• Question: How many cell in a cancer made up from ?

    Asked by littlellie to Clare, Mariana, Pedro, Robert, Susanne on 16 Nov 2012.
    • Photo: Pedro Velica

      Pedro Velica answered on 16 Nov 2012:

      Cancers start from a very small number of cells (possibly just one) that then multiplies until it starts to do damage. By the time you need to do something about it they are made up of millions of cells. Some tumours weighed 50 pounds, but that is not so common.

    • Photo: Robert Insall

      Robert Insall answered on 16 Nov 2012:

      Hello Littlellie. Pedro hit the nail on the head. Actually, it depends on how bad the type of cancer is – cancers like melanoma spread and can kill you when they’re quite small, so you never find very big ones. A tumour that’s 50 pounds – well – it can’t be spreading much, can it? There are tumors called fibromas which almost never spread, so aren’t very dangerous, but can grow and grow.

      Look here if you’ve got a strong stomach – but the patient was fine after his operation!
      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16446239

    • Photo: Clare Taylor

      Clare Taylor answered on 18 Nov 2012:

      Gross stuff @Robert! But @littlellie would you believe there was a woman with a 300 pound tumour!? There’s a picture here: http://www.medicalopedia.org/2480/worlds-largest-tumors-the-top-three/

    • Photo: Mariana Campos

      Mariana Campos answered on 18 Nov 2012:

      Great answers. I have nothing to add 🙂

    • Photo: Susanne Muekusch

      Susanne Muekusch answered on 19 Nov 2012:

      I have nothing to add either. I am still considering whether or not I should have a look at the links Robert and Clare posted…

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