In a healthy body, there are natural mechanisms that regulate the creation, growth and death of cells, called apoptosis. Throughout the natural cycle of life, cells divide to create new tissue as the older cells die off. Apoptosis is important for the healing process of the body when, for example, you get cut on the hand. In order for the cut to heal the body's cell growth regulators increase in the speed of cell division to form new tissue in the your cut as fast as possible. When the body is fully healed, apoptosis goes back to its normal pace.
Cancer is a disease where the natural regulators do not function properly and cells do not die off when it is supposed to. Cancer cells divide without their normal control,they gather, enlargin the tissue, thus, creating a tumor. Cancer cells can also leave the tumor site and travel through the blood stream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs or bones. When in the new location, cancer cells may again begin to divide abnormally to create yet another tumor. If vital organs like the liver or lungs are invaded and destroyed, a person with cancer may eventually die of the disease.
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