What is Cancer and How Can it Be Treated?
Cancer is a disease that develops when cells grow and multiply out of control. It can affect any part of the body, and there are more than 100 different types of cancer. Different types of cancer start in different tissues and organs. Cancer treatments may include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. They can also include changes in your diet and exercise.
A person’s genetic code provides the instructions that tell cells when to grow and die. If a gene mutates, causing the instructions to become distorted, that person may be at higher risk of developing cancer. Mutations can occur randomly or be passed down from parents. Some genes have a more protective effect against cancer than others.
All cancers begin when some cells in the body become abnormal and start to divide without stopping. This process happens millions of times each day. Then the resulting new cells can grow and spread into other parts of the body. Eventually, the cells form a lump of tissue called a tumor. Cancer can cause severe pain, loss of mobility, and death.
The earliest sense of the word “cancer” dates back millennia. In the early 19th century, doctors noticed that some tissues in the body seemed to grow and spread out of control. Today, scientists know that cancer is the result of mutations in DNA and changes in other cells’ normal controls. Cancer cells also change their own structure and function.
Normally, when one cell in the body starts growing out of control, other cells will stop that growth by sending signals that tell the cell to either stop growing or die (a process known as programmed cell death or apoptosis). Cancer cells ignore these signals and continue to grow. They can also escape from their original tissue and invade other areas of the body.
As cancer cells grow and expand, they can crowd out normal cells. This disrupts organs and body functions and causes pain, inflammation, and cancer-related syndromes like cachexia. Cancers can also disrupt families and relationships.
Cancers can be prevented by eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise. People can cut their risk of certain cancers by not smoking and limiting their alcohol intake.
A diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help prevent some cancers. Avoiding red and processed meats can reduce the risk of other cancers. A person should try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. Taking a walk, going on a bike ride or playing pickle ball a few times a week can help.
Natural selection is the process that gives rise to heritable variations within a population, including those associated with cancer. The emergence and evolution of heritable traits in cancer cells is why it’s important to include “natural selection” as a defining characteristic of cancer.
Cancer is a disease that develops when cells grow and multiply out of control. It can affect any part of the body, and there are more than 100 different types of cancer. Different types of cancer start in different tissues and organs. Cancer treatments may include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. They can also include changes in your diet and exercise. A person’s genetic code provides the instructions that tell cells when to grow and die. If a gene mutates, causing the instructions to become distorted, that person may be at higher risk of developing cancer. Mutations can occur randomly or be passed down from parents. Some genes have a more protective effect against cancer than others. All cancers begin when some cells in the body become abnormal and start to divide without stopping. This process happens millions of times each day. Then the resulting new cells can grow and spread into other parts of the body. Eventually, the cells form a lump of tissue called a tumor. Cancer can cause severe pain, loss of mobility, and death. The earliest sense of the word “cancer” dates back millennia. In the early 19th century, doctors noticed that some tissues in the body seemed to grow and spread out of control. Today, scientists know that cancer is the result of mutations in DNA and changes in other cells’ normal controls. Cancer cells also change their own structure and function. Normally, when one cell in the body starts growing out of control, other cells will stop that growth by sending signals that tell the cell to either stop growing or die (a process known as programmed cell death or apoptosis). Cancer cells ignore these signals and continue to grow. They can also escape from their original tissue and invade other areas of the body. As cancer cells grow and expand, they can crowd out normal cells. This disrupts organs and body functions and causes pain, inflammation, and cancer-related syndromes like cachexia. Cancers can also disrupt families and relationships. Cancers can be prevented by eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise. People can cut their risk of certain cancers by not smoking and limiting their alcohol intake. A diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help prevent some cancers. Avoiding red and processed meats can reduce the risk of other cancers. A person should try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. Taking a walk, going on a bike ride or playing pickle ball a few times a week can help. Natural selection is the process that gives rise to heritable variations within a population, including those associated with cancer. The emergence and evolution of heritable traits in cancer cells is why it’s important to include “natural selection” as a defining characteristic of cancer.