Arogya Times
Cancer occurs when genetic mutations in abnormal cells cause them to divide rapidly. You can inherit mutations or develop them due to environmental factors.
Cancer is a large group of diseases that occur when abnormal cells divide rapidly and can spread to other tissue and organs.
These rapidly growing cells may cause tumors. They may also disrupt the body’s regular function.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source, cancer accounted for almost 1 in 6 deaths in 2020. Experts are working hard to test out new cancer treatments every day.
The main cause of cancer is mutations, or changes to the DNA in your cells. Genetic mutations can be inherited. They can also occur after birth as a result of environmental forces.
These external causes, called carcinogens, can include:
According to the WHOTrusted Source, about 33 percent of cancer deaths may be caused by tobacco, alcohol, high body mass index (BMI), low fruit and vegetable consumption, and not getting enough physical activity.
Certain risk factors may increase your chance of developing cancer. These risk factors can include:
The risk of developing cancer also increases with age. In general, the risk of developing cancer appears to increase until the age of 70 to 80Trusted Source and then diminish, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
A 2020 reviewTrusted Source suggests this may be the result of:
Some existing health conditions that cause inflammation may also increase your risk of cancer. An example is ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Cancers are named for the area in which they begin and the type of cell they are made of, even if they spread to other parts of the body. For example, a cancer that begins in the lungs and spreads to the liver is still called lung cancer.
There are also several clinical terms used for certain general types of cancer:
Learn more about specific types of cancer with the resources below.
Early detection is when cancer is found in its early stages. This can increase the effectiveness of treatment and lower the mortality rate.
Cancer screenings may help detect signs of cancer early. Some common cancer screenings may detect:
If you have a family history of cancer or have a high risk of developing cancer, it is important to follow a doctor’s screening recommendations.
While recognizing cancer warning signs may help people with cancer seek diagnosis and treatment, some cancers may be harder to detect early and may not show symptoms until the later stages.
Signs and symptoms of cancer can include:
Specific types of cancers often have their own warning signs. If you are experiencing unexplainable symptoms, it is best to contact a doctor for a diagnosis.
Normal cells in your body grow and divide. Each one has a life cycle determined by the type of cell. As cells become damaged or die off, new cells take their place.
Cancer disrupts this process and causes cells to grow abnormally. It’s caused by changes or mutations in the cell’s DNA.
The DNA in each cell has instructions that tell the cell what to do and how to grow and divide. Mutations occur frequently in DNA, but usually cells correct these mistakes. When a mistake is not corrected, a cell can become cancerous.
Mutations can cause cells that should be replaced to survive instead of die, and new cells to form when they’re not needed. These extra cells can divide uncontrollably, causing tumors to form.
Tumors can cause health problems, depending on where they grow in the body.
Not all tumors are cancerous. Benign tumors are noncancerous and do not spread to nearby tissues.
But sometimes, tumors can grow large and cause problems when they press against neighboring organs and tissue. Malignant tumors are cancerous and can invade other parts of the body.
Some cancer cells can also spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to distant areas of the body. This is called metastasis.
Cancers that have metastasized are considered more advanced than those that have not. Metastatic cancers are often harder to treat and more fatal.
Cancer treatment can include different options, depending on the type of cancer and how advanced it is.
Different cancer treatments are often used together to remove or destroy as many cancerous cells as possible.
The most common types of treatment are:
Surgery removes as much of the cancer as possible. Surgery is often used in combination with some other therapy in order to make sure all of the cancer cells are gone.
Chemotherapy is a form of aggressive cancer treatment that uses medications that are toxic to cells to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. It may be used to shrink the size of a tumor or the number of cells in your body and lower the likelihood of the cancer spreading.
Radiation therapy uses powerful, focused beams of radiation to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy done inside of your body is called brachytherapy, while radiation therapy done outside of your body is called external beam radiation.
This treatment repairs diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can have a variety of functions. These transplants allow doctors to use higher doses of chemotherapy to treat the cancer. A stem cell transplant is commonly used to treat leukemia.
Immunotherapy uses your body’s own immune system to attack cancer cells. These therapies help your antibodies recognize the cancer, so they can use your body’s natural defenses to destroy cancer cells.
Hormone therapy removes or blocks hormones that fuel certain cancers to stop cancer cells from growing. This therapy is a common treatment for cancers that may use hormones to grow and spread, such as certain types of breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Targeted drug therapy uses drugs to interfere with certain molecules that help cancer cells grow and survive. Genetic testing may reveal if you are eligible for this type of therapy. It may depend on the type of cancer you have and the genetic mutations and molecular characteristics of your tumor.
Clinical trials investigate new ways to treat cancer. This may include testing the effectiveness of drugs that have already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but for other purposes. It can also include trying new drugs. Clinical trials can offer another option for people who may have not seen the level of success they wanted with conventional treatments. In some cases, this treatment may be provided for free.
If you are interested in this kind of therapy, find clinical trialsTrusted Source near you.
Alternative medicine may be used to complement another form of treatment. It may help decrease symptoms of cancer and side effects of cancer treatment, such as nausea, fatigue, and pain. Alternative medicine for cancer can include:
After you get a cancer diagnosis, your outlook can depend on a number of factors. These factors can include:
Knowing the factors that contribute to cancer can help you live a lifestyle that decreases your cancer risk.
Preventive measures to reduce your risk of developing cancer can include:
Meet with a doctor regularly so they can screen you for various types of cancer. This increases your chances of catching any possible cancers as early as possible.
Cancer is a group of serious diseases that are caused by genetic changes in your cells. Abnormal cancer cells may divide rapidly and form tumors.
Risk factors like smoking, drinking alcohol, a lack of physical activity, an unhealthy diet, having a high BMI, and catching certain viruses and bacteria may contribute to developing cancer.
Screenings may help detect cancer early when it is easier to treat. The treatment plan and outlook for people with cancer can depend on the type of cancer, the stage at which it is diagnosed, and their age and general health.
Arogya Times
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