Cancer at UCSF
Cancer is a disease that develops from abnormal cells in the body. These cells have mistakes in their genetic blueprint that cause them to break out of control and grow uncontrollably. The cells can form a mass of abnormal tissue called a tumor, or they may spread to other parts of the body.
Cancer Starts in a Single Cell
Normally, your body’s cells are under restraint and do not grow or divide without a plan. When one cell dies, another takes its place in the body. But in some cancers, these normal rules break down and the cancerous cells can keep growing and spreading.
These types of cancers are usually named for the part of the body where they started (called the primary site). For example, if breast cancer spreads to the lungs, it is called metastatic breast cancer. This type of cancer is often fatal because it can stop other parts of the body from functioning properly.
The Basics of Cancer
Once cancer has formed, it can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments kill the cancer cells and help to shrink a tumor. Other treatments are used to relieve symptoms, such as pain or shortness of breath.
Your Care Team
At UCSF, your cancer care team includes doctors, nurses and other health professionals who are specially trained to treat your particular cancer. They work together to ensure that you get the best possible treatment and have a high chance of recovery.
They also help you cope with the effects of your cancer and the side effects of treatment. They can also teach you about the different kinds of cancer and ways to reduce your risk of developing it in the future.
Your treatment choices depend on the type and stage of your cancer, as well as your preferences and other factors. You and your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks of each treatment option before making a decision about which one is right for you.
You can also ask your doctor about a number of different ways to reduce your risk of developing cancer in the future, such as regular screenings for certain types of cancer or taking specific vitamins and supplements. These methods can be very effective, but they may have side effects or other consequences that you and your doctor are not aware of.
A New Understanding of Cancer
As researchers have studied the biology of cancer, they have come to realize that the formation of a tumor is a series of changes that occurs in successive clonal expansions from one ancestral cell. These changes can include rearrangements, duplications and deletions of chromosomes that cause the tumor’s progeny to display an array of unusual traits.
These changes are important to explain how cancer starts and why some people are more likely than others to develop it. They are also essential for developing strategies to prevent cancer and treat it when it is discovered.
Cancer is a disease that develops from abnormal cells in the body. These cells have mistakes in their genetic blueprint that cause them to break out of control and grow uncontrollably. The cells can form a mass of abnormal tissue called a tumor, or they may spread to other parts of the body. Cancer Starts in a Single Cell Normally, your body’s cells are under restraint and do not grow or divide without a plan. When one cell dies, another takes its place in the body. But in some cancers, these normal rules break down and the cancerous cells can keep growing and spreading. These types of cancers are usually named for the part of the body where they started (called the primary site). For example, if breast cancer spreads to the lungs, it is called metastatic breast cancer. This type of cancer is often fatal because it can stop other parts of the body from functioning properly. The Basics of Cancer Once cancer has formed, it can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments kill the cancer cells and help to shrink a tumor. Other treatments are used to relieve symptoms, such as pain or shortness of breath. Your Care Team At UCSF, your cancer care team includes doctors, nurses and other health professionals who are specially trained to treat your particular cancer. They work together to ensure that you get the best possible treatment and have a high chance of recovery. They also help you cope with the effects of your cancer and the side effects of treatment. They can also teach you about the different kinds of cancer and ways to reduce your risk of developing it in the future. Your treatment choices depend on the type and stage of your cancer, as well as your preferences and other factors. You and your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks of each treatment option before making a decision about which one is right for you. You can also ask your doctor about a number of different ways to reduce your risk of developing cancer in the future, such as regular screenings for certain types of cancer or taking specific vitamins and supplements. These methods can be very effective, but they may have side effects or other consequences that you and your doctor are not aware of. A New Understanding of Cancer As researchers have studied the biology of cancer, they have come to realize that the formation of a tumor is a series of changes that occurs in successive clonal expansions from one ancestral cell. These changes can include rearrangements, duplications and deletions of chromosomes that cause the tumor’s progeny to display an array of unusual traits. These changes are important to explain how cancer starts and why some people are more likely than others to develop it. They are also essential for developing strategies to prevent cancer and treat it when it is discovered.