The main types of genes in cancer are:
- Tumour suppressor genes: these normally slow or stop cells from dividing. When a tumour suppressor gene is turned on or doesn’t work properly cells can grow out of control and cause cancer
- Oncogenes: normally called proto-oncogenes which help our cells grow, divide, and stay alive. If a proto-oncogene is turned on it when it is not supposed to it becomes an oncogene and can allow cancer to grow and spread.
- DNA repair genes: when cells divide, they need to make a copy of themselves, but sometimes mistakes are made. DNA repair genes fix or repair these genes. If something is wrong with a DNA repair gene it can allow mistakes to build up and cause cells to grow out of control.
