Cancer – What it is and How it Affects Us
Cancer is a disease that starts in cells. Cells are the basic building blocks of our bodies and make up tissues and organs. Cancer forms when cells grow out of control and spread into surrounding tissue. This process is called metastasis. Cancer can affect almost any part of the body. There are more than 100 types of cancer and each type has its own set of signs and symptoms.
All cancers start when some cells become abnormal and start growing out of control. Most cancers start in the skin or in blood vessels but can form in any cell in the body. Some cancers are more likely to form in specific parts of the body, like the lungs or bowel. The five most common cancers are lung, breast, prostate, bladder and colorectal.
There are many reasons why normal cells may change and develop into cancer. Some of these changes are caused by things we can avoid, such as smoking or overexposure to sunlight. Other causes are related to things we can’t avoid, such as the viruses that cause hepatitis B, hepatitis C or human papillomavirus infection, or by certain chemicals or environmental toxins.
Most cancers start when abnormal cells start to grow and divide without stopping or dying as they should. These abnormal cells can also spread into nearby tissues and damage or destroy them. As the cancer continues to grow, it may form a lump or tumour. Cancer cells can also move to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system. This process is called metastasis.
The immune system is a group of cells and organs that work together to protect the body against infections and diseases. It’s made up of a network of cells and organs including the spleen, thymus, tonsils and lymph nodes in the neck. The lymphatic system consists of the ducts that run from the lymph nodes to the bloodstream and the blood vessels that carry fluid in between the tissues.
A person’s chances of developing cancer are partly down to their genes and family history. But there are many other things that can increase the chance of developing cancer, such as smoking and a diet low in fruits and vegetables, being overweight or not enough physical activity, drinking alcohol, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or tanning beds. About 4 in 10 cancers are caused by preventable factors.
Some cancers, such as leukaemia and some lymphoma, begin in blood cells and don’t form solid tumours. But most cancers start in cells that line blood vessels, muscles and other tissue throughout the body. Some cancers also form in the bone marrow, the soft spongy area inside most bones. These types of cancers are called non-solid tumours or hematologic cancers.
Cancer is a disease that starts in cells. Cells are the basic building blocks of our bodies and make up tissues and organs. Cancer forms when cells grow out of control and spread into surrounding tissue. This process is called metastasis. Cancer can affect almost any part of the body. There are more than 100 types of cancer and each type has its own set of signs and symptoms. All cancers start when some cells become abnormal and start growing out of control. Most cancers start in the skin or in blood vessels but can form in any cell in the body. Some cancers are more likely to form in specific parts of the body, like the lungs or bowel. The five most common cancers are lung, breast, prostate, bladder and colorectal. There are many reasons why normal cells may change and develop into cancer. Some of these changes are caused by things we can avoid, such as smoking or overexposure to sunlight. Other causes are related to things we can’t avoid, such as the viruses that cause hepatitis B, hepatitis C or human papillomavirus infection, or by certain chemicals or environmental toxins. Most cancers start when abnormal cells start to grow and divide without stopping or dying as they should. These abnormal cells can also spread into nearby tissues and damage or destroy them. As the cancer continues to grow, it may form a lump or tumour. Cancer cells can also move to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system. This process is called metastasis. The immune system is a group of cells and organs that work together to protect the body against infections and diseases. It’s made up of a network of cells and organs including the spleen, thymus, tonsils and lymph nodes in the neck. The lymphatic system consists of the ducts that run from the lymph nodes to the bloodstream and the blood vessels that carry fluid in between the tissues. A person’s chances of developing cancer are partly down to their genes and family history. But there are many other things that can increase the chance of developing cancer, such as smoking and a diet low in fruits and vegetables, being overweight or not enough physical activity, drinking alcohol, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or tanning beds. About 4 in 10 cancers are caused by preventable factors. Some cancers, such as leukaemia and some lymphoma, begin in blood cells and don’t form solid tumours. But most cancers start in cells that line blood vessels, muscles and other tissue throughout the body. Some cancers also form in the bone marrow, the soft spongy area inside most bones. These types of cancers are called non-solid tumours or hematologic cancers.