Cancer: The Virulent Disease

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Recommended: Functions of the human body

An ordinary human body contains approximately one trillion cells and precisely 46 chromosomes in each cell. However, the human body can be altered by a genetic mutation. Over the course of history, genetic mutations have had a large impact on the human race. They have brought harm to numerous amounts of people. Cancer, in particular, is one of the most lethal diseases. Cancer begins when a portion of DNA inside a chromosome is damaged, causing a cell to mutate. Then, the mutated cell reproduces multiple times and creates a tumor. Afterwards, cancer cells break off of the tumor, enter the bloodstream, and disperse throughout the body. If the cells break off, the tumor is considered malignant - this type of cancer is very difficult to cure. Many patients today stay optimistic for a medication to heal cancer. It is imperative to address a few of the causes and effects of cancer in order to gain a general knowledge of genetic mutations.

To begin, people can receive certain forms of cancer if they use tobacco products. When discussing health problems of smoking, the author writes, “Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body” (Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting). Scientists have conducted research and have concluded that using a tobacco product damages cells. The damaged cells become mutated and form cancer cells. The author goes on to explain, “Among the 250 known harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 69 can cause cancer” (Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting). These harmful chemicals are catalysts for many types of cancer. Some of these toxins include arsenic, carbon monoxide, and lead. When directly consumed, these chemicals are very pernicious, so it is obvious that they can cause diseases like ...

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"Does Smoking Cause Cancer?" - Quit Victoria. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.

y-body/does-smoking-cause-cancer.html>.

"Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting - National Cancer Institute." Harms of

Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting - National Cancer Institute. N.p., n.d. Web.

17 Mar. 2014.

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"UCSB Science Line Sqtest." UCSB Science Line Sqtest. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.

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"World Cancer Day." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease

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