What is Cancer and How Can it Be Treated?
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow and divide without control or order. These abnormal cells can spread to other parts of the body and destroy healthy tissue. The growth and spread of cancer cells disrupts normal bodily functions, causing pain, organ failure, and a range of symptoms. Cancer can also affect a person’s mental health and relationships. In addition, the economic costs of treating and dying from cancer are enormous. The disease kills about 10 million people each year, reflecting the complexity of its biological, physical, and social effects.
The disease starts when certain genes in the body’s cells change over time. The genes provide the instructions for how cells should grow and make copies (reproduce). If a gene changes, it no longer gives the cell the right instructions. This change is called mutation. Mutations can happen by chance or be caused by things that come into the body, such as smoking or sun exposure. They can also be inherited from parents. Some mutations cause the cells to develop cancer more often than others.
Different types of cancer start in different cells and affect different parts of the body. Some grow and spread quickly, while others grow slowly over time. Some grow into tumors, or lumps. The tumors may be painless or painful. Some cancers do not form tumors, but can still damage the body.
Cancers can be treated in many ways, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Scientists are developing new ways to treat cancer, such as drugs that target only cancer cells and immunotherapies that help the body’s own immune system fight the disease.
It’s important to avoid tobacco and excessive sun exposure, and eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. This can reduce the risk of getting cancer and improve the quality of a person’s life.
In addition, doctors can use imaging techniques to look at a person’s body from inside and outside the body. For example, a computed tomography scan (CT) may reveal the size of a tumor or whether it has spread. MRI scans can also help doctors learn about the structure of the tumor and its blood vessels.
A cancer diagnosis can be stressful for patients and their families. They may feel powerless against the disease. But scientists are working on new ways to detect cancer earlier and treat it more effectively. For example, a new type of MRI can reveal the jumble of cells inside a tumor. It will allow doctors to better understand the disease and plan treatment. Newer treatments can also attack the underlying causes of cancer and help prevent the disease from returning.
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow and divide without control or order. These abnormal cells can spread to other parts of the body and destroy healthy tissue. The growth and spread of cancer cells disrupts normal bodily functions, causing pain, organ failure, and a range of symptoms. Cancer can also affect a person’s mental health and relationships. In addition, the economic costs of treating and dying from cancer are enormous. The disease kills about 10 million people each year, reflecting the complexity of its biological, physical, and social effects. The disease starts when certain genes in the body’s cells change over time. The genes provide the instructions for how cells should grow and make copies (reproduce). If a gene changes, it no longer gives the cell the right instructions. This change is called mutation. Mutations can happen by chance or be caused by things that come into the body, such as smoking or sun exposure. They can also be inherited from parents. Some mutations cause the cells to develop cancer more often than others. Different types of cancer start in different cells and affect different parts of the body. Some grow and spread quickly, while others grow slowly over time. Some grow into tumors, or lumps. The tumors may be painless or painful. Some cancers do not form tumors, but can still damage the body. Cancers can be treated in many ways, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Scientists are developing new ways to treat cancer, such as drugs that target only cancer cells and immunotherapies that help the body’s own immune system fight the disease. It’s important to avoid tobacco and excessive sun exposure, and eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. This can reduce the risk of getting cancer and improve the quality of a person’s life. In addition, doctors can use imaging techniques to look at a person’s body from inside and outside the body. For example, a computed tomography scan (CT) may reveal the size of a tumor or whether it has spread. MRI scans can also help doctors learn about the structure of the tumor and its blood vessels. A cancer diagnosis can be stressful for patients and their families. They may feel powerless against the disease. But scientists are working on new ways to detect cancer earlier and treat it more effectively. For example, a new type of MRI can reveal the jumble of cells inside a tumor. It will allow doctors to better understand the disease and plan treatment. Newer treatments can also attack the underlying causes of cancer and help prevent the disease from returning.