Advances in the Field of Cancer Research
Cancer is a disease in which cells of the body grow out of control and form a mass of tissue called a tumor. Cancer can also spread to other parts of the body where it may cause further damage. Cancer can be curable if caught at an early stage.
Scientists are making progress in understanding the causes of cancer and how it develops. They know that many types of cancer begin when normal cells acquire one or more mutations. The mutations can be caused by environmental factors or by genes.
One of the important developments in scientists’ view of cancer was the recognition that tumors grow by a process called clonal expansion. Cancer cells develop from a normal cell and then reproduce and expand without controlling signals that normally stop cell growth. During this process the cancer cells produce extra copies of themselves, and they also acquire other traits that make them abnormal.
The development of the unified view of cancer also involved advances in the study of normal cells and the ways they function. Scientists learned that the characteristics of a normal cell are determined by the instructions encoded in its DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). The DNA in a normal cell is like a blueprint that directs all of the cell’s activities, such as growth, repair, and protein synthesis. In normal cells, if DNA is damaged the cell usually dies or undergoes a controlled process of repair. However, if a cell with damaged DNA is exposed to certain environmental factors it may be able to survive and multiply in an uncontrolled manner.
Another important area of research in cancer has been epidemiology, which studies the rates and patterns of the diseases that affect large groups of people. By studying cancer incidence, mortality, and survival data from a number of sources, scientists can identify specific factors that increase or decrease the probability of developing cancer.
Some of the most exciting recent developments in cancer research have come from studies of genes. Scientists have discovered a large number of genes that appear to be associated with the risk of certain cancers. By identifying these genes, researchers hope to develop methods for preventing or treating cancer.
Constant fatigue, despite good rest and exercise, is a warning sign that should not be ignored. It could be a sign of leukemia or other cancers that affect the bone marrow. Unexplained bleeding, especially after sex or after menopause is another sign that should be reported to your doctor.
There are several treatments for cancer, depending on the type and stage of cancer. Surgery may be an option for some cancers, especially those that haven’t spread to other parts of the body. Some cancers can be treated with radiation, either external beam or internal beam. Another treatment is chemotherapy, which kills cancer cells and some healthy cells. A newer form of chemotherapy, called targeted therapy, zeroes in on specific molecular targets in cancer cells to disable their ability to grow and spread.
Cancer is a disease in which cells of the body grow out of control and form a mass of tissue called a tumor. Cancer can also spread to other parts of the body where it may cause further damage. Cancer can be curable if caught at an early stage. Scientists are making progress in understanding the causes of cancer and how it develops. They know that many types of cancer begin when normal cells acquire one or more mutations. The mutations can be caused by environmental factors or by genes. One of the important developments in scientists’ view of cancer was the recognition that tumors grow by a process called clonal expansion. Cancer cells develop from a normal cell and then reproduce and expand without controlling signals that normally stop cell growth. During this process the cancer cells produce extra copies of themselves, and they also acquire other traits that make them abnormal. The development of the unified view of cancer also involved advances in the study of normal cells and the ways they function. Scientists learned that the characteristics of a normal cell are determined by the instructions encoded in its DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). The DNA in a normal cell is like a blueprint that directs all of the cell’s activities, such as growth, repair, and protein synthesis. In normal cells, if DNA is damaged the cell usually dies or undergoes a controlled process of repair. However, if a cell with damaged DNA is exposed to certain environmental factors it may be able to survive and multiply in an uncontrolled manner. Another important area of research in cancer has been epidemiology, which studies the rates and patterns of the diseases that affect large groups of people. By studying cancer incidence, mortality, and survival data from a number of sources, scientists can identify specific factors that increase or decrease the probability of developing cancer. Some of the most exciting recent developments in cancer research have come from studies of genes. Scientists have discovered a large number of genes that appear to be associated with the risk of certain cancers. By identifying these genes, researchers hope to develop methods for preventing or treating cancer. Constant fatigue, despite good rest and exercise, is a warning sign that should not be ignored. It could be a sign of leukemia or other cancers that affect the bone marrow. Unexplained bleeding, especially after sex or after menopause is another sign that should be reported to your doctor. There are several treatments for cancer, depending on the type and stage of cancer. Surgery may be an option for some cancers, especially those that haven’t spread to other parts of the body. Some cancers can be treated with radiation, either external beam or internal beam. Another treatment is chemotherapy, which kills cancer cells and some healthy cells. A newer form of chemotherapy, called targeted therapy, zeroes in on specific molecular targets in cancer cells to disable their ability to grow and spread.