Have you ever wondered how we grow from a tiny single cell into a complex human being with trillions of cells? It all starts with one cell dividing into two, then four, then eight, and so on. These cells form tissues, tissues form organs, and together, they make up our entire body. This process of cell division is what we call growth, and while it might seem straightforward, it’s actually quite complex.
In our bodies, there are about 100 trillion cells, and sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Each cell has a set of instructions called DNA, and occasionally, these instructions can get mixed up, leading to mutations. Usually, our cells are pretty good at catching these mistakes and either fixing them or shutting down the faulty cell. But sometimes, enough mutations slip through, causing a cell to start dividing uncontrollably. This is how cancer begins.
When a cell goes rogue, it divides into more cells, each carrying the same faulty instructions. Over time, this can lead to noticeable problems, like a lump or issues with how your body functions. A doctor might find something unusual during a blood test, like too many white blood cells or high liver enzymes, and diagnose cancer.
Once cancer is diagnosed, the treatment plan depends on where the cancer is and how fast it’s growing. If it’s slow and hasn’t spread, surgery might be enough. But if it’s aggressive or has started invading nearby tissues, doctors might use radiation or a combination of surgery and radiation. If the cancer has spread throughout the body, chemotherapy is often recommended.
Radiation and chemotherapy aim to damage the DNA of cancer cells or disrupt their division process. However, these treatments don’t just target cancer cells; they affect healthy cells too. For example, radiation affects all cells in its path, and chemotherapy travels throughout the body, impacting various cells.
Let’s look at how different cells react to these treatments. A healthy liver cell divides only when necessary, a healthy hair cell divides often, and a cancer cell divides even more frequently and recklessly. Chemotherapy drugs usually target dividing cells, so the more often a cell divides, the more likely it is to be affected by the treatment.
This is why cancer treatments have side effects. Cells that divide frequently, like those in your hair, skin, gut, and blood, are more likely to be affected. Common side effects include hair loss, skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weight loss, and pain.
In the end, cancer is all about uncontrolled growth. By using treatments like chemotherapy, we can turn cancer’s rapid growth into a weakness, targeting the very process that allows it to spread.
Engage in a hands-on activity where you simulate cell division using colored beads or paper cutouts. Create a timeline showing how a single cell divides into multiple cells, and identify where mutations might occur. Discuss how these mutations can lead to cancerous growth.
Participate in a role-play activity where you act as different components of a cell. One student can be the DNA, while others are repair enzymes. Introduce a “mutation” and see how the cell responds. Discuss what happens when the repair process fails, leading to cancer.
Form groups and research different cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Hold a debate on the pros and cons of each treatment, considering factors like effectiveness, side effects, and impact on healthy cells.
Analyze a case study of a cancer patient. Examine the type of cancer, the treatment plan, and the outcomes. Discuss how the treatment targets cancer cells and the potential side effects experienced by the patient.
Create a short story or comic strip that illustrates the journey of a cell from normal growth to becoming cancerous. Include how treatments like chemotherapy work to combat cancer and the challenges faced by healthy cells during treatment.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Translator: Andrea McDonough
Reviewer: Bedirhan Cinar
We all start life as a single cell. Then that cell divides, and we become two cells, then four, then eight. Cells form tissues, tissues form organs, and organs form us. These cell divisions, which take us from a single cell to 100 trillion cells, are called growth. Growth may seem simple because we often think of it in terms of someone getting taller or, later in life, wider. However, for cells, growth is complex. Cell division is an intricate process that is part individual and part community-driven.
In a neighborhood of 100 trillion cells, sometimes things go wrong. An individual cell’s set of instructions, or DNA, may develop a mutation. Most of the time, the cell detects mistakes and shuts itself down, or the system eliminates the problematic cell. However, enough mutations can bypass these fail-safes, leading the cell to divide uncontrollably. That one rogue cell becomes two, then four, then eight, passing along incorrect instructions to its offspring.
Weeks, months, or years later, you might visit your doctor about a lump or experience difficulty with bodily functions, which could indicate a problem in various organs. A routine blood test might reveal an abnormal count of white cells or elevated liver enzymes. Your doctor may deliver the diagnosis: cancer.
From this point, your treatment strategy will depend on the cancer’s location and progression. If the tumor is slow-growing and localized, surgery might suffice. If the tumor is fast-growing or invading nearby tissue, your doctor may recommend radiation or surgery followed by radiation. If the cancer has spread or is widespread, chemotherapy or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy is likely to be recommended.
Radiation and most forms of chemotherapy work by damaging the cells’ DNA or disrupting their division processes. However, these treatments do not exclusively target cancer cells. Radiation affects all cells in its path, and chemotherapy circulates throughout the body.
So, what happens when different cells are affected? Let’s consider a healthy liver cell, a healthy hair cell, and a cancerous cell. The healthy liver cell divides only under stress, the healthy hair cell divides frequently, and the cancer cell divides even more frequently and recklessly. When you take a chemotherapy drug, it impacts all of these cells. Since these drugs typically disrupt cell division, the more frequently a cell divides, the more likely it is to be affected by the treatment.
This explains the side effects of cancer treatment, which often parallel the types of cells that divide frequently, such as hair, skin, gut, and blood cells. Common side effects include hair loss, skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weight loss, and pain.
Ultimately, it all comes down to growth. Cancer takes over the cells’ natural division processes, causing them to grow rapidly and uncontrollably. However, by using chemotherapy, we can exploit this aggressive behavior and turn cancer’s primary strength into a vulnerability.
Cancer – A disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. – Scientists are working hard to find new ways to treat cancer and stop the spread of abnormal cells.
Cells – The basic structural, functional, and biological units of all living organisms. – Human bodies are made up of trillions of cells, each with a specific function.
Growth – The process by which organisms increase in size and develop through cell division and expansion. – Proper nutrition is essential for the healthy growth of cells in the body.
DNA – The molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms. – DNA contains the instructions needed for an organism to develop, survive, and reproduce.
Mutations – Changes in the DNA sequence that affect genetic information. – Some mutations can lead to diseases, while others may have no effect or even be beneficial.
Treatment – The medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury. – Early detection and treatment of diseases can significantly improve patient outcomes.
Chemotherapy – A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. – Chemotherapy can be effective in treating cancer, but it often comes with side effects.
Radiation – A type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. – Radiation therapy is often used in combination with other treatments to increase its effectiveness.
Healthy – Being free from illness or injury and maintaining good physical and mental condition. – Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly are important for staying healthy.
Side Effects – Unintended reactions or consequences of a treatment or medication. – Patients undergoing chemotherapy may experience side effects such as nausea and fatigue.
