Topic Summaries

Cancer

GCSE > Biology > CCEA > GCSE Biology Topic Summaries > Human health and enzymes > Cancer
Previous Module
Next Module

Plant disease and monoclonal antibodies

The brain and the eye

Species and classification

Food supply and biotechnology

Science skills: Measuring results

  • Cancer is the result of uncontrolled growth and division in cells.
  • Benign tumours are not cancers; they are growths of abnormal cells that are contained in one area, usually within a membrane, but do not invade other parts of the body.
  • Malignant tumours are cancers: they invade neighbouring tissues and spread to different parts of the body in the blood where they form secondary tumours (by metastasis).
  • Signs of cancer include tumorous lumps, a long-term cough and unexplained bleeding or weight loss
  • Different cancers have different risk factors, but common factors include smoking and alcohol, obesity, age, infections (e.g. hepatitis, HPV), ionising radiation (e.g. UV from the sun), environmental pollutants from industry, and genetic disorders.
  • Cancer can be screened (e.g. blood tests and X-ray images).
  • Cancer may be treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy; however, this can kill healthy cells too, with side effects including sickness and hair loss.

Unlock Cancer

Subscribe to SnapRevise+ to get immediate access to the rest of this resource.

Premium accounts get immediate access to this resource.

Previous Module
Next Module