Cancer – A Disease That Affects All Parts of the Body
Cancer is a disease that can affect any part of the body. It starts when cells become abnormal and grow out of control, forming tumors that can spread to other parts of the body. There are over 100 different types of cancer, but all cancers have one thing in common: They start when cells develop mutations and grow out of control. Cancers are usually caused by mistakes in the genes that are passed from parents to children, but they can also be a result of certain lifestyle choices (such as smoking and excessive sun exposure).
Cells are the very small building blocks that make up all living things, including humans. Every day, billions of cells in the body divide to produce more cells, and old cells die to make way for new ones. This process, which is called normal growth, happens millions of times a day.
A normal cell has a control center where long strings of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) are stored that give instructions on how the cell should behave. These genes tell the cell when to grow and when to die. Normally, these cells are supervised by the immune system, which destroys any abnormal or damaged cells. Cancer cells, however, don’t get the same message and continue to grow even if they are abnormal and can’t repair themselves or die. Cancer cells may also ignore signals that stop them from growing or that cause them to die, and they can hide from the body’s immune system to avoid being destroyed.
There are many different symptoms of cancer, depending on the type and where it is in the body. Some signs and symptoms are common, such as a lump or a cough that doesn’t go away. Other signs and symptoms are more specific, such as a fever, extreme tiredness (fatigue), or weight loss.
Symptoms can also be due to the way the cancer cells use energy or release substances that change how the body makes food. Some symptoms, such as fatigue and lack of appetite, can be a sign that the cancer is spreading.
The most common treatment for cancer is surgery. During surgery, doctors remove as much of the cancer as possible along with healthy tissue surrounding it. Other treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, are used to help kill any remaining cancer cells or to slow down the cancer’s growth. Newer drugs are constantly being developed to treat cancer and improve survival rates. Most people with cancer are treated in a hospital, but some cancers can be treated at home. The most important thing to do if you think you have cancer is to talk to your doctor. If you have a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer, you should share this information with your doctor so that you can discuss genetic testing and counseling. This can help you understand if you have a higher risk of developing cancer in the future and take steps to reduce your risk.
Cancer is a disease that can affect any part of the body. It starts when cells become abnormal and grow out of control, forming tumors that can spread to other parts of the body. There are over 100 different types of cancer, but all cancers have one thing in common: They start when cells develop mutations and grow out of control. Cancers are usually caused by mistakes in the genes that are passed from parents to children, but they can also be a result of certain lifestyle choices (such as smoking and excessive sun exposure). Cells are the very small building blocks that make up all living things, including humans. Every day, billions of cells in the body divide to produce more cells, and old cells die to make way for new ones. This process, which is called normal growth, happens millions of times a day. A normal cell has a control center where long strings of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) are stored that give instructions on how the cell should behave. These genes tell the cell when to grow and when to die. Normally, these cells are supervised by the immune system, which destroys any abnormal or damaged cells. Cancer cells, however, don’t get the same message and continue to grow even if they are abnormal and can’t repair themselves or die. Cancer cells may also ignore signals that stop them from growing or that cause them to die, and they can hide from the body’s immune system to avoid being destroyed. There are many different symptoms of cancer, depending on the type and where it is in the body. Some signs and symptoms are common, such as a lump or a cough that doesn’t go away. Other signs and symptoms are more specific, such as a fever, extreme tiredness (fatigue), or weight loss. Symptoms can also be due to the way the cancer cells use energy or release substances that change how the body makes food. Some symptoms, such as fatigue and lack of appetite, can be a sign that the cancer is spreading. The most common treatment for cancer is surgery. During surgery, doctors remove as much of the cancer as possible along with healthy tissue surrounding it. Other treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, are used to help kill any remaining cancer cells or to slow down the cancer’s growth. Newer drugs are constantly being developed to treat cancer and improve survival rates. Most people with cancer are treated in a hospital, but some cancers can be treated at home. The most important thing to do if you think you have cancer is to talk to your doctor. If you have a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer, you should share this information with your doctor so that you can discuss genetic testing and counseling. This can help you understand if you have a higher risk of developing cancer in the future and take steps to reduce your risk.