Cancer Information
Cancer Information
This article describes what cancer is, how it develops and how different types of cancer are treated. It also discusses how a healthy lifestyle can help prevent some types of cancer.
Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells in the body start to grow and divide out of control. These abnormal cells can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Cancer can be cured or controlled with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Some types of cancer can be prevented by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco and limiting the amount of alcohol consumed.
Cancer occurs when genes in cells change or break down. Genes are the blueprints that control how the body grows and repairs itself. When genes change, they stop the cell from dividing normally or from repairing itself when damaged. Over time, cancer cells can build up and form a mass of tissue called a tumor. The cancer may be benign or malignant (cancerous).
Benign tumors do not spread. But malignant cancers can spread to other parts of the body. Once they get there, they can spread into other organs and tissues by pushing on the normal cells around them. This process is called local invasion or metastasis. The cancer can also spread to other parts of the body when it breaks away from the original mass and travels through the blood or lymphatic system to another area.
Whenever possible, doctors try to cure cancer. If a cancer cannot be cured, doctors treat it to keep it from growing or spreading and to relieve symptoms. A cancer treatment plan includes primary and adjuvant treatments. Adjuvant treatments are used after the primary treatment to kill any remaining cancer cells and reduce the chances that the cancer will recur. Examples of adjuvant therapies include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
Surgery removes a tumor or part of a tumor. It is the most common form of cancer treatment. Doctors can remove cancerous and noncancerous tissue with a scalpel or other sharp tool, or with a laser or another type of device. Surgery can be done in the hospital or at home.
Chemotherapy uses strong medicines to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. These medicines can be given by vein (IV), in a pill or liquid that you swallow or as a cream that you put on the skin. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells or to shrink them. It can be delivered from a machine outside the body (external beam radiation) or from a small machine placed inside your body, such as in your chest or abdomen (brachytherapy).
Hormone therapy blocks the production of certain hormones that can help cancer cells grow. It is often used to treat breast and prostate cancer. Bone marrow transplant replaces bone marrow with healthy stem cells to replace those that have been destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy or radiation.
Cancer Information This article describes what cancer is, how it develops and how different types of cancer are treated. It also discusses how a healthy lifestyle can help prevent some types of cancer. Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells in the body start to grow and divide out of control. These abnormal cells can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Cancer can be cured or controlled with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Some types of cancer can be prevented by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco and limiting the amount of alcohol consumed. Cancer occurs when genes in cells change or break down. Genes are the blueprints that control how the body grows and repairs itself. When genes change, they stop the cell from dividing normally or from repairing itself when damaged. Over time, cancer cells can build up and form a mass of tissue called a tumor. The cancer may be benign or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumors do not spread. But malignant cancers can spread to other parts of the body. Once they get there, they can spread into other organs and tissues by pushing on the normal cells around them. This process is called local invasion or metastasis. The cancer can also spread to other parts of the body when it breaks away from the original mass and travels through the blood or lymphatic system to another area. Whenever possible, doctors try to cure cancer. If a cancer cannot be cured, doctors treat it to keep it from growing or spreading and to relieve symptoms. A cancer treatment plan includes primary and adjuvant treatments. Adjuvant treatments are used after the primary treatment to kill any remaining cancer cells and reduce the chances that the cancer will recur. Examples of adjuvant therapies include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Surgery removes a tumor or part of a tumor. It is the most common form of cancer treatment. Doctors can remove cancerous and noncancerous tissue with a scalpel or other sharp tool, or with a laser or another type of device. Surgery can be done in the hospital or at home. Chemotherapy uses strong medicines to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. These medicines can be given by vein (IV), in a pill or liquid that you swallow or as a cream that you put on the skin. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells or to shrink them. It can be delivered from a machine outside the body (external beam radiation) or from a small machine placed inside your body, such as in your chest or abdomen (brachytherapy). Hormone therapy blocks the production of certain hormones that can help cancer cells grow. It is often used to treat breast and prostate cancer. Bone marrow transplant replaces bone marrow with healthy stem cells to replace those that have been destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy or radiation.