Cancer – What Is It And How Can It Affect You?
Cancer is the abnormal uncontrolled growth of cells that can spread to other parts of the body. It can cause symptoms such as pain, swelling, bleeding and tiredness. Cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. But some cancers don’t respond to treatment or may return. It is important to know your risk of getting cancer and talk with your doctor about screening tests. They can find some cancers early, when they are smaller and easier to treat. They can also find cancers before they start to cause any signs or symptoms.
Cancer starts when normal cells grow and divide too fast, or do not die when they should. The resulting excess cells build up in the tissue and can form a mass of cells called a tumor. When cancer cells begin to spread, they form new tumors or break off from the original tumor and enter the bloodstream, where they can travel to other parts of the body.
Cells that can survive and reproduce are better adapted to their environment than those that do not. This is because the cell population faces selection pressure from the surrounding tissue and ecological parameters (physical, chemical or biological). Selection pressure can favor traits that increase survival, proliferation or invasiveness, including resistance to apoptosis or ability to evade the immune system.
In addition, the invasive characteristics of some cancer cells make it easier for them to move from one tissue to another. This process is called metastasis. The spread of cancer is often accompanied by the formation of cysts, which are collections of fluid filled sacs that contain a mixture of old and new cancer cells. These cysts can be found in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, liver and lungs.
The causes of cancer are not fully understood. But many cancers seem to be caused by exposure to harmful substances, such as tobacco smoke, UV radiation from the sun and certain chemicals in some foods. Certain genetic changes, called mutations, are also associated with a person’s chance of getting cancer.
There is no single food, nutrient or vitamin that can protect against cancer. But a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins and limits alcohol, added sugars, saturated fats and sodium can help lower your cancer risk. Regular physical activity is also important.
If you experience a persistent problem, such as a painless lump in your breast, a cough that won’t go away or a sore in your mouth, see your doctor right away. Getting these problems checked can help save your life. If cancer is caught early, it is usually easier to treat and more likely to be curable. That’s why it is important to have routine screening tests, like mammograms, colonoscopies and prostate exams.
Cancer is the abnormal uncontrolled growth of cells that can spread to other parts of the body. It can cause symptoms such as pain, swelling, bleeding and tiredness. Cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. But some cancers don’t respond to treatment or may return. It is important to know your risk of getting cancer and talk with your doctor about screening tests. They can find some cancers early, when they are smaller and easier to treat. They can also find cancers before they start to cause any signs or symptoms. Cancer starts when normal cells grow and divide too fast, or do not die when they should. The resulting excess cells build up in the tissue and can form a mass of cells called a tumor. When cancer cells begin to spread, they form new tumors or break off from the original tumor and enter the bloodstream, where they can travel to other parts of the body. Cells that can survive and reproduce are better adapted to their environment than those that do not. This is because the cell population faces selection pressure from the surrounding tissue and ecological parameters (physical, chemical or biological). Selection pressure can favor traits that increase survival, proliferation or invasiveness, including resistance to apoptosis or ability to evade the immune system. In addition, the invasive characteristics of some cancer cells make it easier for them to move from one tissue to another. This process is called metastasis. The spread of cancer is often accompanied by the formation of cysts, which are collections of fluid filled sacs that contain a mixture of old and new cancer cells. These cysts can be found in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, liver and lungs. The causes of cancer are not fully understood. But many cancers seem to be caused by exposure to harmful substances, such as tobacco smoke, UV radiation from the sun and certain chemicals in some foods. Certain genetic changes, called mutations, are also associated with a person’s chance of getting cancer. There is no single food, nutrient or vitamin that can protect against cancer. But a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins and limits alcohol, added sugars, saturated fats and sodium can help lower your cancer risk. Regular physical activity is also important. If you experience a persistent problem, such as a painless lump in your breast, a cough that won’t go away or a sore in your mouth, see your doctor right away. Getting these problems checked can help save your life. If cancer is caught early, it is usually easier to treat and more likely to be curable. That’s why it is important to have routine screening tests, like mammograms, colonoscopies and prostate exams.