Cancer – What Is It and How Can You Prevent It?
A cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide out of control, invade and destroy nearby healthy tissue, and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer can be caused by genetic changes that are inherited or occur as the result of certain environmental exposures. Cancer can also be caused by errors that happen as cells are dividing. These genetic changes are sometimes called “driver mutations.”
In the mid-20th century, researchers began to understand more about how cancers develop and spread. They realized that cancers usually grow because of long runs of cell division and accumulation of driver mutations. They also understood that normal cells have the potential to become cancerous if they get too many driver mutations.
But it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that researchers realized that there are many different kinds of cancers and that they are not all the same. They have been able to distinguish between types of cancer by studying their genetic makeup and by the way they behave, such as how fast they grow and whether they invade other tissues.
There are several hundred types of cancers, each arising from a different tissue. Some are more common than others, but most cancers are rare and affect people of all ages. They often kill people because they disrupt normal bodily functions and interfere with how the body uses nutrients, metabolizes chemicals, or moves blood and lymph. In addition, they can infect the immune system and co-opt the body’s own cells to do their dirty work.
Cancers are named after the tissue or organ in which they begin, such as breast cancer and lung cancer. They are also named after the type of cell they begin in, such as a muscle cancer that starts in muscle cells. Many types of cancer are named after the type of cell they start in, such as leukemias (blood cancers) and solid tumors that start in tissues like the lungs and colon.
Scientists know that the more a person does to prevent cancer, the less likely they are to get it. This includes having regular cancer screening tests to find the disease in its earliest stages when it is easier to treat.
People can also reduce their risk of getting some cancers by making healthy choices, such as not smoking, being physically active, and eating a well-balanced diet that is low in fat and contains plenty of fruits and vegetables. Choosing healthy foods may help lower levels of hormones that are linked to some cancers. In addition, getting enough sleep is important because it helps the body manage stress. People with some cancers can also take medicines that stop cancer from growing and spreading. These medications include chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Chemotherapy targets cells that are dividing out of control and killing healthy cells. Targeted therapy zeroes in on the genes that make cancer cells grow and survive. The medicines are given in a pill or liquid that you swallow or through a vein (intravenously, or IV). Both chemotherapy and targeted therapy can cause side effects, but the newer treatments are less damaging to healthy cells than older drugs.
A cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide out of control, invade and destroy nearby healthy tissue, and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer can be caused by genetic changes that are inherited or occur as the result of certain environmental exposures. Cancer can also be caused by errors that happen as cells are dividing. These genetic changes are sometimes called “driver mutations.” In the mid-20th century, researchers began to understand more about how cancers develop and spread. They realized that cancers usually grow because of long runs of cell division and accumulation of driver mutations. They also understood that normal cells have the potential to become cancerous if they get too many driver mutations. But it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that researchers realized that there are many different kinds of cancers and that they are not all the same. They have been able to distinguish between types of cancer by studying their genetic makeup and by the way they behave, such as how fast they grow and whether they invade other tissues. There are several hundred types of cancers, each arising from a different tissue. Some are more common than others, but most cancers are rare and affect people of all ages. They often kill people because they disrupt normal bodily functions and interfere with how the body uses nutrients, metabolizes chemicals, or moves blood and lymph. In addition, they can infect the immune system and co-opt the body’s own cells to do their dirty work. Cancers are named after the tissue or organ in which they begin, such as breast cancer and lung cancer. They are also named after the type of cell they begin in, such as a muscle cancer that starts in muscle cells. Many types of cancer are named after the type of cell they start in, such as leukemias (blood cancers) and solid tumors that start in tissues like the lungs and colon. Scientists know that the more a person does to prevent cancer, the less likely they are to get it. This includes having regular cancer screening tests to find the disease in its earliest stages when it is easier to treat. People can also reduce their risk of getting some cancers by making healthy choices, such as not smoking, being physically active, and eating a well-balanced diet that is low in fat and contains plenty of fruits and vegetables. Choosing healthy foods may help lower levels of hormones that are linked to some cancers. In addition, getting enough sleep is important because it helps the body manage stress. People with some cancers can also take medicines that stop cancer from growing and spreading. These medications include chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Chemotherapy targets cells that are dividing out of control and killing healthy cells. Targeted therapy zeroes in on the genes that make cancer cells grow and survive. The medicines are given in a pill or liquid that you swallow or through a vein (intravenously, or IV). Both chemotherapy and targeted therapy can cause side effects, but the newer treatments are less damaging to healthy cells than older drugs.