Cancer is one of the most complex and devastating diseases that claim the life of many humans. Today there are one in three people worldwide who are affected by cancer, and almost 60% of these people will almost certainly die. 7000 New Zealanders die every year from this disease. It is the second largest killer next to heart disease. Cancer does not just affect certain groups of people, it can affect anybody and it is not just one disease, it refers to more than a hundred diseases.

Cancer is caused by carcinogens. At present, hundreds of chemicals are known to induce cancer. Normally, the body's cells divide in an orderly way, allowing the body to grow and to heal after injury. Damage or mutations that occur to the proto-oncogenes (POG) and tumour suppresser Genes (TSG) in the genetic material (DNA and RNA) by these carcinogens bring about Cancer, which causes cells to have less control of cell division and differentiation. POGs lead to changed cells or transformed cells and cause excessive cell division. Further mutations cause the cells to become immortal. These cells continue to divide and form a ball of cells. These cells require a lot of energy and

Treatments of cancer vary. Tumours may be surgically removed if they have not metastasised. Other methods are usually used if the tumour has metastasised. For chemotherapy drugs are used to kill cancerous cells as they divide. Radiotherapy is another standard way of treating cancer, ionising radiation aimed at the tumour will prevent the cells from dividing further.

Today billions of dollars are spent throughout the world on cancer especially in developed countries of the western world where a lot of money is freely available. Most of this research is carried out by private organisations and therefore ethnic minorities appeal to be included in their research.

Some common words found in the essay are:
P53 PRP, Zealand Maori, POG's TSG's, , DNA RNA, Benson Hedges, cell division, Genes TSG, female breast, male prostate, cells stimulated divide, University Zealand, female breast cancer, growth inhibitor proteins, receptor cell, inhibitor proteins, growth inhibitor, receptor cell membrane, cell membrane, rate cell division, rate cell, continue divide, benson hedges,
Approximate Word count = 1080
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)