What Is Cancer and How Does It Affect You?
Cancer is a group of diseases that begin when abnormal cells (called tumors) grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. The disease can cause death if it isn’t treated early.
Most people know someone who has cancer. They may be a family member, friend or loved one.
The most common cancers are breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancer. But other types of cancer also occur.
Normally, each cell divides and grows to form new cells until it dies or becomes damaged. This is called the cell cycle. The process is controlled by the body’s DNA and signals from outside the cell that tell it to enter the cell cycle.
These signals come from a number of different sources, including growth factors, cell-cell adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix components. The normal cells in your body can’t grow and divide without these signals. These signaling systems help prevent the normal cellular process from allowing cancerous cells to grow and divide in an uncontrollable way.
This is why cancer can develop in a variety of places and affect many types of tissues. It can start in the bone marrow or in an organ, such as the brain or liver.
In some cases, the cancer cells break off from the original tumor and travel to other areas of the body where they grow. This is called metastasizing, and it can happen to any type of cancer.
Tumors that don’t spread are called benign, or noncancerous. Benign tumors are usually large and don’t spread to other parts of the body.
Some benign tumors, such as brain tumors, don’t cause any problems with normal function or health. They can be removed or destroyed by treatment, and most don’t spread to other parts of the person’s body.
The cause of the cancer is not clear, but it can be related to genes, lifestyle choices and exposure to certain substances in the environment. For example, smoking can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer.
Cancerous cells also have a special set of features that make them more likely to spread to other parts of the body. These changes are influenced by the genes and other genetic information that control how the tumors behave.
This behavior is determined by the genetics of each tumor and how well it communicates with other cells in the body. It also depends on the physical properties of the tumor, such as how it fits into the body’s tissue and how it forms a lump or a mass.
A cancerous cell can also “hide” from the immune system, which normally destroys and removes abnormal cells. In some cases, a cancerous cell can even get into the bloodstream and travel to other organs.
If the tumor gets into the bone marrow, it can create cancerous blood cells. The abnormal blood cells can crowd out the normal white blood cells that fight infection and control bleeding.
Cancer can be prevented through healthy habits and by avoiding exposure to environmental cancer-causing agents. It can also be cured with early detection, quality treatment and survivorship care.
Cancer is a group of diseases that begin when abnormal cells (called tumors) grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. The disease can cause death if it isn’t treated early. Most people know someone who has cancer. They may be a family member, friend or loved one. The most common cancers are breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancer. But other types of cancer also occur. Normally, each cell divides and grows to form new cells until it dies or becomes damaged. This is called the cell cycle. The process is controlled by the body’s DNA and signals from outside the cell that tell it to enter the cell cycle. These signals come from a number of different sources, including growth factors, cell-cell adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix components. The normal cells in your body can’t grow and divide without these signals. These signaling systems help prevent the normal cellular process from allowing cancerous cells to grow and divide in an uncontrollable way. This is why cancer can develop in a variety of places and affect many types of tissues. It can start in the bone marrow or in an organ, such as the brain or liver. In some cases, the cancer cells break off from the original tumor and travel to other areas of the body where they grow. This is called metastasizing, and it can happen to any type of cancer. Tumors that don’t spread are called benign, or noncancerous. Benign tumors are usually large and don’t spread to other parts of the body. Some benign tumors, such as brain tumors, don’t cause any problems with normal function or health. They can be removed or destroyed by treatment, and most don’t spread to other parts of the person’s body. The cause of the cancer is not clear, but it can be related to genes, lifestyle choices and exposure to certain substances in the environment. For example, smoking can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer. Cancerous cells also have a special set of features that make them more likely to spread to other parts of the body. These changes are influenced by the genes and other genetic information that control how the tumors behave. This behavior is determined by the genetics of each tumor and how well it communicates with other cells in the body. It also depends on the physical properties of the tumor, such as how it fits into the body’s tissue and how it forms a lump or a mass. A cancerous cell can also “hide” from the immune system, which normally destroys and removes abnormal cells. In some cases, a cancerous cell can even get into the bloodstream and travel to other organs. If the tumor gets into the bone marrow, it can create cancerous blood cells. The abnormal blood cells can crowd out the normal white blood cells that fight infection and control bleeding. Cancer can be prevented through healthy habits and by avoiding exposure to environmental cancer-causing agents. It can also be cured with early detection, quality treatment and survivorship care.