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How Do Cancer Cells Differ From Normal Cells in the Body?

Cancer cells are different from normal body cells due to a cancer cell's deviance from normal cell reproduction. Normal cells know when to stop reproducing. A cancer cell will continue to multiply instead of dying. Eventually a tumor will develop as a result of the continual multiplying of cancer cells.

  1. Normal Cell Characteristics

    • Normal cells in your body will grow and die off.

      Normal cells within your body will grow and divide. Once a normal cell divides, the cell will die. During your youth, your body cells will grow and divide fast in order to compensate for your growth. According to the American Cancer Society, once you become an adult, cells within your body will usually only grow to replace dead cells, to replace cells that have worn out and to help repair injuries you've sustained.

    Normal Cell Functions

    • Normal cells will always be contained within a specific area of your body. If a normal cell ever becomes damaged it will disintegrate. Normal cells will go through a process known as replicative senescence. This means that a normal cell only goes through a certain amount of cell division before that cell dies.

    Cancer Cell Reproduction

    • Cancer cells do not go through replicative senescence. Instead, cancer cells will continue to multiply. Cancer cells don't understand signals to die. As a result, cancer cells will reproduce at a rapid rate, which will eventually result in the development of cancer.

    Cancer Cell Growth

    • Unlike normal body cells, cancer cells will detach from their origin of growth. The cancer cells will then migrate to other areas within your body. New tumors can form in other areas of your body. The process of cancer spreading throughout your body is known as metastasis.

    Damaged DNA

    • Smoking can damage your DNA.

      The development of a cancer cell is the result of damage to your DNA. All cells contain DNA. A normal cell will die or become repaired if its DNA is damaged. According to the American Cancer Society, cancerous cells with damaged DNA will only continue to form new cells with damaged DNA. Damaged DNA can be the result of inheritance, environmental causes or lifestyle choices such as smoking.

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