Cancer – What Is It and How Can It Affect You?
A group of diseases in which cells grow and multiply without control, forming tumors that invade nearby tissues and spread to distant parts of the body. Cancer can also cause other health problems, such as bone pain and a lack of energy (cachexia). Cancer kills 10 million people a year worldwide (18). It costs billions of dollars in medical care, lost income due to illness, and social disruption (e.g., loss of work and family). It also robs patients of their dignity and quality of life.
In multicellular organisms like humans, most cells specialize into tissue or organ fates and lose their progenitor properties for cell division. When cells deviate from this trajectory they undergo a process of cell death called programmed cell death. However, a subset of cell progenitor cells retain their ability to divide without restriction. These cells are called neoplastic, or malignant, cells (19).
Cancer develops when the genes that manage cell activity mutate, which creates abnormal cells. These abnormal cells grow and divide uncontrollably, crowding out normal cells. In some cases, these abnormal cells can even break out of the site of the original tumor and invade other parts of the body.
Normally, your body makes new cells as needed and replaces old or damaged ones. But sometimes these cells grow and divide too much, or they don’t die when they should. These extra cells may form a mass, or tumor, in which the newest and fastest growing cells thrive while the slower-growing or less aggressive cells are eliminated by natural selection (20). This process is known as clonal selection (21).
In addition to affecting genetics, environmental factors such as smoking and diet can influence your risk for cancer. Avoiding processed meats and consuming more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes can help reduce your risk for certain types of cancer. Avoiding exposure to environmental toxins can also lower your risk. Some of these toxins include asbestos fibers, hepatitis viruses, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Getting enough sleep and staying physically active can also protect you from some cancers.
There are many different treatments for cancer, depending on the type and where it starts in your body. Some treatment options involve surgery to remove the tumor. Other treatments use radiation or ablation (heating the tissues with X-rays or other sources) to kill cancer cells or keep them from spreading. These treatments can be delivered orally, by injection or directly to the skin. They can be given as an outpatient or in the hospital, and they can be used alone or in combination with other treatments.
A group of diseases in which cells grow and multiply without control, forming tumors that invade nearby tissues and spread to distant parts of the body. Cancer can also cause other health problems, such as bone pain and a lack of energy (cachexia). Cancer kills 10 million people a year worldwide (18). It costs billions of dollars in medical care, lost income due to illness, and social disruption (e.g., loss of work and family). It also robs patients of their dignity and quality of life. In multicellular organisms like humans, most cells specialize into tissue or organ fates and lose their progenitor properties for cell division. When cells deviate from this trajectory they undergo a process of cell death called programmed cell death. However, a subset of cell progenitor cells retain their ability to divide without restriction. These cells are called neoplastic, or malignant, cells (19). Cancer develops when the genes that manage cell activity mutate, which creates abnormal cells. These abnormal cells grow and divide uncontrollably, crowding out normal cells. In some cases, these abnormal cells can even break out of the site of the original tumor and invade other parts of the body. Normally, your body makes new cells as needed and replaces old or damaged ones. But sometimes these cells grow and divide too much, or they don’t die when they should. These extra cells may form a mass, or tumor, in which the newest and fastest growing cells thrive while the slower-growing or less aggressive cells are eliminated by natural selection (20). This process is known as clonal selection (21). In addition to affecting genetics, environmental factors such as smoking and diet can influence your risk for cancer. Avoiding processed meats and consuming more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes can help reduce your risk for certain types of cancer. Avoiding exposure to environmental toxins can also lower your risk. Some of these toxins include asbestos fibers, hepatitis viruses, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Getting enough sleep and staying physically active can also protect you from some cancers. There are many different treatments for cancer, depending on the type and where it starts in your body. Some treatment options involve surgery to remove the tumor. Other treatments use radiation or ablation (heating the tissues with X-rays or other sources) to kill cancer cells or keep them from spreading. These treatments can be delivered orally, by injection or directly to the skin. They can be given as an outpatient or in the hospital, and they can be used alone or in combination with other treatments.