Cancer – Causes, Treatments, and Symptoms
Cancer is a disease that happens when abnormal cells grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. It is a complex process, and different kinds of cancer have specific causes. Usually, it starts when genes that manage cell activity mutate. These mutations may be inherited or happen during life. Most of the time, mutations cause cells to grow and divide without controlling their growth. This causes the cells to build up until they become a tumor, or mass of cancerous cells. Some types of cancer can also spread to other parts of the body through blood or lymph.
Cancer treatments are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. There are many procedures and drugs that can be used to treat cancer, and more are being tested all the time. Some are “local” treatments, like surgery or radiation therapy, which target only a small area of the body. Others, like chemotherapy or immunotherapy, are more generalized treatments that affect a wide range of cells.
Some common cancer treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and biologic therapies. In addition, other treatments may help manage symptoms or prevent cancer from recurring. For example, hormonal therapy slows or stops cancer cells from releasing hormones that stimulate cell growth. Other treatments use hot or cold to freeze or destroy cancer cells. These include cryotherapy, brachytherapy, and electrosurgery (which uses powerful electrical currents). Some other treatments are more targeted toward the genes that make cancer cells grow and divide. These include targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy.
Other ways to help prevent or treat cancer include eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, not smoking or having unprotected sex, and getting regular screening tests for certain types of cancer. A healthy diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. Try to limit how much alcohol you drink, because just 1 drink a day can raise your risk for some cancers.
If you have a family history of cancer, you may be at higher risk for developing it yourself. Your doctor can tell you more about your risk.
Cancer symptoms depend on what kind you have and how advanced it is. They may include changes in your skin, such as red patches or moles that grow or change shape and color; pain in a part of your body; and feeling tired all the time. You may also have problems with your stomach, intestines, or bladder. If cancer has spread, you might have trouble breathing or have a fever. You might also have blood in your urine or stool.
Cancer is a disease that happens when abnormal cells grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. It is a complex process, and different kinds of cancer have specific causes. Usually, it starts when genes that manage cell activity mutate. These mutations may be inherited or happen during life. Most of the time, mutations cause cells to grow and divide without controlling their growth. This causes the cells to build up until they become a tumor, or mass of cancerous cells. Some types of cancer can also spread to other parts of the body through blood or lymph. Cancer treatments are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. There are many procedures and drugs that can be used to treat cancer, and more are being tested all the time. Some are “local” treatments, like surgery or radiation therapy, which target only a small area of the body. Others, like chemotherapy or immunotherapy, are more generalized treatments that affect a wide range of cells. Some common cancer treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and biologic therapies. In addition, other treatments may help manage symptoms or prevent cancer from recurring. For example, hormonal therapy slows or stops cancer cells from releasing hormones that stimulate cell growth. Other treatments use hot or cold to freeze or destroy cancer cells. These include cryotherapy, brachytherapy, and electrosurgery (which uses powerful electrical currents). Some other treatments are more targeted toward the genes that make cancer cells grow and divide. These include targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy. Other ways to help prevent or treat cancer include eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, not smoking or having unprotected sex, and getting regular screening tests for certain types of cancer. A healthy diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. Try to limit how much alcohol you drink, because just 1 drink a day can raise your risk for some cancers. If you have a family history of cancer, you may be at higher risk for developing it yourself. Your doctor can tell you more about your risk. Cancer symptoms depend on what kind you have and how advanced it is. They may include changes in your skin, such as red patches or moles that grow or change shape and color; pain in a part of your body; and feeling tired all the time. You may also have problems with your stomach, intestines, or bladder. If cancer has spread, you might have trouble breathing or have a fever. You might also have blood in your urine or stool.