What is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells in the body grow and multiply out of control. Cells are the basic building blocks of the body and make up tissues and organs. Normally, cells grow and divide to replace old or damaged ones, but sometimes the process goes wrong. In cancer, the genes (the genetic instructions that direct cells’ growth and division) are mutated, which can cause cells to grow and multiply abnormally. Over time, this can build up into a mass of cancer cells that can outnumber healthy cells and grow into tumors.
No two cancers are alike, but most of them share some features. The location where a cancer forms and how fast it spreads can help doctors determine its type. A cancer’s specific characteristics may also suggest which treatment might be most effective for it.
Most cancers start in tissues that line internal organs, such as the lungs and stomach. They may also start in tissues that produce blood, such as the bone marrow or the lymph nodes. Cancers can also start in the bones, muscles, tendons, or nerves.
A cancer’s early warning signs include sores that won’t heal or spots that bleed or ooze. If you notice these symptoms, talk to your doctor right away. The earlier cancer is detected, the more likely it is to be treated successfully.
Cancer can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. When this happens, the cancer is called metastatic cancer.
Some people are more likely to get cancer than others. Scientists don’t always know what causes some people to develop cancer, but they do know that some types of cancer can be prevented. This includes avoiding smoking, staying at a healthy weight, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and limiting exposure to sunlight and other sources of radiation.
A person’s chance of getting cancer is determined partly by their genes and partly by environmental factors, such as a diet high in fat and sugar or an unhealthy lifestyle. People who have a family history of cancer are more likely to get the disease, but genes alone aren’t enough to cause most cancers.
There are over 100 different kinds of cancer, but they all begin when normal cells become abnormal and grow out of control. The most common cancers are carcinomas, which start in epithelial tissues such as the skin or lungs; sarcomas, which begin in connective tissue such as muscle or fat; and leukemias and lymphomas, which start in blood-forming cells. All of these types of cancer can form tumors, which are masses of cancerous cells. Some of these masses are benign, which means they cannot grow or spread to other parts of the body. However, some of them can grow into nearby tissues and press on organs, which can cause problems such as pain and swelling.
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells in the body grow and multiply out of control. Cells are the basic building blocks of the body and make up tissues and organs. Normally, cells grow and divide to replace old or damaged ones, but sometimes the process goes wrong. In cancer, the genes (the genetic instructions that direct cells’ growth and division) are mutated, which can cause cells to grow and multiply abnormally. Over time, this can build up into a mass of cancer cells that can outnumber healthy cells and grow into tumors. No two cancers are alike, but most of them share some features. The location where a cancer forms and how fast it spreads can help doctors determine its type. A cancer’s specific characteristics may also suggest which treatment might be most effective for it. Most cancers start in tissues that line internal organs, such as the lungs and stomach. They may also start in tissues that produce blood, such as the bone marrow or the lymph nodes. Cancers can also start in the bones, muscles, tendons, or nerves. A cancer’s early warning signs include sores that won’t heal or spots that bleed or ooze. If you notice these symptoms, talk to your doctor right away. The earlier cancer is detected, the more likely it is to be treated successfully. Cancer can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. When this happens, the cancer is called metastatic cancer. Some people are more likely to get cancer than others. Scientists don’t always know what causes some people to develop cancer, but they do know that some types of cancer can be prevented. This includes avoiding smoking, staying at a healthy weight, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and limiting exposure to sunlight and other sources of radiation. A person’s chance of getting cancer is determined partly by their genes and partly by environmental factors, such as a diet high in fat and sugar or an unhealthy lifestyle. People who have a family history of cancer are more likely to get the disease, but genes alone aren’t enough to cause most cancers. There are over 100 different kinds of cancer, but they all begin when normal cells become abnormal and grow out of control. The most common cancers are carcinomas, which start in epithelial tissues such as the skin or lungs; sarcomas, which begin in connective tissue such as muscle or fat; and leukemias and lymphomas, which start in blood-forming cells. All of these types of cancer can form tumors, which are masses of cancerous cells. Some of these masses are benign, which means they cannot grow or spread to other parts of the body. However, some of them can grow into nearby tissues and press on organs, which can cause problems such as pain and swelling.