Our bodies are made of trillions of tiny cells, which are the basic “blocks” of life. These cells have various roles and regularly renew themselves. This process involves cell duplication followed by division, resulting in two identical cells.

Inside each cell is a nucleus, acting as a “brain”, which contains chromosomes made of genes. Genes, made of DNA, provide instructions for the cell’s precise growth.

During gene duplication, a cell splits into two, each inheriting a complete set of genes.

Healthy cells follow their genes’ instructions, growing and dividing in an organized way to replace old or damaged cells.

When a gene shows a change in the DNA instruction code, it is called a “mutation”. Mutations occur frequently and under normal circumstances, they are corrected by our body. The correction process is similar to the “spell check” function on a computer or mobile phone.  However, the “spell check” does not always operate properly and the DNA mutation becomes part of the cell’s blueprint. Over time, accumulated mutations result in the inability of cells to grow and divide normally. This can lead to uncontrolled growth and eventually tumor formation.

Chemotherapy drugs work by either damaging the DNA in the nucleus of fast-growing cells or by preventing them from dividing and growing. This happens when a cancer cell tries to copy its genes or is ready to divide.