Cancer Normally cell division and cell life span are regulated. Cells are programed to divide a certain number of times, and then they do not divide anymore. Programmed cell death is known as apoptosis. Cancer is a malignant growth resulting from uncontrolled cell division. Malignant describes a severe and progressively worsening disease.

Cancer often causes tumors, which are masses of tissue that disrupt the function organs and organ systems. Sometimes, cancerous cells remain clumped together and do not spread. These form tumors that are benign (relatively harmless), and so unlikely to cause problems. One of the problems with malignant cancers is their ability to metastasize. This means that some of the cancerous cells can break away from the tumor and travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body, thus spreading the disease.

There are two main factors that may contribute to cancer There are two main factors that may contribute to cancer. Any cancer causing agent is called a carcinogen. 1. Environmental factors; usually affects a protein such, as an enzyme. a. cigarette smoke b. Pollution- this includes chemicals such as acetones and asbestos. c. radiation, such as X-rays and U.V. from the sun d. viral infections

2. Genetic causes- thought to occur when an enzyme 2. Genetic causes- thought to occur when an enzyme changes, just before mitosis occurs. When mitosis occurs, the dividing cells will pass along the faulty enzyme to each new cell that is produced. Ex. Breast cancer genes BCRA 1 and BCRA 2   BCRA 1 is located on the 17th chromosome. It works as a tumor suppressor by controlling the rate of mitosis (how quickly and how often the cell divides.) If the protein is damaged (it can appear as a shortened version) it will not slow down replication, resulting in a tumor. We know the cause and where it is located, we just don’t know what to do about it.

Cancer treatments- currently the three main types of cancer treatment are all destructive to healthy tissue as well as the cancerous tumors. 1. surgical removal- cutting out the tumor 2. radiation- exposing the tumor to radiation destroys the cell’s DNA and kills the cell. 3. chemotherapy- using a combination of toxic chemicals to kill the tumor cells.

New ideas in cancer treatment. 1. Nanotechnology- sending nanobots directly to cancer cells, and then heating them to destroy the tumor. 2. Statin drugs such as Endostatin that destroy the blood supply of the tumor cells. 3. Viral treatment- certain viruses such as Seneca Valley virus are attracted to, and destroy rapidly reproducing cells.