Tumor Growth: Breast, Lungs and Colon

Developmental Biology of Cancer/Tumor Growth: Breast, Lung and Colon Cancer

Topic Outline

I. Introduction

II. Differences between Normal cells and Cancer cells

a. Cell size and shape

b. Cell division and death

c. Cell specialization

d. Obeying signals

e. Cell adhesion

III. Normal cells to Cancer cells

IV. Risk factors affecting cancer

a. Tobacco

b. Radiation

c. Genetic anomalies

d. Diet

e. Infectious diseases

f. Exposure to chemical agents

g. Alcohol

h. Age

i. Obesity

V. Treatments in Cancer

a. Surgery

b. Radiation

c. Chemotherapy

VI. Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

According to GLOBOCAN 2012, the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide were those of the lung (1.8 million, 13.0% of the total), breast (1.7 million, 11.9%), and colorectum (1.4 million, 9.7%). While the most common causes of cancer death were the cancers of the lung (1.6 million, 19.4% of the total), liver (0.8 million, 9.1%), and stomach (0.7 million, 8.8%).

Cancer is a potentially fatal disease that embarks when there is uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells anywhere in a body. These abnormal cells are termed cancer cells, malignant cells, or tumor cells and this uncontrolled growth cycle of cancer cells is termed as metastatic spread or metastatic disease. (Balentine, 2011).

Cancer has been known for its interesting factors and deteriorative effects on a person’s health. The instigation and development of cancer cells in an individual’s body is due to external factors in the environment and factors within the cell. The former includes tobacco, chemicals, high levels of radiation, alcohol consumption and infectious agents - viruses; while the latter includes inherited mutations, hormones, deficiency in the immune response and metabolic mutations (Hejmadi, 2010).

Cancer cells can spread to the other parts of the body by passing through the blood and lymph systems. This is caused mainly by environmental...