Cancer – What Causes It and How to Prevent It
Cancer is a disease that occurs when your body’s cells start to grow and divide uncontrollably. Eventually these extra cells can form tumors that may invade and damage your healthy tissues. If left untreated, cancer can kill you. But scientists have learned a lot about how cancer develops and how to treat it. They have also developed ways to prevent cancer and keep it from coming back after treatment.
Cancer has many causes. Some are related to what you do, such as smoking or being overweight. Other factors are related to the environment, such as exposure to radiation or certain chemicals. Still others are inherited from genes that are passed down through your family. And aging can cause changes that increase your chances of developing cancer.
One of the key discoveries that helped scientists understand cancer was the fact that all living tissues are composed of cells, the smallest units of the body that make up each organ and tissue type. Cell biologists began to study the characteristics of normal cells, and from these they could infer what was happening when cells became malignant or abnormal.
At first, the findings were not very clear. Each new observation seemed to contradict the last, leading to great confusion about cancer. It was not until about 1910 that a very clear and simple explanation for cancer was constructed, based on the work of two scientists named Hooke and Virchow.
These scientists were able to show that cancer was an infection, and they attributed the infections to microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses. Their studies prompted scientists to begin searching for agents that might cause cancer. Some of these agents were external, such as X-rays or other forms of radiation; others were internal, such as chronic irritation of tissues or the accumulation of toxins in a body over time.
The current view of how cancer starts in the human body is much more complex than the simple notions that led to these early observations. Using sophisticated techniques, scientists are now able to examine the molecular changes that occur in a normal cell as it becomes precancerous or cancerous. These molecular changes, called mutations, give precancerous cells the ability to grow out of control.
Cancer cells can be detected by examining a sample of your blood or tissue for abnormalities. They can also be found by X-ray, CT scans or other tests. Some cancers can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Others need more aggressive treatments, such as immunotherapy or gene therapy.
Researchers are now working to develop newer and more effective treatments for cancer. Some of these new treatments are being tested in clinical trials, and some people with cancer choose to participate in those trials in order to receive cutting-edge care that might help them survive the disease. Currently, 3 out of every 5 people with cancer will have surgery to remove the tumor. During surgery, doctors try to remove as many cancer cells as possible. They will also take out some healthy cells and tissue to make sure the cancer can’t grow back.
Cancer is a disease that occurs when your body’s cells start to grow and divide uncontrollably. Eventually these extra cells can form tumors that may invade and damage your healthy tissues. If left untreated, cancer can kill you. But scientists have learned a lot about how cancer develops and how to treat it. They have also developed ways to prevent cancer and keep it from coming back after treatment. Cancer has many causes. Some are related to what you do, such as smoking or being overweight. Other factors are related to the environment, such as exposure to radiation or certain chemicals. Still others are inherited from genes that are passed down through your family. And aging can cause changes that increase your chances of developing cancer. One of the key discoveries that helped scientists understand cancer was the fact that all living tissues are composed of cells, the smallest units of the body that make up each organ and tissue type. Cell biologists began to study the characteristics of normal cells, and from these they could infer what was happening when cells became malignant or abnormal. At first, the findings were not very clear. Each new observation seemed to contradict the last, leading to great confusion about cancer. It was not until about 1910 that a very clear and simple explanation for cancer was constructed, based on the work of two scientists named Hooke and Virchow. These scientists were able to show that cancer was an infection, and they attributed the infections to microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses. Their studies prompted scientists to begin searching for agents that might cause cancer. Some of these agents were external, such as X-rays or other forms of radiation; others were internal, such as chronic irritation of tissues or the accumulation of toxins in a body over time. The current view of how cancer starts in the human body is much more complex than the simple notions that led to these early observations. Using sophisticated techniques, scientists are now able to examine the molecular changes that occur in a normal cell as it becomes precancerous or cancerous. These molecular changes, called mutations, give precancerous cells the ability to grow out of control. Cancer cells can be detected by examining a sample of your blood or tissue for abnormalities. They can also be found by X-ray, CT scans or other tests. Some cancers can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Others need more aggressive treatments, such as immunotherapy or gene therapy. Researchers are now working to develop newer and more effective treatments for cancer. Some of these new treatments are being tested in clinical trials, and some people with cancer choose to participate in those trials in order to receive cutting-edge care that might help them survive the disease. Currently, 3 out of every 5 people with cancer will have surgery to remove the tumor. During surgery, doctors try to remove as many cancer cells as possible. They will also take out some healthy cells and tissue to make sure the cancer can’t grow back.