Cancer – What is It and How Can It Affect You?
Cancer is a disease that involves the growth of abnormal cells that can spread into other parts of the body. It can cause serious damage to organs, and it can affect your quality of life.
Cancer begins when certain genes in healthy cells change over time. These genes tell the cell how to grow and make copies of itself. When these genes change, they can start dividing more quickly than normal cells. They may also make too many proteins that help them grow and divide. This causes the cells to grow out of control and form a tumor.
There are many different kinds of cancer, and each has its own warning signs. You should watch for these warning signs and talk to your doctor if you have any of them.
The first step in cancer treatment is removing the tumor. This is usually done by surgery, which is performed by a surgeon who is specially trained in treating cancer. There are also medicines that can help to prevent or slow the growth of cancer. These are called chemotherapy drugs. They work differently for each type of cancer, and they are often used in combination.
For example, your doctor might prescribe a medicine to keep your immune system strong, so it can attack the cancer cells. He or she might also recommend radiation therapy to kill the cancer cells. Sometimes, the cancer cells are removed with a biopsy needle. The doctor might also remove the tissue from the body to check for cancer cells in other areas.
Scientists are learning more about how cancers develop and how to treat them. However, cancer still kills 10 million people each year worldwide. That’s a lot of people! Cancer can also be a terrible emotional and psychological burden on patients, their families, and their communities.
When cancers are found, it’s important to have tests to find them and treat them early. Regular screening tests can help to find cancers when they are small and less likely to spread. These tests include mammograms, colonoscopies, and cervical exams.
Having these tests is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of getting cancer. If you have a family history of cancer, you might consider genetic testing to find out your risk.
Some cancers are caused by lifestyle choices. For example, using tobacco and being overweight increase the risk of developing some cancers. Being exposed to ionizing radiation, certain infections, and viruses also increases the risk of developing cancer.
The early detection and treatment of cancer can save lives. Research in new treatments is advancing rapidly. These advances can help to improve the chances of cure for more types of cancer and even prevent some from starting in the first place. This research is especially promising for cancers that are caused by hereditary factors, such as melanoma and colon and ovarian cancers. In addition, vaccines are being developed that can protect against certain types of cancer.
Cancer is a disease that involves the growth of abnormal cells that can spread into other parts of the body. It can cause serious damage to organs, and it can affect your quality of life. Cancer begins when certain genes in healthy cells change over time. These genes tell the cell how to grow and make copies of itself. When these genes change, they can start dividing more quickly than normal cells. They may also make too many proteins that help them grow and divide. This causes the cells to grow out of control and form a tumor. There are many different kinds of cancer, and each has its own warning signs. You should watch for these warning signs and talk to your doctor if you have any of them. The first step in cancer treatment is removing the tumor. This is usually done by surgery, which is performed by a surgeon who is specially trained in treating cancer. There are also medicines that can help to prevent or slow the growth of cancer. These are called chemotherapy drugs. They work differently for each type of cancer, and they are often used in combination. For example, your doctor might prescribe a medicine to keep your immune system strong, so it can attack the cancer cells. He or she might also recommend radiation therapy to kill the cancer cells. Sometimes, the cancer cells are removed with a biopsy needle. The doctor might also remove the tissue from the body to check for cancer cells in other areas. Scientists are learning more about how cancers develop and how to treat them. However, cancer still kills 10 million people each year worldwide. That’s a lot of people! Cancer can also be a terrible emotional and psychological burden on patients, their families, and their communities. When cancers are found, it’s important to have tests to find them and treat them early. Regular screening tests can help to find cancers when they are small and less likely to spread. These tests include mammograms, colonoscopies, and cervical exams. Having these tests is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of getting cancer. If you have a family history of cancer, you might consider genetic testing to find out your risk. Some cancers are caused by lifestyle choices. For example, using tobacco and being overweight increase the risk of developing some cancers. Being exposed to ionizing radiation, certain infections, and viruses also increases the risk of developing cancer. The early detection and treatment of cancer can save lives. Research in new treatments is advancing rapidly. These advances can help to improve the chances of cure for more types of cancer and even prevent some from starting in the first place. This research is especially promising for cancers that are caused by hereditary factors, such as melanoma and colon and ovarian cancers. In addition, vaccines are being developed that can protect against certain types of cancer.