The Warning Signs of Cancer
Cancer is an illness that develops when cells in your body start to grow and divide abnormally. The resulting mass of cells is called a tumour. Cancer can start in any part of the body and it can spread to other parts if it isn’t treated. Some types of cancer are easier to treat than others. But all cancers can cause serious health problems. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. That’s why it’s important to know the warning signs of cancer.
Cancer can develop slowly and may not show any symptoms for a long time. This is known as a latency period. This is why it’s important to go to the doctor if you think you have cancer or are at risk for getting it.
Most cancers are caused by things you can’t control, like your age or genes. But some cancers can be prevented by quitting smoking, eating more healthy foods, staying physically active and avoiding too much sun exposure. The American Cancer Society recommends that you discuss your risk factors with your doctor.
Scientists have learned that cancer is a process of evolution that starts when normal cells begin to divide uncontrollably and don’t die when they should. Over time, mutations accumulate in the genome of these cells. Mutations may cause a gene to stop working properly, causing the cell to keep growing and dividing when it shouldn’t. The mutations also change the way the cell looks and makes it more likely to form a tumor.
Unlike normal cells, which are homeostatically maintained at densities that leave them with sufficient access to resources, reasonable crowding and limited exposure to toxic metabolites, cancer cells proliferate without any controls. As a result, they pack into tissues at higher densities than normal cells. When cancer cells clump together, they form a lump of tissue (a tumor).
The first time scientists saw evidence of cancer was when they examined an abnormal mole that looked different from a regular one. They called this a malignant tumor and considered it to be fatal (2, 3). At this early stage of understanding cancer, the words “malignant” and “tumor” were used interchangeably. Later, people began to distinguish between benign tumors and malignant ones. Benign tumors can be removed surgically. Cancers that spread to other parts of the body are more dangerous and should be treated as malignant.
Treatment for cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays, such as X-rays or proton beams, to kill cancer cells. Hormone therapy stops cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow. Some patients receive bone marrow transplants to replace the bone marrow cells damaged by very high doses of chemotherapy and radiation.
Cancer is an illness that develops when cells in your body start to grow and divide abnormally. The resulting mass of cells is called a tumour. Cancer can start in any part of the body and it can spread to other parts if it isn’t treated. Some types of cancer are easier to treat than others. But all cancers can cause serious health problems. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. That’s why it’s important to know the warning signs of cancer. Cancer can develop slowly and may not show any symptoms for a long time. This is known as a latency period. This is why it’s important to go to the doctor if you think you have cancer or are at risk for getting it. Most cancers are caused by things you can’t control, like your age or genes. But some cancers can be prevented by quitting smoking, eating more healthy foods, staying physically active and avoiding too much sun exposure. The American Cancer Society recommends that you discuss your risk factors with your doctor. Scientists have learned that cancer is a process of evolution that starts when normal cells begin to divide uncontrollably and don’t die when they should. Over time, mutations accumulate in the genome of these cells. Mutations may cause a gene to stop working properly, causing the cell to keep growing and dividing when it shouldn’t. The mutations also change the way the cell looks and makes it more likely to form a tumor. Unlike normal cells, which are homeostatically maintained at densities that leave them with sufficient access to resources, reasonable crowding and limited exposure to toxic metabolites, cancer cells proliferate without any controls. As a result, they pack into tissues at higher densities than normal cells. When cancer cells clump together, they form a lump of tissue (a tumor). The first time scientists saw evidence of cancer was when they examined an abnormal mole that looked different from a regular one. They called this a malignant tumor and considered it to be fatal (2, 3). At this early stage of understanding cancer, the words “malignant” and “tumor” were used interchangeably. Later, people began to distinguish between benign tumors and malignant ones. Benign tumors can be removed surgically. Cancers that spread to other parts of the body are more dangerous and should be treated as malignant. Treatment for cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays, such as X-rays or proton beams, to kill cancer cells. Hormone therapy stops cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow. Some patients receive bone marrow transplants to replace the bone marrow cells damaged by very high doses of chemotherapy and radiation.