BTN: Cancer - when the baddies take over

MAN

What is cancer?

Shot of youths playing basketball

KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

The body is made up of millions of tiny cells.

Shot of microscopic view of cell

KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

These cells are constantly dividing, creating new cells to replace the old or damaged cells.

Shot of girl duplicating by use of trick photography

KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

But sometimes things wrong and the new cells aren't right. This is cancer.

Shot of girl with boys duplicating from her by use of trick photography

KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

These cancer cells keep dividing to make an exact copy of themselves. Sometimes they clump together in a lump and develop a cancer tumour. The cancer cells are pretty useless. The healthy cells need to watch out though, because the rogue cells will attack them, killing them, taking control of body parts, which stops body organs from working properly. Cancer is the most common disease in Australia, but there are actually 200 types of cancer.

On-screen text reads, 'Skin cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, brain tumour, liver cancer.

KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

One of these is called…

On-screen text reads, 'Leukaemia.'

KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

It's commonly called 'cancer of the blood' but it's actually cancer of the bone marrow. It's one of the most common sorts in children. Inside your bones is your blood-producing factory. Blood is made in the bone, in the bone marrow.

Shot of Krista holding up a cross-section of a replica bone with bone marrow exposed

KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

Here it's quite spongy but in your bones it's runny.

On-screen text reads, 'Lymphatic system.'

MAN

The what?

KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

Now, the lymphatic system is basically the body's waste drain. It's a series of tubes that take fluid away from our muscles and dumps it in the blood. But first it's filtered through some glands, and these glands are basically found in our neck, armpits, chest, abdomen and groin area.

Shot of Krista pouring water from a jug through a sieve, from where it goes down the drain

KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

And their job is basically to catch any of the baddies. What actually causes cancer is still a bit of a mystery. Some cancers may be caused by…

On-screen text reads, 'Genetic mutation.'

KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

That's where a gene inside a cell changes and makes the body begin to produce new cells that are bad. Scientists believe some viruses could cause the genetic mutation.

On-screen text reads, 'Radiation and chemicals.'

KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

Exposure to strong radiation and toxic chemicals can also cause mutation, like UV rays from the sun or the toxic chemicals in cigarettes.

On-screen text reads, 'Hereditary.'

KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

Some people are more likely to get some types of cancers if their parents have had them. Doctors say exercising and eating a healthy diet can protect you against cancer. Unfortunately cancer does kill some people but in most cases the treatment does work and it's getting better and better. And young people, well, they have the best chance of making a full recovery.

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KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

While you're protecting yourself by eating the right things, researchers are working on better treatments if you get cancer.

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KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU

One of the recent developments in Australia has been the establishment of a national breast-tissue bank. This will help researchers by providing tissue samples to work with, and medical information about the donors. Researchers can look for similarities between samples and the donors. They can then help doctors fine-tune treatments or perhaps come up with entirely new ones. Having a central tissue bank also makes it easier for researchers to work together and swap information.