Cancer

The Definition of Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which some of the body ? s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body .

Cancer can start almost anywhere in the human body , which is made up of trillions of cells . Normally , human cells grow and multiply ( through a process called cell division ) to form new cells as the body needs them . When cells grow old or become damaged , they die , and new cells take their place .

Sometimes this orderly process breaks down , and abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply when they shouldn ? t . These cells may form tumors , which are lumps of tissue . Tumors can be cancerous or not cancerous ( benign ) .

Cancerous tumors spread into , or invade , nearby tissues and can travel to distant places in the body to form new tumors ( a process called metastasis ) . Cancerous tumors may also be called malignant tumors . Many cancers form solid tumors , but cancers of the blood , such as leukemias , generally do not .

Benign tumors do not spread into , or invade , nearby tissues . When removed , benign tumors usually don ? t grow back , whereas cancerous tumors sometimes do . Benign tumors can sometimes be quite large , however . Some can cause serious symptoms or be life threatening , such as benign tumors in the ____________________ .

The Definition of Cancer
Cancer is a ____________________ in which some of the body ? s cells ____________________ uncontrollably and ____________________ to other parts of the body .

Cancer can ____________________ almost anywhere in the human body , which is made up of trillions of cells . ____________________ , human cells grow and ____________________ ( through a process called cell division ) to form new cells as the body needs them . When cells grow old or ____________________ damaged , they ____________________ , and new cells ____________________ their place .

Sometimes this ____________________ process breaks down , and abnormal or ____________________ cells grow and multiply when they shouldn ? t . These cells may ____________________ tumors , which are ____________________ of tissue . Tumors can be cancerous or not cancerous ( benign ) .

Cancerous tumors spread into , or ____________________ , nearby ____________________ and can ____________________ to distant places in the body to form new tumors ( a process called metastasis ) . Cancerous tumors may also be called ____________________ tumors . Many cancers form solid tumors , but cancers of the ____________________ , such as leukemias , ____________________ do not .

Benign tumors do not spread into , or invade , nearby ____________________ . When removed , benign tumors usually don ? t grow back , whereas cancerous tumors sometimes do . Benign tumors can sometimes be quite large , ____________________ . Some can cause serious symptoms or be life threatening , ____________________ as benign tumors in the ____________________ .