DISEASES EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
How does cancer grow and spread?
Abnormal cell division
Normal cells in your body grow and divide. Each one has a life cycle determined by the type of cell. As cells become damaged or die off, new cells take their place.
Cancer disrupts this process and causes cells to grow abnormally. It’s caused by changes or mutations in the cell’s DNA.
The DNA in each cell has instructions that tell the cell what to do and how to grow and divide. Mutations occur frequently in DNA, but usually cells correct these mistakes. When a mistake is not corrected, a cell can become cancerous.
Mutations can cause cells that should be replaced to survive instead of die, and new cells to form when they’re not needed. These extra cells can divide uncontrollably, causing tumors to form.
Creation of tumors
Tumors can cause health problems, depending on where they grow in the body.
Not all tumors are cancerous. Benign tumors are noncancerous and do not spread to nearby tissues.
But sometimes, tumors can grow large and cause problems when they press against neighboring organs and tissue. Malignant tumors are cancerous and can invade other parts of the body.
Metastasis
Some cancer cells can also spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to distant areas of the body. This is called metastasis.
Cancers that have metastasized are considered more advanced than those that have not. Metastatic cancers are often harder to treat and more fatal.