‘Terrifying’ timelapse video reveals how cancer cells double within DAYS to become ‘killer colonies’

A UNIVERSITY student has revealed the shocking speed which cancer cells can grow in a jaw-dropping demonstration.

Sophie Williams, an oncology PhD student, captured the fascinating growth of triple-negative breast cancer cells in an artificial environment in her lab in Nottingham, UK.

Her main role is researching cell culture, including breast cancer cells, an exploring how fast they grow with different treatments an environments.

The 23-year-old, from Nottingham, intended to highlight the process of growing cancer cells, educate, and raise awareness among viewers, but her video went viral.

Having amassed more than 7.4 million views on TikTok, Sophie was shocked at the interest and support the video had brought to many who had experienced cancer in their lives.

The video shows Sophie looking under a microscope at cancer cells on day one, two, three and then four.

She explains on day one, the cell count is low and the cells have a circular shape. The cells have also not yet developed any other structures.

By day two, Sophie says the cells start to develop spindle-like structures, making them appear stretched out. It’s at this point, she says, the cells start to grow rapidly.

On day three, the spindle structures appear more noticeable, says Sophie. At this point, cells start to double in population just over a day.

She then explains by day four that the cells start to link together using stellar projections.

To avoid overconfluency (a condition in cell culture where cells reach a high density and compete for space) she advises the cells need to be transferred into a new flash, she says.

She then picks up a small flask where viewers can see cancer cell colonies that have formed.

Sophie said: “Some viewers found the video interesting to watch and enjoyed it.

“They also asked loads of questions which makes me pleased that people are thinking about it.

“Some other viewers found the video very scary to watch, understandably.

“However, sometimes it’s important to share stuff like this so that people don’t just turn a blind eye to cancer.

“It’s very important to check yourself and get screening if you’re concerned about something.”

One viewer said: “Wow! This explains why my TNBC went from a pea-sized lump to a golf ball in a month!”

Another commented: “This is terrifying!”

Cancers that spread quickly

Triple-negative breast cancer is one of many cancers considered more aggressive and that can spread quickly.

Pancreatic cancer is a fast-moving and dangerous cancer that’s difficult to detect early. 

It can cause painful symptoms like stomach pain and blocked bile ducts.

Merkel cell carcinoma is another fast-growing cancer that spreads quickly to other parts of the body.

It’s a type of skin cancer that develops when Merkel cells in the skin’s outer layer grow out of control.

Treatment options depend on whether the cancer has spread beyond the skin. 

Small cell lung cancer is a fast-growing type of lung cancer that often spreads before diagnosis. 

Treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy can help slow the spread. 

Other aggressive types of cancer include acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia (aggressive types of leukaemia), and glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer.

In contrast, some cancers, like prostate cancer, grow so slowly that a doctor may recommend a “watchful waiting” approach.

The UK’s cancer screening programmes

There are three screening programmes in the UK – bowel cancer screening, breast cancer screening, and cervical screening.

As part of the bowel cancer screening programme, bowel cancer testing kit are sent out every two years to people who can take part.

You need to be registered with a GP to receive your screening invitations.

The test, which is done at home, is called FIT – Faecal Immunochemical Test – and looks for tiny traces of blood.

The kit contains instructions of what to do including a prepaid envelope to send the sample to the hospital.

The NHS Breast Screening Programme invites all women from the age of 50 to 70 registered with a GP for screening every three years.

 Breast screening uses a test called mammography which involves taking x-rays of the breasts.

The NHS cervical screening programme invites women between 25 and 64 for cervical screening.

The smear test, as it’s known, uses a soft brush to collect a small sample of cells from the cervix, which are then sent off to a lab for testing.

What to do if you think you have cancer

If you have symptoms that you think may be cancer, you should contact your GP immediately. 

It’s important to seek help early because finding cancer early makes it easier to treat.

Accurately diagnosing cancer can take weeks or months.

As many cancers often develop slowly over several years, waiting for a few weeks will not usually impact on the effectiveness of treatment, says the NHS.