Cancer – What it is and How to Prevent It
Cancer is not one disease, it’s a group of more than 100 diseases that start when normal cells grow out of control and don’t die as they should. Over time, these abnormal cells may grow into a mass of tissue called a tumour. Cancer can also spread when some of these abnormal cells break away and travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. This is called secondary cancer and it can stop organs or tissues from working properly.
Cancer can happen in any part of the body and it starts when normal cells go wrong. Cells are the basic building blocks of tissue and over a lifetime they normally grow and develop to replace older or damaged ones. If something goes wrong with these cells and they keep growing or don’t die when they should, there can be too many cells which can crowd out healthy cells. This can lead to a lump or growth (a tumor) in the skin, muscle, bones or other organs or it can be found in the blood vessels and lymphatic system where it is called leukaemia.
Some types of cancer have early warning signs which can be similar to the common cold or other health conditions. If you have any new or unusual symptoms it’s important to let your doctor know. This will give them a chance to find out more about what’s going on and, if needed, can start treatment as soon as possible.
Many types of cancer can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices. Regular exercise, eating a balanced diet and not smoking can help lower the risk of developing cancer. Avoiding foods that are high in fat or processed, such as cured meats like bacon and hot dogs, can also help reduce the risk of some cancers. Limiting alcohol intake is also a good idea – women should have no more than 1 drink a day and men should have no more than 2 drinks a day.
If a lump or bump doesn’t go away, get it checked by your doctor. They can do a physical exam and check your medical history. They will probably take a sample of the lump or growth for testing.
A biopsy is a test that checks for cancer. It involves taking a small sample of the lump or growth and looking at it under a microscope. The results will tell doctors whether the lump is cancer or not and if it has spread to other parts of the body.
There are lots of different treatments for cancer and the type of treatment will depend on what kind you have, where it started and how far it has spread. Your treatment plan may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Sometimes these are used together to improve the chances of a cure. Follow-up care is just as important as the initial treatment. This includes routine screening tests and visits to your GP if you have any new or unusual symptoms.
Cancer is not one disease, it’s a group of more than 100 diseases that start when normal cells grow out of control and don’t die as they should. Over time, these abnormal cells may grow into a mass of tissue called a tumour. Cancer can also spread when some of these abnormal cells break away and travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. This is called secondary cancer and it can stop organs or tissues from working properly. Cancer can happen in any part of the body and it starts when normal cells go wrong. Cells are the basic building blocks of tissue and over a lifetime they normally grow and develop to replace older or damaged ones. If something goes wrong with these cells and they keep growing or don’t die when they should, there can be too many cells which can crowd out healthy cells. This can lead to a lump or growth (a tumor) in the skin, muscle, bones or other organs or it can be found in the blood vessels and lymphatic system where it is called leukaemia. Some types of cancer have early warning signs which can be similar to the common cold or other health conditions. If you have any new or unusual symptoms it’s important to let your doctor know. This will give them a chance to find out more about what’s going on and, if needed, can start treatment as soon as possible. Many types of cancer can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices. Regular exercise, eating a balanced diet and not smoking can help lower the risk of developing cancer. Avoiding foods that are high in fat or processed, such as cured meats like bacon and hot dogs, can also help reduce the risk of some cancers. Limiting alcohol intake is also a good idea – women should have no more than 1 drink a day and men should have no more than 2 drinks a day. If a lump or bump doesn’t go away, get it checked by your doctor. They can do a physical exam and check your medical history. They will probably take a sample of the lump or growth for testing. A biopsy is a test that checks for cancer. It involves taking a small sample of the lump or growth and looking at it under a microscope. The results will tell doctors whether the lump is cancer or not and if it has spread to other parts of the body. There are lots of different treatments for cancer and the type of treatment will depend on what kind you have, where it started and how far it has spread. Your treatment plan may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Sometimes these are used together to improve the chances of a cure. Follow-up care is just as important as the initial treatment. This includes routine screening tests and visits to your GP if you have any new or unusual symptoms.