Understanding Cancer Cells
Cancer Cell Behavior:
~Cancer cells don't respond to signals that regulate cell growth and division. This gives cancer cells the ability to grow and divide very frequently. ~Cancer cells grow unchecked. The immune system doesn't check to see if the cancer cells are indeed cancerous. ~Cancer cells are constantly reproducing. As the cancer cells reproduce, the cancer spreads within your body. ~Cancer cells learn to avoid apoptosis which is a cell's programed death. *All cancers are genetic.* *Cancer is caused by genetic mutations.* Tumors: ~Tumors are made up of cancer cells. ~The cancer cells attract blood vessels to grow within the tumor. ~The blood vessels supply nutrients and eliminate waste within the tumor which is essential for the tumor's survival. ~Blood vessels provide: Nutrients Glucose Oxygen ~Blood Vessels remove: Carbon dioxide Urea Water ~It usually takes 20-40 years for normal cells to develop into malignant tumors |