How Does Cancer Escape the Body’s Defenses?

Did you know that your immune system is like a superhero team that can eliminate cancer cells before they are even detectable? Cancer starts when changes occur in the DNA of normal cells, causing them to turn into cancerous cells. Luckily, the body’s defense team—the immune system—is designed to detect these changes and fight the cancer cells. But why do people still get cancer? Scientists have developed a theory that explains this fight through three key phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape. In the elimination phase, the immune system, like a vigilant hero, gets rid of most of the tumor cells. The cells that survive enter a sleep-like state called equilibrium. Eventually, these cells can wake up and use clever tactics to evade the immune system, moving into the escape phase. Understanding this process can help researchers develop new treatments to better combat cancer.