Answer :
Answer: C) An abnormal growth of cells with the potential to invade other tissues
Explanation: Cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in the body. These cells can form tumors (except in the case of blood cancers like leukemia, where tumors are not formed) and have the potential to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymphatic system, a process known as metastasis.
The other options are incorrect because:
- A contagious viral infection:
Cancer is not a contagious disease and cannot be spread from person to person like a viral infection. While certain viruses (such as human papillomavirus, or HPV) can increase the risk of developing cancer, the disease itself is not infectious.
- A genetic disorder affecting blood cells:
While some cancers (such as leukemia) affect blood cells and can have a genetic component, cancer as a whole is not accurately described as a genetic disorder affecting blood cells. Cancer can arise in any tissue or organ in the body, not just the blood.
- A chronic autoimmune condition:
Cancer is not an autoimmune condition. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells. While the immune system plays a role in cancer (both in attempting to fight it and in some cases being suppressed by it), cancer itself is due to the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, not an autoimmune response.
