Cancer – Causes, Symptoms and Prevention
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells begin to grow and divide out of control. Cancer cells don’t die when they should and also don’t mature as normal cells do. When cancer cells accumulate in a particular area of the body, they can form a tumour. This clump of abnormal cells can then spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system. Cancer can have many different symptoms depending on the type of cancer and its location. For example, cancer that affects the brain or nervous system can cause headaches and loss of function in one part of the body. Cancers that are found in the blood can prevent blood cells from performing their normal job of protecting the body against infection and stopping bleeding.
There are over 100 types of cancer and no two cancers are the same. Cancers can start in any type of cell in the body and can grow at a different rate than normal cells. Cancers that grow rapidly develop into a mass called a tumour and cancers that grow more slowly develop into a lump of tissue known as a nodule.
The causes of cancer aren’t fully understood, but some things increase the chance that a cell will become cancerous. Gene mutations are a common cause of cancer. When genes change, they no longer provide instructions that tell cells to grow and copy themselves correctly. Sometimes these genes make mistakes when they repair themselves, and this can lead to the formation of a cancer cell. It takes about 6 mutations for a normal cell to become cancerous. Some of these mutations can be inherited from parents and contribute to up to 10% of all cancer cases.
A healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce the risk of developing cancer. It is also important to avoid smoking and to get regular screening for some cancers, based on your age.
Certain chemicals and radiation can trigger the mistakes in a person’s cell blueprint that can lead to cancer. These cancer-causing agents are called carcinogens and include tobacco, UV radiation from sunlight and some workplace exposures. Cancers can also be caused by some infections like the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Prevention of these types of cancers includes vaccination and following a healthy diet and lifestyle. It is estimated that over a third of all cancers can be prevented by reducing a person’s risk factors for cancer. The risk of cancer increases with age, so it is particularly important to receive screening for some cancers at appropriate ages.
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells begin to grow and divide out of control. Cancer cells don’t die when they should and also don’t mature as normal cells do. When cancer cells accumulate in a particular area of the body, they can form a tumour. This clump of abnormal cells can then spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system. Cancer can have many different symptoms depending on the type of cancer and its location. For example, cancer that affects the brain or nervous system can cause headaches and loss of function in one part of the body. Cancers that are found in the blood can prevent blood cells from performing their normal job of protecting the body against infection and stopping bleeding. There are over 100 types of cancer and no two cancers are the same. Cancers can start in any type of cell in the body and can grow at a different rate than normal cells. Cancers that grow rapidly develop into a mass called a tumour and cancers that grow more slowly develop into a lump of tissue known as a nodule. The causes of cancer aren’t fully understood, but some things increase the chance that a cell will become cancerous. Gene mutations are a common cause of cancer. When genes change, they no longer provide instructions that tell cells to grow and copy themselves correctly. Sometimes these genes make mistakes when they repair themselves, and this can lead to the formation of a cancer cell. It takes about 6 mutations for a normal cell to become cancerous. Some of these mutations can be inherited from parents and contribute to up to 10% of all cancer cases. A healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce the risk of developing cancer. It is also important to avoid smoking and to get regular screening for some cancers, based on your age. Certain chemicals and radiation can trigger the mistakes in a person’s cell blueprint that can lead to cancer. These cancer-causing agents are called carcinogens and include tobacco, UV radiation from sunlight and some workplace exposures. Cancers can also be caused by some infections like the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Prevention of these types of cancers includes vaccination and following a healthy diet and lifestyle. It is estimated that over a third of all cancers can be prevented by reducing a person’s risk factors for cancer. The risk of cancer increases with age, so it is particularly important to receive screening for some cancers at appropriate ages.