Cancer is a series of mutations to the genome. Mutations can be benign or malignant. Malignant mutations tend to become more noticeable as time goes on because they have negative effects on the body. Cancerous mutations are a type of mutation not caught and stopped during the cell cycle. Without being monitored in this manner, they are able to proliferate at a higher rate than non-mutated cells.
There are four basic kinds of tumor cells: neoplasm, benign, malignant, and metastatic. The neoplasm are the initially modified tumor cells. They are isolated mutated cells. They can progress to benign tumor cells, which are still localized, but are not isolated from other mutated cells. The malignant tumor cells have progressed to cause problems within the organ. Metastatic tumor cells invade the blood vessels, leading to migration from one organ to another.
Some mutations or tendency toward mutations can be passed on from parent to offspring, increasing one’s inheritable chances of developing cancer throughout their lifetime. Environmental factors can also affect the likelihood of developing a cancerous mutation. Some factors increase the likelihood of developing cancer, such as exposure to UVB radiation, smoking, and eating highly preserved foods. Other factors decrease the chances of developing cancer: eating healthy and foods with anti-oxidants, for example.
The Human Genome Project and Cancer 