Cancer – Causes, Treatments, and Prevention
Cancer is a group of diseases that can develop in almost any part of the body. These are called tumors (say: tuh-muh-uhs) and neoplasms (say: noh-muh-muh-sis). This group includes over 100 different kinds of cancer, but they can all be treated effectively.
There are many things that can cause cancer, including genetic changes, chemicals, and lifestyle choices. But these factors all have to come together and build up over time for someone to develop cancer.
The first step in developing cancer is the accumulation of mutations, or changes to a cell’s DNA. These changes can disrupt the normal way that cells grow and divide. These changes can happen when a person’s genes are faulty or when environmental factors like smoking or sun exposure change the way the body uses its genes.
These changes can make cancer cells grow out of control and start to form a tumor, which is a large mass of abnormal cells. Sometimes the tumor grows to the point where it invades other parts of the body and spreads to other organs or tissues, a process called metastasis.
When cancer cells break away from the original tumor and travel to other areas of the body, they keep growing and can form new tumors. These new tumors are called secondary tumors and often spread to other parts of the body.
This is how most people get cancer. The most common cancers in adults are lung, prostate, breast, and colon. But other types of cancers are also common, such as stomach and skin.
Usually, these cancers can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, or drug treatments such as chemotherapy. Some people also receive immune therapies or targeted therapies.
These therapies target the specific genetic changes that are making the cancer cells grow and multiply. They are sometimes given in a doctor’s office or at home through an intravenously (IV) tube, or through a machine that delivers drugs directly to the affected area of the body.
Chemotherapy helps kill the cancer cells by damaging their DNA, making them less likely to survive and multiply. It can be a very effective treatment when used as part of a combination with other kinds of treatments.
Another important factor in preventing cancer is avoiding substances that can damage a person’s cells and raise their risk of getting it. Chemicals found in weedkillers, cleaning products, and some household items can be harmful. They may also cause cancer if you breathe them in.
Other environmental or occupational hazards can also increase your risk of getting cancer. Some of these include chemicals in paint, air pollution, or asbestos.
Some chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and into the lungs when we breathe them in, or they can enter the bloodstream from the gut or the cervix (the opening of the female reproductive organ). These are known as carcinogens.
There are other ways to lower your risk of getting cancer, such as taking care to protect yourself from the sun and avoiding certain foods or drinks that can be toxic. But the best thing you can do is to be aware of the risks and take steps to avoid them.
Cancer is a group of diseases that can develop in almost any part of the body. These are called tumors (say: tuh-muh-uhs) and neoplasms (say: noh-muh-muh-sis). This group includes over 100 different kinds of cancer, but they can all be treated effectively. There are many things that can cause cancer, including genetic changes, chemicals, and lifestyle choices. But these factors all have to come together and build up over time for someone to develop cancer. The first step in developing cancer is the accumulation of mutations, or changes to a cell’s DNA. These changes can disrupt the normal way that cells grow and divide. These changes can happen when a person’s genes are faulty or when environmental factors like smoking or sun exposure change the way the body uses its genes. These changes can make cancer cells grow out of control and start to form a tumor, which is a large mass of abnormal cells. Sometimes the tumor grows to the point where it invades other parts of the body and spreads to other organs or tissues, a process called metastasis. When cancer cells break away from the original tumor and travel to other areas of the body, they keep growing and can form new tumors. These new tumors are called secondary tumors and often spread to other parts of the body. This is how most people get cancer. The most common cancers in adults are lung, prostate, breast, and colon. But other types of cancers are also common, such as stomach and skin. Usually, these cancers can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, or drug treatments such as chemotherapy. Some people also receive immune therapies or targeted therapies. These therapies target the specific genetic changes that are making the cancer cells grow and multiply. They are sometimes given in a doctor’s office or at home through an intravenously (IV) tube, or through a machine that delivers drugs directly to the affected area of the body. Chemotherapy helps kill the cancer cells by damaging their DNA, making them less likely to survive and multiply. It can be a very effective treatment when used as part of a combination with other kinds of treatments. Another important factor in preventing cancer is avoiding substances that can damage a person’s cells and raise their risk of getting it. Chemicals found in weedkillers, cleaning products, and some household items can be harmful. They may also cause cancer if you breathe them in. Other environmental or occupational hazards can also increase your risk of getting cancer. Some of these include chemicals in paint, air pollution, or asbestos. Some chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and into the lungs when we breathe them in, or they can enter the bloodstream from the gut or the cervix (the opening of the female reproductive organ). These are known as carcinogens. There are other ways to lower your risk of getting cancer, such as taking care to protect yourself from the sun and avoiding certain foods or drinks that can be toxic. But the best thing you can do is to be aware of the risks and take steps to avoid them.