Cancer – Causes, Treatments and Prevention
Cancer occurs when cells grow and divide out of control, forming tumours (cancerous growths) that can invade surrounding tissue or organs. It can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system.
Cancer is one of the world’s leading causes of death, but experts are working hard to find better treatments and ways to prevent it. The good news is that survival rates are improving year on year, thanks to improved detection and quality treatment.
All cancers start when normal cells become abnormal and begin to grow and divide without control or order. These abnormal cells may form a tumour, or a group of cancerous (malignant) cells that grow and spread into other tissues and organs, destroying them along the way.
Different types of cancer begin in different cells, and they affect different parts of the body. Some are more common than others, but all cancers cause a wide range of symptoms and can be difficult to treat.
To develop cancer, changes happen in a cell’s genes. Genes are long strings of code that contain instructions for how a cell should grow and divide. The genetic changes that lead to cancer are called mutations.
A mutation can happen for many reasons, including ageing, lifestyle choices and exposure to certain chemicals. A mutated gene can also be passed on from parents to their children, which is called inherited cancer. Mutations can also be caused by a virus, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes 90 percent of cervical cancers.
When a tumour is growing, it needs to get oxygen and nutrients from the blood. This is why cancerous cells often grow into nearby tissue and make enzymes that break down the healthy tissue around them. Cancers can also spread to other parts of the body by forming new blood vessels that bring them nourishment. This is called metastasis.
The main type of treatment is chemotherapy, which involves using drugs to destroy cancer cells and stop them from spreading. It can be given before surgery to shrink a tumour and make it easier to remove, or after to help reduce the risk of cancer returning. It can be given as a tablet, liquid or through a tube in the vein (intravenous, or IV).
Other types of treatment include radiation therapy and targeted therapy. With targeted therapy, doctors identify specific molecules on the surface of a cancer cell that help it grow and survive, then design a drug to attack these molecules. This type of treatment can be given as a tablet, liquid, or through a tube in the vein (intravenous, referred to as IV). It is less likely to harm healthy cells than standard chemotherapy. It is usually combined with other cancer treatments such as radiotherapy or surgery.
Cancer occurs when cells grow and divide out of control, forming tumours (cancerous growths) that can invade surrounding tissue or organs. It can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system. Cancer is one of the world’s leading causes of death, but experts are working hard to find better treatments and ways to prevent it. The good news is that survival rates are improving year on year, thanks to improved detection and quality treatment. All cancers start when normal cells become abnormal and begin to grow and divide without control or order. These abnormal cells may form a tumour, or a group of cancerous (malignant) cells that grow and spread into other tissues and organs, destroying them along the way. Different types of cancer begin in different cells, and they affect different parts of the body. Some are more common than others, but all cancers cause a wide range of symptoms and can be difficult to treat. To develop cancer, changes happen in a cell’s genes. Genes are long strings of code that contain instructions for how a cell should grow and divide. The genetic changes that lead to cancer are called mutations. A mutation can happen for many reasons, including ageing, lifestyle choices and exposure to certain chemicals. A mutated gene can also be passed on from parents to their children, which is called inherited cancer. Mutations can also be caused by a virus, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes 90 percent of cervical cancers. When a tumour is growing, it needs to get oxygen and nutrients from the blood. This is why cancerous cells often grow into nearby tissue and make enzymes that break down the healthy tissue around them. Cancers can also spread to other parts of the body by forming new blood vessels that bring them nourishment. This is called metastasis. The main type of treatment is chemotherapy, which involves using drugs to destroy cancer cells and stop them from spreading. It can be given before surgery to shrink a tumour and make it easier to remove, or after to help reduce the risk of cancer returning. It can be given as a tablet, liquid or through a tube in the vein (intravenous, or IV). Other types of treatment include radiation therapy and targeted therapy. With targeted therapy, doctors identify specific molecules on the surface of a cancer cell that help it grow and survive, then design a drug to attack these molecules. This type of treatment can be given as a tablet, liquid, or through a tube in the vein (intravenous, referred to as IV). It is less likely to harm healthy cells than standard chemotherapy. It is usually combined with other cancer treatments such as radiotherapy or surgery.