Cancer – What is It and How Does It Affect You?
Cancer is a complex disease that affects people in different ways. Some cancers are cured and people live long lives after treatment. For many people, though, cancer is fatal.
Cancer happens when cells, which are the building blocks of your body, grow and divide without control. Normally, your cells form new ones as needed and old or damaged cells die. But if your genes — the instructions that govern how your cells grow and die — get mutated, they can start to make too many new cells or cause old or abnormal cells to keep growing. This leads to a mass of cells that forms a tumor.
The cancer cells’ uncontrolled growth, spread, and movement, their use of nutrients, metabolites, and space, and the way they co-opt normal noncancerous cells all disrupt the normal function of your body. In addition, the tumors’ growth and spread often cause pain and other symptoms. Finally, the way the cells invade surrounding tissues and interact with immune system cells can cause additional problems.
When cancer is found, tests are done to find out how much it has grown and if it has spread from the place it started (the primary site). These are called staging tests. The stage of the cancer helps your doctor decide how to treat it.
Most cancers begin in your blood cells, but they can also grow in the organs and other tissues of your body. They are named for the part of the body where they started, such as breast, lung, or colorectal cancer. Some types of cancers are more dangerous than others, and the more a cancer spreads, the harder it is to treat.
The causes of cancer aren’t fully understood, but they likely include genetics and a person’s environment. Some cancers are caused by viruses like human papillomavirus, EBV or Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B and C viruses, and Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus. Other types of cancer are related to lifestyle choices, such as smoking and exposure to radiation or certain chemicals.
Sometimes cancers don’t cause any symptoms and are only detected through routine exams. But most cancers have some signs and symptoms. Symptoms may be mild or severe. They can appear in one part of the body or another and be present for a short or long time. If you have any of the following signs or symptoms, talk to your doctor right away.
Cancer is a complex disease that affects people in different ways. Some cancers are cured and people live long lives after treatment. For many people, though, cancer is fatal. Cancer happens when cells, which are the building blocks of your body, grow and divide without control. Normally, your cells form new ones as needed and old or damaged cells die. But if your genes — the instructions that govern how your cells grow and die — get mutated, they can start to make too many new cells or cause old or abnormal cells to keep growing. This leads to a mass of cells that forms a tumor. The cancer cells’ uncontrolled growth, spread, and movement, their use of nutrients, metabolites, and space, and the way they co-opt normal noncancerous cells all disrupt the normal function of your body. In addition, the tumors’ growth and spread often cause pain and other symptoms. Finally, the way the cells invade surrounding tissues and interact with immune system cells can cause additional problems. When cancer is found, tests are done to find out how much it has grown and if it has spread from the place it started (the primary site). These are called staging tests. The stage of the cancer helps your doctor decide how to treat it. Most cancers begin in your blood cells, but they can also grow in the organs and other tissues of your body. They are named for the part of the body where they started, such as breast, lung, or colorectal cancer. Some types of cancers are more dangerous than others, and the more a cancer spreads, the harder it is to treat. The causes of cancer aren’t fully understood, but they likely include genetics and a person’s environment. Some cancers are caused by viruses like human papillomavirus, EBV or Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B and C viruses, and Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus. Other types of cancer are related to lifestyle choices, such as smoking and exposure to radiation or certain chemicals. Sometimes cancers don’t cause any symptoms and are only detected through routine exams. But most cancers have some signs and symptoms. Symptoms may be mild or severe. They can appear in one part of the body or another and be present for a short or long time. If you have any of the following signs or symptoms, talk to your doctor right away.