Final answer:
The immune system can often control cancer development, shown by its ability to manage certain virus-induced cancers through healthy immune responses and vaccinations. Ongoing research and development of cancer vaccines aim to utilize this innate feature to combat cancer more effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Even though cancer develops from our own cells, the immune system can control it in many cases. This can be demonstrated by the fact that a healthy immune system effectively controls certain types of cancers such as Kaposi's sarcoma, largely seen in individuals with weakened immune systems.
Additionally, cancers caused by viruses, like liver cancer from hepatitis B and cervical cancer from the human papilloma virus, can be prevented with vaccinations which stimulate the immune response. Furthermore, the immune system has specific cells that can recognize and destroy cancerous cells before they proliferate. However, some cancerous cells can evade detection, leading to tumor formation.
Research is gleaning insights into how cancer cells can suppress the immune system, and advances in cancer vaccines show promise in enhancing the body's ability to eliminate cancerous cells.