Question

Read the following statements (i - iv) and identify the wrong statements.

(i) The tumors of haematopoietic cells are called leukemia.
(ii) Cancer arising from the fat tissues of internal organs and glands is referred to as melanoma.
(iii) Sarcoma is a type of cancer where bone and cartilages are involved.
(iv) Only benign tumors are called true cancer or neoplasm.

• A. (i) and (iii) only
• B. (i) and (ii) only
• C. (ii) and (iv) only
• D. (ii) and (iii) only

Answer 1

The correct option is C (ii) and (iv) only

Cancer is a disease in which the affected body cells grow uncontrollably and destroy the surrounding tissues in the body.
The normal cells show the property of contact inhibition and stop dividing when they come in contact with other cells whereas cancer cells lose this characteristic and divide in an uncontrolled manner forming a mass of cells called tumors which can also be called neoplasm.

An abnormal mass of tissue is formed when cells grow and divide more than they should or do not die and accumulate.
Neoplasms are of two types like benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tumor. Hence statement iv is false.

Benign neoplasms (tumors) may grow large but they do not spread or invade nearby tissues or other body parts whereas malignant neoplasms (tumors) can spread or invade nearby tissues. They can also spread to other body parts via blood and lymphatic systems. In simple words, the benign tumor does not create cancer while a malignant tumor creates deadly cancer.

Figure : Neoplasm

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops from the pigment producing cells known as melanocytes. Melanomas typically occur in the skin but may rarely occur in the mouth, intestines or eye. It is not the cancer arising from the fat tissues of internal organs and glands. Hence statement ii is false.

Figure : Melanoma

A sarcoma is a type of cancer that starts in tissues like bone or muscle. Sarcomas can develop in soft tissues like fat, muscle, nerves, fibrous tissues, blood vessels, or deep skin tissues also. They can be found in any part of the body. So statement iii is true.

Figure : Sarcoma

Haematopoietic cells found in the bone marrow are immature cells that can develop into all types of blood cells, including RBCs, WBCs, and platelets. Development of cancer in such cells is called blood cancer or hematologic cancer.

The symptoms develop when the bone marrow and the blood cells get affected. Therefore, the production and function of these cells stop (like fighting against infections and repairing body cells) and the cancer cells grow out of control.

There are different kinds of blood cancers depending on the affected cells :

• Leukemia: A type of blood cancer which affects the white blood cells (leucocytes) and bone marrow leading to excess production of WBCs. So statement i true.
• Lymphoma: A type of blood cancer directly affecting the lymphatic system, breaking the shield against infectious diseases, affecting blood cells, spleen and bone marrow.
• Myeloma: A tumour of plasma cells (a type of WBCs) that prevents the production of antibodies thus weakening the immune system. Hence the body will become prone to infection and other diseases.

Figure : Types of blood cancer