Cancer – What is It and How Can It Affect You?
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that can invade and destroy normal body tissues. It usually starts in one part of the body and spreads to other parts through the blood or lymph system. The cancer cells can also break away from the tumor and travel to distant sites in the body, where they can grow and cause new cancers. Cancer can be found in all kinds of tissue, but it is most common in the skin, bones, lungs and liver.
Over the course of a lifetime, trillions of cells in our bodies grow, divide and replace themselves as needed. Normally, old or damaged cells die and are replaced by new ones. But sometimes something goes wrong and cells start to grow out of control, and they don’t die when they should. These extra cells can crowd out healthy cells and form a mass of abnormal cells called a tumor.
The different types of cancer are named for the organ or area of the body where they started, and for the type of cell that they are. Some cancers spread to other areas of the body, and are then named for the organ or area that they have spread to (metastasized). Cancer can also spread to the brain and nervous system, where it can cause headaches and stroke-like symptoms such as weakness on one side of the body.
There are many ways to treat cancer. These treatments include surgery, radiation and drugs that stop the growth of cancer cells or kill cancer cells. They can be given orally, such as a pill, capsule, tablet or liquid, or by delivering the drug directly to the site of the cancer, such as a radiation beam or a drug that targets only cancer cells. Some types of cancer are fueled by hormones, so other treatments are designed to block or remove these hormones from the body.
There are also many things that can lower your risk of developing cancer, such as a diet full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy oils. But there is no single food or nutrient that can prevent cancer, and too much alcohol increases your risk of getting it. Regular exercise and a healthy weight are also important. In addition, talking with other people who have cancer and joining a support group in person or online can be helpful. You can learn a lot from others’ experiences, and you may find that some treatments work better for some people than for others. The best way to know which treatment is right for you is to talk with your health care provider and make a plan together. This will help you feel as comfortable as possible throughout your cancer journey. You can also take an active role in your own health by taking part in research studies that are looking for new ways to treat and manage cancer. These studies can help improve future care for you and your loved ones.
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that can invade and destroy normal body tissues. It usually starts in one part of the body and spreads to other parts through the blood or lymph system. The cancer cells can also break away from the tumor and travel to distant sites in the body, where they can grow and cause new cancers. Cancer can be found in all kinds of tissue, but it is most common in the skin, bones, lungs and liver. Over the course of a lifetime, trillions of cells in our bodies grow, divide and replace themselves as needed. Normally, old or damaged cells die and are replaced by new ones. But sometimes something goes wrong and cells start to grow out of control, and they don’t die when they should. These extra cells can crowd out healthy cells and form a mass of abnormal cells called a tumor. The different types of cancer are named for the organ or area of the body where they started, and for the type of cell that they are. Some cancers spread to other areas of the body, and are then named for the organ or area that they have spread to (metastasized). Cancer can also spread to the brain and nervous system, where it can cause headaches and stroke-like symptoms such as weakness on one side of the body. There are many ways to treat cancer. These treatments include surgery, radiation and drugs that stop the growth of cancer cells or kill cancer cells. They can be given orally, such as a pill, capsule, tablet or liquid, or by delivering the drug directly to the site of the cancer, such as a radiation beam or a drug that targets only cancer cells. Some types of cancer are fueled by hormones, so other treatments are designed to block or remove these hormones from the body. There are also many things that can lower your risk of developing cancer, such as a diet full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy oils. But there is no single food or nutrient that can prevent cancer, and too much alcohol increases your risk of getting it. Regular exercise and a healthy weight are also important. In addition, talking with other people who have cancer and joining a support group in person or online can be helpful. You can learn a lot from others’ experiences, and you may find that some treatments work better for some people than for others. The best way to know which treatment is right for you is to talk with your health care provider and make a plan together. This will help you feel as comfortable as possible throughout your cancer journey. You can also take an active role in your own health by taking part in research studies that are looking for new ways to treat and manage cancer. These studies can help improve future care for you and your loved ones.