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Cancer: causes, detection and treatment sheet
5-mark answer frame

What is cancer? Describe its causes, methods of detection and treatment.

How to lay out the answer. Follow the frame, then write it in your own words.

  1. 1 · Define in one line. Cancer is uncontrolled division of cells caused by breakdown of the mechanisms that regulate growth; cancer cells lose contact inhibition.
  2. 2 · Tumours. Benign tumours stay confined; malignant tumours invade and spread by metastasis.
  3. 3 · Causes.
    • Physical: X-rays, gamma rays, UV damage DNA.
    • Chemical: tobacco smoke (lung cancer).
    • Biological: oncogenic viruses; proto-oncogenes (c-onc) when activated.
  4. 4 · Detection. Biopsy and histopathology; blood and bone marrow tests for leukaemia; radiography, CT, MRI; antibodies against cancer-specific antigens.
  5. 5 · Treatment. Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy (side effects: hair loss, anaemia), immunotherapy with α-interferon.
  6. 6 · Prevention in daily life. Avoiding tobacco and going for early screening.
  7. 7 · Close in one line. So early detection and combined treatment give the best chance of cure.

Scoring tip: Use the exact terms contact inhibition, metastasis, carcinogens and proto-oncogenes. Each is a marking point.