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Cancer also called Carcinoma or Malignant tumor, the uncontrolled growth
of abnormal cells in the body. It is characterized
by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the
ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer also has the
ability to spread throughout your body. Cancer grows out of normal cells in the body. Normal cells multiply when
the body needs them, and die when the body doesn't need them. Cancer appears to
occur when the growth of cells in the body is out of control and cells divide
too quickly.
Signs and symptoms of Cancer
Some
general signs and symptoms associated with cancer include:
- Weight changes, including unintended loss or gain
- Skin changes, such as yellowing, darkening or redness of the skin, sores that won't heal, or changes to existing moles
- Changes in bowel or bladder habits
- Persistent cough
- Difficulty swallowing
- Fatigue
- Lump or area of thickening that can be felt under the skin
- Muscle or joint pain
- Night sweats
Symptoms of cancer depend on the type and location of the cancer. For example, lung cancer can cause coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain. Colon
Some cancers may not have any symptoms at all. In certain cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, symptoms often do not start until the disease has reached an advanced stage.
The three most common cancers in men are:
Prostate cancer
Lung cancer
In women, the three most common cancers are:
Breast cancer
Lung cancer
Some cancers are more common in certain parts of the world. For example, in Japan , there are many cases of stomach cancer, but in the United States
Some other types of cancers include:
Brain cancer
Cervical cancer
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Kidney cancer
Leukemia
Liver cancer
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Ovarian cancer
Skin cancer
Testicular cancer
Thyroid cancer
Uterine cancer
Causes of cancer
Cancer can develop in almost any organ or tissue, such as the lung, colon, breast, skin, bones, or nerve tissue.
There are many causes of cancer, including:
Causes of cancer
Cancer can develop in almost any organ or tissue, such as the lung, colon, breast, skin, bones, or nerve tissue.
There are many causes of cancer, including:
- Genetic problems
- Asbestos, benzene and other chemicals
- Drinking excess alcohol
- Environmental toxins, means any cause that is not inherited genetically, such as lifestyle, economic and behavioral factors, and not merely pollution
- Excessive sunlight exposure
- Obesity
- Radiation
Understanding
Cancer – Diagnosis
The earlier cancer
is diagnosed and treated, the better the chance of its being cured. Some types
of cancer -- such as those of the skin, breast, mouth, testicles, prostate, and
rectum - may be detected by routine self-exam or other screening measures
before the symptoms become serious.
Your doctor may use one or more approaches to diagnose cancer:
Physical exam. Your doctor may feel areas of your body for lumps that may indicate a tumor. During a physical exam, he or she may look for abnormalities, such as changes in skin color or enlargement of an organ, that may indicate the presence of cancer.
Laboratory tests. Laboratory tests, such as urine and blood tests, may help your doctor identify abnormalities that can be caused by cancer. For instance, in people with leukemia, a common blood test called complete blood count (CBC) may reveal an unusual number of white blood cells.
Imaging tests. Imaging tests allow your doctor to examine your bones and internal organs in a noninvasive way. Imaging tests used in diagnosing cancer may include a computerized tomography (CT) scan, bone scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and X-ray, among others.
Biopsy. During a biopsy, your doctor collects a sample of cells for testing in the laboratory. There are several ways of collecting a sample. Which biopsy procedure is right for you depends on your type of cancer and its location. In most cases, a biopsy is the only way to definitively diagnose cancer.
In the laboratory, doctors look at cell samples under the microscope. Normal cells look uniform, with similar sizes and orderly organization. Cancer cells look less orderly, with varying sizes and without apparent organization.
Cancer
Treatment
Treatment varies based on the type of cancer and its stage. The stage of a cancer refers to how much it has grown and whether the tumor has spread from its original location. Many treatment options for cancer exist with the primary ones including the following –
Surgery - Remove the cancer or as much of the cancer as possible.
Chemotherapy - Uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
Radiation
therapy - using
high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells. Radiation
treatment can come from a machine outside your body (external beam radiation),
or it can be placed inside your body (brachytherapy)
Palliative
care – Helps to relieve
side effects of treatment or signs and symptoms caused by cancer itself.
Stem cell transplant - Stem cell transplant is also known as bone marrow transplant.
Your bone marrow is the material inside your bones that makes blood cells
from blood stem cells. A stem cell transplant can use your own stem cells
or stem cells from a donor.
Biological therapy - Biological therapy uses
your body's immune system to fight cancer. Cancer can survive unchecked in
your body because your immune system doesn't recognize it as an intruder.
Biological therapy can help your immune system "see" the cancer
and attack it.
Hormone therapy - Some types of cancer are fueled by your body's hormones.
Examples include breast cancer and prostate cancer. Removing those
hormones from the body or blocking their effects may cause the cancer
cells to stop growing.
Targeted drug therapy - Targeted drug treatment focuses on specific abnormalities
within cancer cells that allow them to survive.
Which
treatments are used depends upon the type, location and grade of the cancer as
well as the person's health and wishes.
Cancer Prevention Steps - You can reduce the risk of getting a cancerous (malignant) tumor by:
Stop smoking and chewing tobacco. Smoking is linked to several types of cancer — not just lung cancer. Stopping now will reduce your risk of cancer in the future.
Avoid excessive sun exposure. Harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can increase your risk of skin cancer. Limit your sun exposure by staying in the shade, wearing protective clothing or applying sunscreen.
Eat a healthy diet. Choose a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Select whole grains and lean proteins.
Exercise most days of the week. Regular exercise is linked to a lower risk of cancer. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese may increase your risk of cancer. Work to achieve and maintain a healthy weight through a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Drink alcohol in moderation, if you choose to drink. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit yourself to one drink a day if you're a woman or two drinks a day if you're a man.
Schedule cancer screening exams. Talk to your doctor about what types of cancer screening exams are best for you based on your risk factors.
Ask your doctor about immunizations. Certain viruses increase your risk of cancer. Immunizations may help prevent those viruses, including hepatitis B, which increases the risk of liver cancer, and human papilloma virus (HPV), which increases the risk of cervical cancer and other cancers. Ask your doctor whether immunization against these viruses is appropriate for you.
Cancer Support
Each person finds his or her own way of coping with the emotional and physical changes cancer brings. But when you're first diagnosed with cancer, sometimes it's difficult to know what to do next.
Each person finds his or her own way of coping with the emotional and physical changes cancer brings. But when you're first diagnosed with cancer, sometimes it's difficult to know what to do next.
Here are some ideas to help you cope:
Learn more about your cancer to make decisions about your care. Ask your doctor about your cancer, including your treatment options. As you learn more about cancer, you may become more confident in making treatment decisions.
Keep friends and family close. Keeping your close relationships strong will help you deal with your cancer. Friends and family can provide the practical support and can serve as emotional support when you feel overwhelmed by cancer.
Find someone to talk with. Find a good listener such as a counselor, medical social worker, clergy member or cancer support group, who is willing to listen to you talk about your hopes and fears. This may be a friend or family member.
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