in which your risk of cancer

can be reduced, either by preventing it or detecting it in its
early stages. You can reduce your risk of cancer by not
smoking, cutting your alcohol intake, being a healthy weight
and eating a balanced diet, taking exercise and protecting
yourself from the sun.s can affect the chances of the gene
damage that may eventually lead to cancer, including
cigarette smoke and other chemicals, a poor diet, ultraviolet
radiation that causes sunburn, as well as some infections.
Chemicals that
How is cancer treated?

Currently, there are three major ways of treating cancer:

surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Surgery, where the
surgeon cuts out the diseased tissue, is the most effective
treatment in the early stages of some types of cancer.
Radiotherapy uses a beam of radiation to kill cancer cells.
Doctors can do this with increasing accuracy as imaging
techniques improve. Chemotherapy uses medicines that kill

any cells that are multiplying rapidly. Cancer cells do this but
so do other body cells like hair cells, which are also killed,
resulting in hair loss during treatmen

What does your immune system do?

Your immune system is your body's defence against infection

and illness. It recognises the cells that make up your body,
and will try to get rid of anything unfamiliar. It destroys germs
(bacteria and viruses) and parasites. But this defence system
can also cause problems. It will attack donated organs or
blood from another person, unless carefully matched. It may
overreact to harmless invaders such as pollen grains, causing
hayfever. In some cases (autoimmune diseases), the immune
system turns against the body's own cells.