BIOLOGY

INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
By:
Sreemalya Chatterjee
STUDY OF
XII-B
CANCER

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 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
ROLL
NO:

Certified that this is a Bonafide Record of work

done by Master/Miss________________________________ of class

__________________ In Dr.G.S. KALYANASUNDARAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL,

Kumbakonam.

During the year: ________________________

Dated : ________________________

Teacher Incharge

Submitted for the practical examination held on

_____________________________________________________________

At ___________________________________________________________

Dated ___________________________________.

Internal Examiner External Examiner

Principal

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As a student of Class XII, I did this project as a part of my

studies entitled “Study of Cancer”. I owe a deep sense of
gratitude to my biology teacher Mrs. Ushakumari, whose
valuable advice, guidance helped me in doing this project
from conception to completion.
At the same time, I cannot forget to express my gratitude to
our school Principal Mr. Breese Pappachan for extending his
generous, patronage and constant encouragement.
Finally I am thankful to my parents for helping me
economically, and my friends for being a helping hand at
every step of this project.

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S.NO CONTENTS PAGE
NO

1, WHAT IS CANCER ACTUALLY? 5

2, COMMON TYPES OF CANCER 5
3, SIGN AND SYMPTOMS 6
4, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NORMAL CELL AND 7
CANCER CELL

5, HOW DOES CANCER CELLS ACTIVATE? 8

6, PREVENTION STEPS 9
7, DEVELOPMENT OF CANCER 10
8, MAIN CAUSES OF CANCER 11
9, TREATMENT OF CANCER 12
10, BIBLIOGRAPHY 15

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 STUDY OF CANCER
1, What is Cancer actually?
Cancer is a disease involving abnormal cell growth with a potential
to invade to other parts of the body. In contrast benign tumors do
not spread to other parts of the body.

They form a subset of neoplasm. A neoplasm or tumor is a group

of cells that have undergone unregulated growth and will often
form a mass or lump, but may be distributed diffusely.

Cancer cells stealing energy from normal

healthy cells.

Cancer develops when the cell’s genetic

material gets damaged or mutated.

2, Common types of Cancer

Bladder Cancer

Breast Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Kidney Cancer

Lung Cancer

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 Lymphoma- Non Hodge skin

Melanoma

Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Thyroid Cancer

Uterine Cancer

Brain Cancer

3, Signs and Symptoms

It produces no symptoms at the beginning of cancer, the actual
symptoms starts when there is a mass growth or Ulcerates.
People may become anxious or depressed post-diagnosis. The risk
of suicide in people with cancer is approximately double.

Mass effects from lung cancer can block the bronchus resulting in
cough or Pneumonia; Esophageal Cancer can cause narrowing of
the Esophagus, making it difficult or painful to swallow; and
Colorectal Cancer may lead to narrowing or blockages in the
Bowel, affecting bowel habits. Masses in breasts or testicles may
produce observable lumps. Ulceration can cause bleeding that, if
it occurs in the lung, will lead to coughing up blood, in the bowels

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to anemia or rectal bleeding, in the bladder to blood in the urine
and in the uterus to vaginal bleeding.

These are some local symptoms which can show up the growth of
cancer cells.

Ulcerates: Sore on the skin or a mucous

membrane accompanied by disintegration
of tissue. Results in complete loss of
epidermis.

4, Difference between Normal Cells and Cancer Cells

NORMAL CELLS CANCER CELLS

CELL REPRODUCTION

Cell reproduction is needed to These cells may have gene

replenish the cell population
that ages or becomes
damaged or destroyed.
Normal cells reproduce
properly.
mutations or chromosome
mutations that affect the
reproductive properties the
cells. They don’t experience
biological aging and maintain
their ability to replicate and
grow.

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5, How Does Cancer cells activate?

It is well known that cancer is preceded by damaged DNA.

Because DNA is encoded with the instructions for cell behavior,
damaged DNA can alter cell processes including those that
regulate growth and division. This is supported by the fact that
tissues which have a high cell-division rate, such as bone and
lymph, are the most common sites for cancer.

Some genes, encoded on DNA, act as a switch that can be turned

on or off depending on cell needs. Free radicals have the ability to
break DNA strands which can result in some genes being
permanently switched on, such is the case with cancerous cell
growth. Although it is often taught that the DNA mutations that

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lead to cancer happen at random, research suggests there are
epigenetic triggers that may increase prevalence of DNA damage.

6, Prevention Steps:

DNA is vital for cell function and the body has mechanisms
by which it protects DNA from being damaged. One of the
most important mechanisms is the one responsible for the
production of antioxidants. A major step in the prevention
of DNA damage, and therefore cancer, would be to
optimize antioxidant activity. Research has suggested that
this can be achieved through the adoption of a diet that
incorporates antioxidant rich foods or extracts.

Glutathione plays a major role in the antioxidant activities

of the body. Evidence shows that this molecule alone has

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the ability to influence cancer risk in a directly correlative
manner. This means that by increasing your body’s supply
of glutathione, you are drastically improving its ability to
control free radicals before they damage cells. There are
several ways in which you can increase your supply of
glutathione.

7, Development of Cancer

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8, Main Causes of Cancer:
 Tobacco use is the cause of about 33% of cancer deaths.
 Another 10% is due to obesity, poor diet, lack of physical
activity, excessive drinking of alcohol.
 Nearly 20% of cancer cause is due to hepatitis B, hepatitis C
and human papillomavirus.
 Approximately 5-10% of cancer is due to inherited genetic
defect from person’s parents.

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9, Treatment of Cancer:
 SURGERY

 RADIATION THERAPY

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  CHEMOTHERAPY

 IMMUNOTHERAPY

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THANK YOU!

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
 www.google.com
 www.thoughtco.com
 www.cancer.net
 www.healthtap.com
 www.cancerresearchuk.org
 www.academia.edu
 www.quora.com

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