• Question: What kinds of things can go wrong in cells to make them become cancerous?

    Asked by aishasollars to Asif, Laura, Lena, Sean, Viv on 14 Mar 2012. This question was also asked by labronjames98, macklev2, tobes123.
    • Photo: Asif Naseer

      Asif Naseer answered on 9 Mar 2012:

      Thanks Aisha…..There are two systems or programs normally working in our cells…. The first is the cell proliferation program that causes the cells to divide and increase in number……And the second is Cell death program that kills the old and useless cells………..But if something goes wrong with any one of them….for example the cell death programm fails to work….or the cell proliferation programm works more than required,this will result in an increase in the number of cells that will go on increasing in number…..These cells are called cancer cells

    • Photo: Sean Murphy

      Sean Murphy answered on 13 Mar 2012:

      Good question. There are many things that could go wrong, but they mostly involve an accumulation of DNA mutations caused by things such as exposure to UV radiation, smoking, drinking too much and exposure to certain toxins. If a cell loses control of its growth signals, it can divide rapidly and form a tumor.

    • Photo: Laura Waters

      Laura Waters answered on 14 Mar 2012:

      I think Asif & Sean have covered it. The simple answer is: a lot!

Comments