This animation depicts how free radicals can damage cells and lead to cancer and how antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables can halt, slow down, or reverse the cancer process.

How Free Radicals Damage Cells

NORMAL
Carcinogen enters cell and produces free radical.

INITIATED
Free radical causes damage to DNA and other molecules in the cell and initiates the cancer process.

DYSPLASIA
Initiated cells change size and shape, leading to dysplasia.

CIS Dysplasia transitions to carcinoma in situ.

CANCER
Cancer cells invade neighboring tissues as cancer spreads.

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How Antioxidants Affect the Process

NORMAL
Carcinogen enters cell and produces free radical.

INITIATED
Anitoxidants enter cell or are present in cell

Anitoxidants prevent free radicals from causing damage to DNA and other molecules.

The initation process is slowed down or reversed.

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The depictions at the right are meant as one example of cell damage and repair. Several repair mechanisms protect the cells from damage by carcinogens and free radicals.

Antioxidants such as those found is selenium, Vitamins C and E, and components in soy and tea, are one of the protective mechanisms that slow down or reverse the stages of pre-cancer.