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S01-E04: What is Cancer Biology? and Essential Knowledge for Everyone

February 02, 2024 • Dr Biswajit Podder • Season 1 • Episode 4

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In this episode, Dr Biswajit Podder, a scientist with over 12 years of research experience in cancer disease, talks about the biological mechanisms behind cancer is essential for grasping how it develops and spreads. I discuss how cancer begins with changes in a single cell and cover the various types of cancer, highlighting how each type affects the body differently. Cancer remains one of the most complex diseases of our time, affecting millions worldwide. This episode provides a foundational understanding of what cancer is and why it's crucial for us to talk about it. I delve into the basics of cancer, including its definition, the different types, and the importance of raising awareness.

Many factors contribute to cancer risk, some within our control and others not. This section explores the genetic and environmental factors influencing cancer risk and outlines actionable preventive measures and lifestyle changes that can reduce the likelihood of developing cancer.

Early diagnosis can significantly impact cancer treatment outcomes. I talk about the common diagnostic tests and procedures used to detect cancer, including the crucial role of biopsies and imaging technologies.

Concluding with a powerful message on the significance of prevention and early detection, I stress lifestyle changes, regular screenings, and being attuned to one's body as crucial strategies against cancer. This episode aims to empower listeners with knowledge, reducing fear and promoting proactive health measures.

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We Talk Science

Speaker 1:

Hello Science Lovers. This is Saipurchir, a podcast where we explain science puzzle in a way everybody understands. This podcast is brought to you by Stemduadu. The goal of Stemduadu is to make learning fun and interesting for kids. The games and exercises on Stemduadu are fun and help kids learn math and science. At the same time, I will host Dr Bishriputhar as scientist with more than 12 years of research experience in cancer disease. Thank you for listening Saipurchir. If you are enjoying our podcast, please consider leaving us a review. Wherever you listen to Saipurchir, your support means everything to us and helps our goal to bring you more excellent content. As we begin today's episode, I hope you will find it as interesting and educational as the previous one.

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Without further ado, let's dive into today's episode. Today we are talking about cancer and I will explain in this episode how cancer starts and causes and different types of cancer and the prevention, etc. So firstly, we have to understand cancer. So to understand cancer, we have to understand normal cell growth and division in our body. So firstly, you might ask what is cell exactly? Cell is the basic unit of life. It is considered the building block of all living organisms, including human being. A human body is estimated to contain approximately 37.2 trillion cells, a number that varies depending on the size and composition of the individual. This estimate is based on average size adults and includes a wide variety of cells, such as blood cells, skin cells, brain cells and many others. Each type of cell has its own unique function and structure, contributing to the overall complexity and functionality of the human body.

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Before we dive into the world of cancer, let's start with the basics how normal cells grow and divide. It is important to understand this because cancer, in many ways, is a story of when this normal process goes wrong. In our body has a huge, complex machine with cells as its fundamental building blocks. Just like a machine needs to replace its non-functional parts, our body also needs to replace old, damaged or dead cells. This is where cell growth and division come into play. The cell cycle in our body starts with a phase called interface. Think of it as the cell's work day, where it's busy doing a regular job, like a heart cells pumping blood or skin cells forming a protective barrier. During this time, the cell also prepares to divide by making copies of all its DNA, which is called deoxyribereic acid, which is a molecule that carries the genetic instruction used in the growth, development, functioning and reproduction of all known living organisms, and you can call it our instruction manual.

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Next comes the exciting part, which is called mitosis. The actual division happens in the cells. It's like a well-orchestrated dance where the cell splits its copy DNA and divides into two daughter cells. This means a cell produced two identical cells. Each daughter cells has the exact same DNA as the parent an exact replica, ready to take on its role in the body. This process is tightly regulated. Our body has several checkpoints, like quality control in a factory, ensuring everything goes right. If there is a mistake, the cell can repair it, or if the damage is too severe, the cell is instructed to self-dress track, a process called apoptosis.

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I did my PhD on regulated cell death, which is called apoptosis and necropotosis. There are two different kinds of cell death happening in our body, so I have planned to make a separate episode on it, maybe in the future. Understanding this process is key to understanding cancer, which is, simple terms, is what happens when this regulated cycle of growth and division becomes unregulated. It's as if the cells forget to follow the body's rules, leading to unchecked growth. Now that we have laid the groundwork of normal cell function and how it happens. We will see how this process gets disrupted in cancer. This is the right time to peel back the layers of this complex disease and we call it cancer.

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In our journey to understand cancer, we have already explored how normal cells grow and divide. But what happens when this process goes wrong, when the roles of cell growth are no longer followed? That's exactly when we step into the world of cancer. Cancer begins at the very vascular unit of our body, as I mentioned earlier, which is the cell. Normally, cells obey the strict roles like grow, divide and die at the right time, as I explained earlier. But cancer cells are like revels. They don't play by these roles. They are very stubborn. They want to be different. That's why they grow uncontrollably and refuse to die when they are supposed to die.

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This rebellion starts with mutations, changes in the DNA of the cells. Dna is like the cells instruction manual what I have mentioned earlier and a mutation is like a typo in this manual. Sometimes these typos are harmless, but other times they can lead to cancer. These mutations can be caused by various factors. Some we inherit from our parents, like typos in a family recipe passed down through generations. Others come from environmental exposure, like smoking, radiation or even sudden viruses. It's akin to external factors affecting our health, like pollution or unhealthy diet.

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As this rebellion cells multiply, they form a mass called tumor. Not all tumors are cancerous, though. Some are benign, meaning not harmful, like a group of protesters that make noise but don't cause harm. But cancerous tumors are malignant, like invaders who can spray to other parts of the body and destroy the body, and it is very harmful. Why does this happen? Cancer cells are very sneaky. They can hide from the immune system or even trick into the thinking they are normal. It's like having spies within the city who mislead the police. The complexity of cancer is immense. Each type of cancer is unique, with its own set of typos and behaviors. That's why there's no one-side-feeds-all solution to cancer. It's like solving different puzzles, each with its own set of challenges we have talked about.

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Our. Cancer begins with rebellious cells. Now let's delve deeper into two critical aspects of cancer progression metastasis and tumor formations. These are complex terms for cancer, but I will break them down for you in a simple way. First, let's talk about tumor formation. Remember our city of cells. A tumor forms when the cells in a particular area start multiplying uncontrably like a crowd gathering in a public square, these cells pile up, forming a mass. This is what we call a tumor.

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Tumors can be benign, like a peaceful city that doesn't spread to other parts of the city. Benign tumors aren't cancerous. They can be problematic but they divide, but they don't invade other tissues. On the other hand, melign tumors are the real troublemakers in here. They are cancerous. They not only grow in their original location but also have the potential to spread, like protesters turning into invaders. These brings us to metastasis.

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World Metastasis is like these invaders Bracking off from the main group of traveling to depend on parts of the city where they set up new camps, new tumours. These cancer cells travel through the body's transport systems, the blood stream and the lymphatic system, like using the city's roots and waterways. They can settle in a distance organ like the liver, lungs, bones or brain and start growing there, disrupting the normal function of these organs. Metastasis is the main reason why cancer can be so challenging to treat. It's like dealing with multiple infections in different parts of the city simultaneously, and each new tumour might require different strategies to manage, just as different invaders might require different defence tactics. Understanding these processes tumour formation and metastasis is crucial in the battle against cancer. It helps us appreciate why early detection is so important and why cancer treatments often need to be as unique as the individual affected by the disease.

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Now that we understand how cancer develops, let's explore the different types of cancer. Just like our world is full of diverse ecosystems, from forests to oceans, the world of cancer is diverse too, with various types affecting different parts of the body. First, let's talk about carcinomas. These are the most common types of cancer. Carcinomas arise from the cells that cover external and internal body surface. Think of them as the skin or the lining of our organs like the lungs or the digestive tract. Breast cancer, lung cancer and cone cancer these are all examples of carcinomas. Next, let's explore the different types of cancer.

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We have sarcomas. These are relatively rare and develop in the bone and soft tissues like muscles, fat and blood vessels. Imagine sarcomas as cancers of the body's structural framework and support system. Then there is lecomia. Lecomia is cancer of the blood. It doesn't form solid tumors but results in the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells. Picture a river falling through a city lecomia. This river is overwhelmed by a flood of these abnormal cells.

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Another form of cancer is lymphomas. Lymphomas are cancers that start in the lymphatic system, which is part of our body's defense against infection. Think of lymphomas as disrupting the body's internal security system. Lastly, we have brain and spinal cord cancers. These are particularly challenging because they affect the central nervous system, the controller of our body. Actually, each type of cancer behaves differently and requires different approaches for treatment. It's like how different challenges in various parts of the city require different solutions. Understanding these types of cancer gives us insight into how diverse cancer is. It is not just one disease, but many, each with its own unique characteristics and challenges. After exploring the different types of cancer, let's turn our focus to a critical question what causes cancer? Right Understanding the cause is like unraveling a complex mystery with manic clothes, but not always a straightforward answer for this.

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Cancer is caused by changes to the DNA within cells, known as mutations. I mentioned earlier about mutations. Think of DNA as the blueprint for its cell, guarding its function and growth. When these bloopens get altered or damaged, it can lead to cancer. Actually, some of these mutations happen naturally as we age, like wear and tear in a well used bulb. Our cells are constantly dividing and sometimes errors happen in this process and leading to mutations. But there are external factors too which can damage DNA, like smoking, for instance, is a well-known cause. It's like exposing the body to a toxic environment and damages the DNA in cells, particularly in the lungs. So smoking is a great risk factor for lung cancer. Actually, sarn exposure is another culprit I can mention about evadation. It's like the sun's rays acting as a harsh light that can fade and damage the paces of our cells' bloopens.

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Our diet and lifestyle also play a role. Eating unhealthy food, being overweight and not exercising can contribute to the risk of certain types of cancer. It's akin to how a city with poor maintenance and unhealthy living condition becomes prone to problems. Actually, infections can also lead to cancer. Certain viruses, bacteria, can cause changes in the cells that increase cancer rates. Think of them as invaders that disrupt the normal functioning of the city. And finally, genetics Some people inherit mutations from their parents that increase their risk of certain types of cancer. It's like a family passing down a flood, blooping from generation to generation. Understanding this cause helps us see how complex cancer is. It's not usually just one cause, but a combination of factors, like a puzzle made up of many different pieces. With these understandings, we can better appreciate the importance of healthy lifestyle choices, regular screenings being a part of our family history these are all crucial steps in cancer prevention and early detection.

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Before we conclude today's episode, let's talk about one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal against cancer. It is prevention and early detection. These strategies are like the vigilant guidelines of our health, playing a crucial role in reducing the risk of developing cancer and increasing the chances of successful treatment. Lifestyle changes can play a significant role in reducing the risk of developing cancer. While not all cancers are preventable, certain modifications in daily habits and behaviors can significantly lower the risk. These changes involve diet, physical activity, substance use and overall health practices. Prevention is about taking proactive steps to reduce the risk of cancer. Like a well-maintained city that less prone to problems, a well-cared for body is better equipped to pan off diseases like cancer. So is it in general suggestions that healthy diet and exercise, avoiding tobacco products, limited alcohol consumption, sun protection, vaccination could help from cancer prevention.

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Early detection is equally important. It's like having an early warning symptoms in a city, alerting us to problems before they become a crisis. Regular screenings and being aware of changes in your body are key. So, for instance, like breast cancer, regular mammograms can help detect breast cancer. Early Coronoscopies can identify pre-cancerous polyps in the colon. Keeping an eye on skin changes and consulting a dermatologist for any suspicious moles or spots can help to protect from skin cancer. Regular prostate exams for men, especially as they age, will help to prevent prostate cancer. So it is very important early detection. If you can detect cancer in earlier states, it is easier to treat. So I would suggest all of my audience if you feel something wrong with your body or with any organs, try to consult a doctor, try to do early diagnosis and it will save money, it will save your life. So it is better to always keep an eye on any difference and changes in your body.

Speaker 1:

As we draw to a close on today's enlightening journey through the complex world of cancer, I want to leave you with a message that resonates with hope and empowerment. Cancer is a word that often brings fear and uncertainty, but not as in our strongest ally in this battle. Today we have navigated the intricacies of how cancer develops, its types, causes and the paramount importance of prevention and early detection. Remember each step we take towards understanding cancer, each effort towards a healthier lifestyle and each commitment to regular health screening is a step towards the term over the challenges. From the food we eat to the choice we make daily, every action counts in painting a brighter, healthier future and prevent cancer in your life. That's all for today's episode. Until next time, stay curious, stay inspired. Stay tuned for more exciting conversations right here on your favorite cybert chat. Thank you for joining me today on Cybert. Take care Bye.