What You Need to Know About Cancer
Cancer is a disease that affects a person’s body over a long period of time. As we get older, our chances of developing cancer rise. This disease is caused by abnormal cells that divide without control. They can invade other tissues and spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system. It can also be caused by substances that transform normal cells into cancer cells.
The type of cancer a person has will determine the outlook for their treatment. Cancer can spread to distant parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, brain, and liver. In fact, some cancers spread through the bloodstream. This is called metastasis. In such cases, the disease will still be referred to by the region of origin. For example, breast cancer that spreads to the lungs is known as metastatic breast cancer.
The main goal of cancer treatment is to cure the disease, but different treatments can also control its progression. Researchers are constantly working to develop new methods of treatment for cancer. Some of these methods include the use of ‘designer drugs’, which block the blood supply needed by a tumour to grow. Other methods of treatment involve correcting genetic defects that lead to cancer.
The development of modern biology has led to a revolution in cancer research. Researchers now have detailed pictures of how cancer starts and progresses. This allows them to focus their detection and prevention efforts on specific genes. This approach has also revealed that cancer does not develop all at once. Instead, it is the result of a long sequence of genetic changes in precancerous cells.
Although the DNA repair system of the body is highly efficient, cancer-causing mutations must occur in a cell for several years before it can be considered a cancer case. These mutations can undermine the integrity of DNA repair genes and increase the chances of developing cancer. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States.
Cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer, the location of the tumour, and the stage of the disease. Some types of cancer can be cured through surgical removal of the tumour. Other cancers may require chemotherapy or radiotherapy. While these treatments are different, they all focus on the goal of curing the patient of cancer. In some cases, chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be combined with each other. The effectiveness of each treatment depends on the stage and type of the disease.
Cancer is caused by a variety of environmental factors, and some people are born with a genetic predisposition to it. However, this does not mean that cancer will always happen to you.
Cancer is a disease that affects a person’s body over a long period of time. As we get older, our chances of developing cancer rise. This disease is caused by abnormal cells that divide without control. They can invade other tissues and spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system. It can also be caused by substances that transform normal cells into cancer cells. The type of cancer a person has will determine the outlook for their treatment. Cancer can spread to distant parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, brain, and liver. In fact, some cancers spread through the bloodstream. This is called metastasis. In such cases, the disease will still be referred to by the region of origin. For example, breast cancer that spreads to the lungs is known as metastatic breast cancer. The main goal of cancer treatment is to cure the disease, but different treatments can also control its progression. Researchers are constantly working to develop new methods of treatment for cancer. Some of these methods include the use of ‘designer drugs’, which block the blood supply needed by a tumour to grow. Other methods of treatment involve correcting genetic defects that lead to cancer. The development of modern biology has led to a revolution in cancer research. Researchers now have detailed pictures of how cancer starts and progresses. This allows them to focus their detection and prevention efforts on specific genes. This approach has also revealed that cancer does not develop all at once. Instead, it is the result of a long sequence of genetic changes in precancerous cells. Although the DNA repair system of the body is highly efficient, cancer-causing mutations must occur in a cell for several years before it can be considered a cancer case. These mutations can undermine the integrity of DNA repair genes and increase the chances of developing cancer. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer, the location of the tumour, and the stage of the disease. Some types of cancer can be cured through surgical removal of the tumour. Other cancers may require chemotherapy or radiotherapy. While these treatments are different, they all focus on the goal of curing the patient of cancer. In some cases, chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be combined with each other. The effectiveness of each treatment depends on the stage and type of the disease. Cancer is caused by a variety of environmental factors, and some people are born with a genetic predisposition to it. However, this does not mean that cancer will always happen to you.