How Cancer Starts, Grows and Spreads
Cancer is a disease that develops when cells that normally grow, repair themselves and die grow out of control. Cancer cells don’t behave as normal cells do and are therefore unable to supply the body with the nutrients it needs to survive. Eventually, they also interfere with the body’s ability to regulate growth and can spread to other parts of the body by entering the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Researchers now know a lot about how cancers start, grow and spread. The information helps them design better prevention, detection and treatment strategies.
The most important step in cancer prevention is regular screening with a health professional. Screening tests can find cancers early when they’re smaller and easier to treat.
Many cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations. These mutations change the instructions that control cell growth and division. They can also cause a gene to produce proteins that can cause the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than usual or to not stop growing when they should.
Most cancers develop gradually over time and grow until they reach a critical mass of cells that can no longer control their own growth. The mass of cancer cells that grows is called a tumor. In some cases, the first cancerous cell in a tissue becomes a cancer tumor that influences nearby cells to become cancerous and develop into a larger mass. Cancers that occur in the blood and bone marrow are called leukemias and lymphomas. They can be monoclonal (made up of only one type of cancerous cell) or polyclonal (made up of many different types of cancerous cells).
When a person has an illness or symptom that might be cancer, the health professional will look at the patient’s medical history and may do tests to check for cancer. If the doctor thinks the problem might be cancer, they will refer the patient for further tests and often for specialist treatment.
Some people with cancer are able to control their symptoms and continue living normally. This is called remission. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is called metastatic cancer. Some cancers, such as a type of skin cancer, are resistant to treatment and do not go into remission.
A person can reduce their risk of developing cancer by eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of physical activity and not smoking. People should also limit their intake of red meat and eat more fish and vegetables. It is also important to avoid processed meats like hot dogs, bacon and sausage because these contain chemicals called nitrates and nitrites, which are linked with colorectal cancer. It’s also a good idea to limit alcohol because drinking too much can increase a person’s risk of some types of cancer. Finally, getting enough regular exercise can help maintain a healthy weight and protect against a number of illnesses, including cancer. In addition, it helps to lower levels of hormones that are linked to some cancers.
Cancer is a disease that develops when cells that normally grow, repair themselves and die grow out of control. Cancer cells don’t behave as normal cells do and are therefore unable to supply the body with the nutrients it needs to survive. Eventually, they also interfere with the body’s ability to regulate growth and can spread to other parts of the body by entering the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Researchers now know a lot about how cancers start, grow and spread. The information helps them design better prevention, detection and treatment strategies. The most important step in cancer prevention is regular screening with a health professional. Screening tests can find cancers early when they’re smaller and easier to treat. Many cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations. These mutations change the instructions that control cell growth and division. They can also cause a gene to produce proteins that can cause the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than usual or to not stop growing when they should. Most cancers develop gradually over time and grow until they reach a critical mass of cells that can no longer control their own growth. The mass of cancer cells that grows is called a tumor. In some cases, the first cancerous cell in a tissue becomes a cancer tumor that influences nearby cells to become cancerous and develop into a larger mass. Cancers that occur in the blood and bone marrow are called leukemias and lymphomas. They can be monoclonal (made up of only one type of cancerous cell) or polyclonal (made up of many different types of cancerous cells). When a person has an illness or symptom that might be cancer, the health professional will look at the patient’s medical history and may do tests to check for cancer. If the doctor thinks the problem might be cancer, they will refer the patient for further tests and often for specialist treatment. Some people with cancer are able to control their symptoms and continue living normally. This is called remission. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is called metastatic cancer. Some cancers, such as a type of skin cancer, are resistant to treatment and do not go into remission. A person can reduce their risk of developing cancer by eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of physical activity and not smoking. People should also limit their intake of red meat and eat more fish and vegetables. It is also important to avoid processed meats like hot dogs, bacon and sausage because these contain chemicals called nitrates and nitrites, which are linked with colorectal cancer. It’s also a good idea to limit alcohol because drinking too much can increase a person’s risk of some types of cancer. Finally, getting enough regular exercise can help maintain a healthy weight and protect against a number of illnesses, including cancer. In addition, it helps to lower levels of hormones that are linked to some cancers.