Question

how does skin cancer disrupt homeostasis. How does the body resolve this disease?

Answer 1

Skin cancer is also called melanoma and its main cause is uv radiations. Cancer cells grow at a faster rate than normal cells. They have an abnormal proliferative capacity and compete with normal cells for oxygen and food which results in an imbalance of homeostasis. Usually, cells divide at a normal rate and replace the old cells to maintain homeostasis. This is mainly controlled by the DNA. But when DNA gets mutated, the start growing abnormally and no more have a control on the homeostasis level our our body. Cancer cells grow through formation of blood vessels rapidly by a process called angiogenesis which provides nourishment to them.

However our body immunity works at its best to fight cancer cells. Cell mediated immunity plays a significant role in invading cancers and inhibits their growth. Cytotoxic t cells recognise the irregular cells and make them undergo apoptosis i. e. programmed cell death. Natural killer cells also help in killing the cancer cells.. Moreover , When cancer progression becomes metastatic and is out of control , anti cancer therapeutics like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy etc. are implicated for the restore of homeostatic balance.