Cancer: When Mitosis Goes Wrong
Cancer results from uncontrolled mitosis, creating a tumor (mass of cells). Tumors can be benign (don't spread, removable by surgery) or malignant (spread to other tissues, require chemotherapy or radiation).
Metastasis refers to the spreading of cancerous cells throughout the body, which only occurs with malignant tumors. This spreading makes cancer much more difficult to treat, as it affects multiple body systems.
The most common cancers differ between men and women. For men, the top three are lung cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. For women, they are lung cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer. Notice that lung cancer tops both lists, largely due to factors like smoking and environmental pollutants.
Health Note: Early detection dramatically improves survival rates for most cancers. This is why regular screenings are so important, especially as you get older!