Page 103 - The Miracle of the Immune System
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The Enemies Of The System
the body and lymphatic fluids by piercing the cell membrane. The strug-
gle will continue even as the cancer spreads. As the cancer cells develop
further, the defence cells help to inhibit the progress of the disease, result-
ing in remission.
One of the systems within human cells which prevent the spread of
cancer cells is "apoptosis", which causes the suicide of the cell. Apoptosis
is seen when the DNA of the cell is damaged, or a tumour develops, or the
effectiveness of the P53 gene — also known as the "cancer preventing
gene" — lessens. Though apoptosis may appear to be a very negative
event, it is actually highly important, as it blocks such vital disorders and
prevents the disease from passing on to the next generation. When com-
pared to the potential danger imposed by the cancer cells, which are like-
ly to damage the entire human body, the loss of a single cell is much more
acceptable. Cells within the human body that realize (!) that there is a dis-
When required, the cell
commits suicide in a disci-
plined manner.
