Cancer is a devastating disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is the second leading cause of death globally, with an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018.

Cancer is essentially a disease of uncontrolled cell growth and division, which can lead to the development of tumours and the spread of cancer throughout the body.

There are many types of cancer, each with its own unique characteristics. There are, however, four common characteristics that all cancers share.

Understanding these characteristics can help in the development of new treatments and ultimately, in the quest to cure cancer.

H2: Uncontrolled Cell Growth and Division

As mentioned, cancer is essentially a disease of uncontrolled cell growth and division. Normal cells in the body grow and divide in a controlled manner, following signals from the body that tell them when to divide and when to stop.

In cancer cells, however, these signals are disrupted, and the cells continue to divide and grow without regulation. This uncontrolled growth can lead to the formation of tumours, which can damage nearby tissues and organs.

There are several reasons why cells might lose their ability to control growth and division. In some cases, changes to the DNA of the cell can cause it to divide uncontrollably.

These changes can occur spontaneously or as a result of exposure to certain environmental factors, such as radiation or chemicals. In other cases, mutations in genes that regulate cell growth and division can cause cells to become cancerous.

H2: Resistance to Cell Death

In addition to their uncontrolled growth and division, cancer cells are also resistant to cell death. Normal cells in the body have built-in mechanisms that allow them to detect when they are damaged or not functioning properly.

When this happens, the cell will undergo a process called apoptosis, which is essentially programmed cell death. This prevents the damaged cell from further dividing and potentially causing harm.

Cancer cells, however, have found ways to evade these protective mechanisms. They are able to ignore signals that would normally trigger apoptosis and continue to divide and grow despite damage to their DNA or other cellular components.

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This allows cancer cells to persist and spread throughout the body, ultimately leading to the formation of metastases in different parts of the body.

H2: Angiogenesis

A third characteristic of cancer is angiogenesis, which is the ability of cancer cells to grow their own blood vessels. Blood vessels are essential for the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to cells throughout the body.

Normally, new blood vessels are only formed during development and in response to injury or tissue repair. Cancer cells, however, are able to trigger the formation of new blood vessels to sustain their growth and spread.

This ability to create new blood vessels allows cancer cells to access the nutrients and oxygen they need to continue growing and dividing. It also enables them to spread beyond their original location and invade nearby tissues and organs.

By creating their own blood supply, cancer cells are able to overcome one of the body’s natural defences against cancer.

H2: Metastasis

The final characteristic of cancer is metastasis, which refers to the ability of cancer cells to spread from their original location to other parts of the body.

This is perhaps the most dangerous aspect of cancer, as it can make treatment much more difficult and significantly reduce the chances of survival.

Metastasis occurs when cancer cells break away from the primary tumour and travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body.

Once there, they can form new tumours and continue to divide and grow, ultimately leading to organ failure and death. Metastasis is also responsible for the vast majority of cancer-related deaths, as it can be difficult to detect and treat once it has spread.

Conclusion

While cancer is a complex disease with many different forms, all cancers share four common characteristics: uncontrolled cell growth and division, resistance to cell death, the ability to grow their own blood vessels, and the ability to metastasize to other parts of the body. Understanding these characteristics is essential in the development of new treatments and ultimately, in the quest to cure cancer.