What is Cancer and How Can it Affect You?
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells in your body start growing and multiplying without control. This can cause them to crowd out healthy cells and stop your body working the way it should. Cancer can affect every part of the body and there are many different types of cancers, which are described by the type of tissue they start in (eg skin cancer, bowel cancer or lung cancer). There are also blood cancers, which start in blood-forming tissues such as bone marrow, lymph nodes or blood vessels. Cancers are often also classified by how quickly they grow and spread. This is called the grade of the tumour.
Cancers are usually caused when cells develop mistakes in their DNA-the genetic instructions that tell the cell how to grow and die. The mistake can happen in just one cell, but it can also spread as the cell divides. Over time, these mutations accumulate and the cancer cells start to grow out of control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancers that have spread to other parts of the body are called metastatic cancers.
The most common treatment is surgery, but other treatments may also be used. These include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy. Each of these treatments is aimed at killing cancer cells while limiting damage to normal cells. The type of treatment your doctor recommends will depend on the type and stage of your cancer, as well as other factors such as your general health and preferences.
New ways to treat cancer are being developed all the time. These include drugs that block the blood supply to tumours, correct the genetic changes that lead to cancer and help your immune system fight the cancer cells. Clinical trials offer the opportunity for you to be among the first people to try out these exciting new therapies.
Until recently, the rate of cancer in the United States was on a steady downward trend. However, it is still the second leading cause of death in the country. As the understanding of the underlying biological processes that lead to cancer improves, it is likely that we will be able to reduce the number of people who get the disease and the number of people who die from it.
Scientists are working hard to prevent cancer and develop more effective treatments. You can help by being aware of the factors that can increase your risk for the disease and by following healthy lifestyle habits. Smoking, a high-fat diet and exposure to toxic chemicals are some of the things that can raise your risk for certain types of cancer. Your genes and your family history can also play a role in some cancers. It is important to talk to your doctors about any concerns you have about your health.
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells in your body start growing and multiplying without control. This can cause them to crowd out healthy cells and stop your body working the way it should. Cancer can affect every part of the body and there are many different types of cancers, which are described by the type of tissue they start in (eg skin cancer, bowel cancer or lung cancer). There are also blood cancers, which start in blood-forming tissues such as bone marrow, lymph nodes or blood vessels. Cancers are often also classified by how quickly they grow and spread. This is called the grade of the tumour. Cancers are usually caused when cells develop mistakes in their DNA-the genetic instructions that tell the cell how to grow and die. The mistake can happen in just one cell, but it can also spread as the cell divides. Over time, these mutations accumulate and the cancer cells start to grow out of control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancers that have spread to other parts of the body are called metastatic cancers. The most common treatment is surgery, but other treatments may also be used. These include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy. Each of these treatments is aimed at killing cancer cells while limiting damage to normal cells. The type of treatment your doctor recommends will depend on the type and stage of your cancer, as well as other factors such as your general health and preferences. New ways to treat cancer are being developed all the time. These include drugs that block the blood supply to tumours, correct the genetic changes that lead to cancer and help your immune system fight the cancer cells. Clinical trials offer the opportunity for you to be among the first people to try out these exciting new therapies. Until recently, the rate of cancer in the United States was on a steady downward trend. However, it is still the second leading cause of death in the country. As the understanding of the underlying biological processes that lead to cancer improves, it is likely that we will be able to reduce the number of people who get the disease and the number of people who die from it. Scientists are working hard to prevent cancer and develop more effective treatments. You can help by being aware of the factors that can increase your risk for the disease and by following healthy lifestyle habits. Smoking, a high-fat diet and exposure to toxic chemicals are some of the things that can raise your risk for certain types of cancer. Your genes and your family history can also play a role in some cancers. It is important to talk to your doctors about any concerns you have about your health.