Question

☐ What is one way that cancer cells are physically different than normal cells? ​

Answer 1

By understanding how cancer cells differ from normal cells, researchers develop treatments. If you have cancer, this knowledge may help you understand what’s going on inside your body.

These are the most significant differences between cancer cells and normal cells:

Cancer cells keep dividing. Cancer cells ignore the body’s signals to stop dividing. Your body has a built-in process, called apoptosis or programmed cell death, that tells the body to get rid of cells it doesn’t need anymore. Normal cells are better at listening: They listen to the body’s cues and stop reproducing when enough cells are present.
Cancer cells grow too rapidly to mature. Normal cells mature into distinct cell types. These different cell types have specific functions. For example, liver cells help your body metabolize proteins, fats and carbohydrates and help remove alcohol in your blood. Cancerous cells divide so quickly that they don’t have a chance to mature and become the specialized cells they set out to be.
Cancer cells may influence normal cells. Cancer cells may actually affect the behavior of the normal cells, molecules and blood vessels near a tumor. For example, cancer cells may recruit normal cells to develop new blood vessels. These vessels keep the tumor alive—and give it a chance to grow—by providing it with oxygen and nutrients.
Cancer cells trick the immune system. You probably know your immune system helps you fight off infection and disease. The immune system typically gets rid of abnormal or damaged cells. Cancer cells manage to evade this process, which allows tumors to grow.
Cancer cells are invasive. Because cancer cells ignore the body’s signals to stop dividing, they start invading tissues nearby. If a tumor is benign, it may push up against neighboring tissues, but won’t invade it. However, a malignant tumor invades tissue and is capable of spreading throughout the body.
Cancer cells may spread to other parts of the body. Normal cells know their place in your body and stay put. Metastatic cancer cells start spreading to other parts of the body. For example, cancer may develop in the lungs and spread to the liver. If this spread occurs, it’s known as metastatic lung cancer, not liver cancer.

I’m sorry I did way more than one lol.