Cancer – What is It and How Does It Affect You?
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells in the body begin to grow and divide out of control. These extra cells form a mass of tissue called a tumor. Cancer can also spread to other parts of the body when it breaks away from the original tumor and travels through the blood or lymph system. This is called metastasis.
Cancer cells are different from normal cells because of changes (mutations) in the genes that control how the cells grow and divide. Mutations can happen by chance or they can be triggered by certain things that are in the environment, such as tobacco smoke or exposure to radiation. The genetic changes that lead to cancer may be inherited or they can develop over time, such as when cells divide too many times.
Cells need a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients to grow and survive. When cancer cells start to grow out of control, they can crowd out healthy cells. This can cause problems with the organs or tissues where the cancer is growing, such as making it hard to breathe or causing pain in bones and joints. Cancer can also spread when the abnormal cells break away from the tumor and travel to other areas of the body.
Some types of cancer are more likely to spread than others. Scientists study risk factors and protective factors to find ways to prevent cancers from starting and to help find better treatments for people with cancer.
Different cancers grow in different ways, but all cancers are dangerous. They can kill you if they grow out of control and spread to other parts of the body, but they can be treated with medicines that stop cancer cells from growing, cure cancer or make them less likely to return after treatment.
The way a cancer is diagnosed and staged (how far the cancer has grown or spread) helps doctors decide which treatment is best for you. Some cancers show warning signs that you should call your doctor about, but other cancers don’t have early warning signs and can be harder to detect. Each type of cancer has its own staging system, but most cancers are staged based on where they started in the body and how much they have spread. Different stages mean different treatments. Doctors use different tools to diagnose cancer and determine its stage, such as imaging tests, a biopsy or surgery. They also use medicines to stop cancer from spreading or to ease symptoms that you may have.
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells in the body begin to grow and divide out of control. These extra cells form a mass of tissue called a tumor. Cancer can also spread to other parts of the body when it breaks away from the original tumor and travels through the blood or lymph system. This is called metastasis. Cancer cells are different from normal cells because of changes (mutations) in the genes that control how the cells grow and divide. Mutations can happen by chance or they can be triggered by certain things that are in the environment, such as tobacco smoke or exposure to radiation. The genetic changes that lead to cancer may be inherited or they can develop over time, such as when cells divide too many times. Cells need a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients to grow and survive. When cancer cells start to grow out of control, they can crowd out healthy cells. This can cause problems with the organs or tissues where the cancer is growing, such as making it hard to breathe or causing pain in bones and joints. Cancer can also spread when the abnormal cells break away from the tumor and travel to other areas of the body. Some types of cancer are more likely to spread than others. Scientists study risk factors and protective factors to find ways to prevent cancers from starting and to help find better treatments for people with cancer. Different cancers grow in different ways, but all cancers are dangerous. They can kill you if they grow out of control and spread to other parts of the body, but they can be treated with medicines that stop cancer cells from growing, cure cancer or make them less likely to return after treatment. The way a cancer is diagnosed and staged (how far the cancer has grown or spread) helps doctors decide which treatment is best for you. Some cancers show warning signs that you should call your doctor about, but other cancers don’t have early warning signs and can be harder to detect. Each type of cancer has its own staging system, but most cancers are staged based on where they started in the body and how much they have spread. Different stages mean different treatments. Doctors use different tools to diagnose cancer and determine its stage, such as imaging tests, a biopsy or surgery. They also use medicines to stop cancer from spreading or to ease symptoms that you may have.