Lecture Notes: Tumours and Cancer

Introduction to Tumours

• Definition: Tumours are abnormal masses of cells resulting from uncontrolled cell growth and division.
• Types of Tumours:
  • Benign Tumours:
    • Cells are contained within one area, typically within a membrane.
    • Do not spread to other parts of the body.
    • Generally not considered dangerous and not classified as cancer.
  • Malignant Tumours:
    • Cells can invade other tissues and spread, forming new secondary tumours.
    • Cause significant damage to the body and are classified as cancer.

Understanding Cancer

• Cancer is defined as malignant tumours that have the ability to invade tissues and spread throughout the body.
• Dangers: Malignant tumours are dangerous and potentially fatal due to their capacity to damage the body.

Risk Factors for Cancer

• Lifestyle Risk Factors:

  • Smoking:
    • Strongly linked to lung cancer.
    • Also linked to mouth, stomach, and cervical cancers.
  • Obesity:
    • Linked to bowel, liver, and kidney cancers.
  • Ultraviolet Light Exposure:
    • UV radiation from the sun and sunbeds linked to skin cancer.
  • Alcohol Consumption:
    • Linked to an increased risk of liver cancer.

• Genetic Risk Factors:

  • Inheritance of certain genes can increase susceptibility to cancer.
  • BRCA Genes:
    • Linked to breast and ovarian cancers.

Conclusion

• Understanding the difference between tumours and cancer is crucial.
• Awareness of risk factors can aid in prevention and early detection of cancer.