A detailed YouTube animation by Dr. Vinay Samuel Gaikwad reveals the chilling process of cancer development. It shows how mutations in cells cause them to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors that can be benign or malignant.
Cancer continues to impact millions, with the American Cancer Society estimating over two million new cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths in the US in 2025. The video explains that malignant tumors spread through a process called metastasis, invading nearby tissues and organs.
The causes of these mutations are often unclear, but certain risk factors increase the chance of cancer. The video’s scientific detail left many viewers feeling disturbed, with some wondering how cancer was managed before hospitals existed.
Another video by Dr. Paulien Moyaert showed how cancer can cause organ failure, with tumors blocking digestion or causing the pancreas to “digest itself,” a hallmark of one of the deadliest cancers.
Lung cancer can cause death by suffocation. The simulation also highlights how cancer and chemotherapy weaken the immune system by damaging bone marrow, reducing blood cell production.
Cancer cells in bone marrow cause anemia, lower infection-fighting white blood cells, and reduce platelets, increasing bleeding risks.
Cachexia, a wasting syndrome caused by cancer toxins, leads to rapid weight and muscle loss, affecting half of cancer patients and causing many deaths, especially in pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancers.
While treatments can control cachexia temporarily, cancer’s progression often overwhelms the body. This simulation offers a sobering view of cancer’s impact on the human body.
