Cancer What is it? How does it happen? Any way to treat it?

Cell Cycle is regulated! Something “tells” cells when it is time to divide, duplicate their chromosomes, or enter another phase of the cell cycle Cyclins  proteins that regulate the timing of the cell cycle in eukaryotic cells

Cyclins are just the beginning… The cell cycle is also controlled by regulatory proteins inside and outside of the cell Internal regulators  proteins that respond to events occurring inside of a cell (allow cell cycle to proceed only when cetain events have occurred) External regulators  outside of cell; direct cell to speed up or slow down the cell cycle

Growth Factors Stimulate growth and division of cells (type of regulatory protein).  very important in wound healing  also help inhibit cell growth (so tissues don’t protrude out and get into another tissue’s space)!

Cell Death  Cells can die (just like people) in one of two ways: 1. Apoptosis 2. Damaged naturally (UV rays, etc.) Apoptosis is programmed cell death; leads itself to self-destruction Apoptosis is cell suicide 

Cancer… Cancer cells do NOT respond to the signals that regulate the growth of most cells…as a result the cells divide uncontrollably  A mass of cells that forms due to uncontrollable growth is called a tumor  Malignant tumors are bad…they invade and destroy other tissues  Benign? You’re fine…benign tumors stay in one place. Just get it surgically removed if it’s causing discomfort…otherwise you can live with it! A disorder in which body cells lose the ability to control growth

I don’t want Cancer…what causes it???? Lots of things can trigger cancer growth…including but not limited to:  Smoking (tobacco)  Tanning (UV ray destruction)  Specific virus exposure  Defected, inherited genes Many cases of Cancer have a defect in a gene called p53 This gene normally halts the cell cycle until all chromosomes have been properly replicated If defective, p53 cause cells to lose the information needed to respond to signals that normally control their growth

Treatments  Radiation  Chemotherapy  Surgery Most common treatments… 1. If you have a family history, go to the doctor for check-ups often 2. Always better to catch Cancer early so treatment can begin and be more effective! 3. Always look for changes in moles, or new formations on skin…Melanoma (the most serious cancer) has a very high mortality rate Cancer is never a death sentence due to great advances in technology