What is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease that starts in the cells that make up your body. Normally, your cells grow and die in a controlled way. But when a cell mutates (changes) and becomes cancerous, it divides uncontrollably and can spread to other parts of your body. If not treated, cancer can kill you.
Cancer begins when genes that manage cell activity mutate. Mutations can happen by chance, but more often they are caused by things you do or don’t do. Some people get cancer because of something they inherit from their family, such as a genetic disorder. Other people get cancer because of things they do, such as smoking or being exposed to radiation.
When you’re diagnosed with cancer, your doctor may give you a treatment plan based on the type of cancer you have and its stage. Your treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, and other types of therapy. It might also include lifestyle changes or support services.
You can lower your risk of getting cancer by taking healthy steps. A good diet, regular physical activity and not smoking can help you stay well. Talk to your healthcare team about the best ways to prevent cancer for you.
The hallmarks of cancer are heritable variation, struggle and that these characteristics are linked by natural selection. It’s important to recognize that evolution and natural selection are central to the disease and that they need to be included in any definition of cancer.
In cancer, the long runs of uncontrolled cell division and accumulation of oncogenic mutations create a population of cells that is unable to be homeostatically maintained at reasonable densities or rates of growth. Like populations of unicellular organisms, these densely packed cells are regulated by ecological parameters (physical, chemical and biological) that limit their access to nutrients, space and the accumulation of hazards.
These ecological limits lead to a systemic breakdown of the normal controls on cell growth. This is a rebellion of the driving forces of evolution against the body’s design and enforcement of order. This ongoing process, called clonal evolution, leads to the formation of tumors.
Many types of cancer are formed by epithelial cells, which are the cells that line the inside and outside surfaces of tissues and organs in your body. You can also get cancer when other types of cells mutate.
Cancer is a disease that starts in the cells that make up your body. Normally, your cells grow and die in a controlled way. But when a cell mutates (changes) and becomes cancerous, it divides uncontrollably and can spread to other parts of your body. If not treated, cancer can kill you. Cancer begins when genes that manage cell activity mutate. Mutations can happen by chance, but more often they are caused by things you do or don’t do. Some people get cancer because of something they inherit from their family, such as a genetic disorder. Other people get cancer because of things they do, such as smoking or being exposed to radiation. When you’re diagnosed with cancer, your doctor may give you a treatment plan based on the type of cancer you have and its stage. Your treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, and other types of therapy. It might also include lifestyle changes or support services. You can lower your risk of getting cancer by taking healthy steps. A good diet, regular physical activity and not smoking can help you stay well. Talk to your healthcare team about the best ways to prevent cancer for you. The hallmarks of cancer are heritable variation, struggle and that these characteristics are linked by natural selection. It’s important to recognize that evolution and natural selection are central to the disease and that they need to be included in any definition of cancer. In cancer, the long runs of uncontrolled cell division and accumulation of oncogenic mutations create a population of cells that is unable to be homeostatically maintained at reasonable densities or rates of growth. Like populations of unicellular organisms, these densely packed cells are regulated by ecological parameters (physical, chemical and biological) that limit their access to nutrients, space and the accumulation of hazards. These ecological limits lead to a systemic breakdown of the normal controls on cell growth. This is a rebellion of the driving forces of evolution against the body’s design and enforcement of order. This ongoing process, called clonal evolution, leads to the formation of tumors. Many types of cancer are formed by epithelial cells, which are the cells that line the inside and outside surfaces of tissues and organs in your body. You can also get cancer when other types of cells mutate.