What is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease that begins when abnormal cells start to grow out of control. These cells can then spread to other parts of the body and form more tumors. Some types of cancers are easier to treat if they’re caught early. That’s why it is important to have regular health screenings and know how your body normally feels so you can recognize changes that might be caused by cancer.
The exact cause of most cancers isn’t known. But scientists have found certain things, called risk factors, that can increase your chance of getting cancer. These include a person’s age, lifestyle (such as cigarette smoking), diet and other factors (like sun exposure). Genetic mutations may also be a factor in some cases.
Normal cells usually grow and die in a controlled way. But when cancer develops, old cells don’t die and new ones grow quickly. These abnormal cells can grow and spread throughout the body, forming tumors or disrupting the body’s normal function. Cancer can occur in any part of the body.
There are five main types of cancer treatment: Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy. The type and stage of cancer determines which treatment is used. Each type of treatment has its own side effects.
Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body is often harder to treat and has a higher chance of recurrence. The most common symptoms of this stage are a fever, weakness in one area of the body and weight loss. Other signs of this stage are a lump or mass that isn’t a usual growth, pain that doesn’t go away and night sweats.
A common sign of cancer that has spread to the brain is headaches and problems thinking, such as trouble concentrating, forgetting and feeling angry. It can also lead to memory loss, vision and hearing problems and mental confusion.
Symptoms of cancer that has spread to the bones can include bone pain, bone fractures and bleeding in the lungs or abdomen. The other main bone cancer symptoms are a cough that doesn’t go away, difficulty breathing and a general feeling of being unwell.
The best way to prevent cancer is to get screened for it regularly and keep up with recommended vaccines. You can also protect yourself against cancer by not smoking, eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight. And, if you ever notice any unusual or persistent symptoms, talk to your doctor right away. They can help you find the treatment that’s right for you.
Cancer is a disease that begins when abnormal cells start to grow out of control. These cells can then spread to other parts of the body and form more tumors. Some types of cancers are easier to treat if they’re caught early. That’s why it is important to have regular health screenings and know how your body normally feels so you can recognize changes that might be caused by cancer. The exact cause of most cancers isn’t known. But scientists have found certain things, called risk factors, that can increase your chance of getting cancer. These include a person’s age, lifestyle (such as cigarette smoking), diet and other factors (like sun exposure). Genetic mutations may also be a factor in some cases. Normal cells usually grow and die in a controlled way. But when cancer develops, old cells don’t die and new ones grow quickly. These abnormal cells can grow and spread throughout the body, forming tumors or disrupting the body’s normal function. Cancer can occur in any part of the body. There are five main types of cancer treatment: Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy. The type and stage of cancer determines which treatment is used. Each type of treatment has its own side effects. Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body is often harder to treat and has a higher chance of recurrence. The most common symptoms of this stage are a fever, weakness in one area of the body and weight loss. Other signs of this stage are a lump or mass that isn’t a usual growth, pain that doesn’t go away and night sweats. A common sign of cancer that has spread to the brain is headaches and problems thinking, such as trouble concentrating, forgetting and feeling angry. It can also lead to memory loss, vision and hearing problems and mental confusion. Symptoms of cancer that has spread to the bones can include bone pain, bone fractures and bleeding in the lungs or abdomen. The other main bone cancer symptoms are a cough that doesn’t go away, difficulty breathing and a general feeling of being unwell. The best way to prevent cancer is to get screened for it regularly and keep up with recommended vaccines. You can also protect yourself against cancer by not smoking, eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight. And, if you ever notice any unusual or persistent symptoms, talk to your doctor right away. They can help you find the treatment that’s right for you.