Cancer Although mutation of a cell can occur quite easily, the body has its own defense system against such mutated cells. With the actions of enzymes and proteins, the defense system will inhibit the mutated cell from cell division,  and cause death to the cell, by a process known as apoptosis. Cancer, however, occurs when there is a mutation with genes that control the cell's defense systems. Very often, cancers are caused by the inactivation of Tumor Suppressor Gene, which inhibit cell division, or when the Oncogenes, which stimulates cell division become over-expressed. All tumor cells are formed from the division of one mutated cell. So, they are all similar. When this occurs, the cells keep dividing non stop. The rate of cell division will exceed the rate of cell death. A tissue, called a tumor or neoplasm will then enlarge. A benign tumor seldom threatens an individual's life, they can be surgically removed safely. However, a malignant tumor will invade other tissues of the body by metastasis. The cells in the primary tumor will "break out" and enter the blood circulation. They will travel in blood and establish secondary tumors at other parts of the body. Death may occur as a result of the compression of vital organs when non-functional cancer cells have killed or replaced the healthy cells in those organs or when the cancer cells have starved normal tissues of essential nutrients. Cancer Risk Factors Smoking  Alcoholism Carcinogenic foods Radiation Viral Infection

Relating Topics
- Mutations