Cancer – What Causes It and How to Cure It
Cancer is one of the most devastating diseases that we humans can suffer from. It affects a person’s physical health and mental well-being, disrupting their relationships with friends and family members. It can also cause significant economic loss due to lost work. Cancer is also a deadly disease, killing 10 million people per year globally.
All cancers begin when cells become abnormal and out of control. These abnormal cells grow and divide without controlling signals that normally stop cell growth or that trigger them to die when they’re no longer needed. The resulting cells can then grow into groups of abnormal cells called tumors, which can spread throughout the body. Cancer cells can also invade and destroy normal tissues. They can disrupt organ function, causing pain and other symptoms. They can also interfere with the body’s immune system, enabling them to escape from detection by the immune system and continue growing.
For decades, scientists struggled to understand what caused cancer. We now know that most cancers result from a combination of genetic changes and environmental influences. These include smoking, radiation exposure, viruses, certain foods and chemicals (carcinogens), obesity, hormones, chronic inflammation and a lack of exercise.
Unlike normal cells, cancer cells can acquire new mutations (or changes in genes) over time and continue to evolve. This evolution enables them to adapt to the changing conditions of the body. These adaptations allow cancer cells to survive and thrive. Cancer cells can do this by ignoring signals that normally tell cells to stop growing or to die (a process called programmed cell death). Cancer cells also ignore signals that normally cause normal cells to move around the body and find new places to live. Cancer cells can also develop the ability to tell blood vessels to grow toward tumors so they can get the oxygen and nutrients they need. Cancer cells can also develop the ability to hide from the immune system by reprogramming other cells to help them stay alive and grow.
There are many ways to treat cancer, from surgery to chemotherapy. The goal of treatment is to cure the cancer, but if this is not possible, it is important to control the disease and reduce side effects. New treatments are always being tested. For example, immunotherapy aims to restore the body’s natural ability to fight off cancer. Another way to treat cancer is by reducing the levels of hormones that fuel the cancer. Lastly, targeted drug therapy seeks out specific abnormalities that allow cancer cells to survive. These treatments may be used on their own or together.
Cancer is one of the most devastating diseases that we humans can suffer from. It affects a person’s physical health and mental well-being, disrupting their relationships with friends and family members. It can also cause significant economic loss due to lost work. Cancer is also a deadly disease, killing 10 million people per year globally. All cancers begin when cells become abnormal and out of control. These abnormal cells grow and divide without controlling signals that normally stop cell growth or that trigger them to die when they’re no longer needed. The resulting cells can then grow into groups of abnormal cells called tumors, which can spread throughout the body. Cancer cells can also invade and destroy normal tissues. They can disrupt organ function, causing pain and other symptoms. They can also interfere with the body’s immune system, enabling them to escape from detection by the immune system and continue growing. For decades, scientists struggled to understand what caused cancer. We now know that most cancers result from a combination of genetic changes and environmental influences. These include smoking, radiation exposure, viruses, certain foods and chemicals (carcinogens), obesity, hormones, chronic inflammation and a lack of exercise. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells can acquire new mutations (or changes in genes) over time and continue to evolve. This evolution enables them to adapt to the changing conditions of the body. These adaptations allow cancer cells to survive and thrive. Cancer cells can do this by ignoring signals that normally tell cells to stop growing or to die (a process called programmed cell death). Cancer cells also ignore signals that normally cause normal cells to move around the body and find new places to live. Cancer cells can also develop the ability to tell blood vessels to grow toward tumors so they can get the oxygen and nutrients they need. Cancer cells can also develop the ability to hide from the immune system by reprogramming other cells to help them stay alive and grow. There are many ways to treat cancer, from surgery to chemotherapy. The goal of treatment is to cure the cancer, but if this is not possible, it is important to control the disease and reduce side effects. New treatments are always being tested. For example, immunotherapy aims to restore the body’s natural ability to fight off cancer. Another way to treat cancer is by reducing the levels of hormones that fuel the cancer. Lastly, targeted drug therapy seeks out specific abnormalities that allow cancer cells to survive. These treatments may be used on their own or together.