In this post we will be looking at illness called cancer, the symptoms of cancer, stages, causes, Cancer risk factors and treatment of cancer.
INTRODUCTION
Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer often has the ability to spread throughout your body. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the world. But survival rates are improving for many types of cancer, thanks to improvements in cancer screening, treatment and prevention.
Most signs and symptoms are not caused by cancer but can be caused by other things. If you have any signs and symptoms that don’t go away or get worse, you should see a doctor to find out what’s causing them. If cancer is not the cause, a doctor can help figure out what the cause is and treat it, if needed. For instance, lymph nodes are part of the body’s immune system and help capture harmful substances in the body.
Normal lymph nodes are tiny and can be hard to find. But when there’s infection, inflammation, or cancer, the nodes can get larger. Those near the body’s surface can get big enough to feel with your fingers, and some can even be seen as swelling or a lump under the skin. One reason lymph nodes may swell is if cancer gets trapped there. So, if you have unusual swelling or a lump, you should see your doctor to figure out what’s going on.
WHAT IS CANCER?
Cancer is a large group of diseases with one thing in common: They all happen when normal cells become cancerous cells that multiply and spread. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the U.S. But fewer people are dying of cancer now than 20 years ago. Early detection and innovative treatments are curing cancer and helping people with cancer live longer. At the same time, medical researchers are identifying independent risk factors linked to developing cancer to help prevent people from developing cancer.
Difference between a normal cell and a cancerous cell.
Normally, cells follow instructions provided by genes. Genes set down rules for cells to follow, such as when to start and stop growing. Cancerous cells ignore the rules that normal cells follow:
- Normal cells divide and multiply in a controlled manner. Cancerous cells multiply uncontrollably.
- Normal cells are programmed to die (apoptosis). Cancerous cells ignore those directions.
- Normal cells for solid organs stay put. All cancerous cells are able to move around.
- Normal cells don’t grow as fast as cancerous cells.
Symptoms of cancer
Cancer is a complicated disease. You can have cancer for years without developing symptoms. Other times, cancer may cause noticeable symptoms that get worse very quickly. Many cancer symptoms resemble other, less serious illnesses. Having certain symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer. In general, you should talk to a healthcare provider anytime there’s a change in your body that lasts for more than two weeks.
First symptoms of cancer
Some common early cancer symptoms include:
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Chronic tiredness.
- Persistent pain.
- Fever that occurs mostly at night.
- Skin changes, particularly moles that change shape and size or new moles.
Left untreated, cancer may cause additional symptoms, including:
- Bruising or bleeding more easily.
- Lumps or bumps under your skin that don’t go away.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Difficulty swallowing.
What Causes Cancer
Cancer is a genetic disorder. It happens when genes that manage cell activity mutate and create abnormal cells that divide and multiply, eventually disrupting how your body works. Medical researchers estimate 5% to 12% of all cancers are caused by inherited genetic mutations that you can’t control. More frequently, cancer happens as an acquired genetic mutation. Acquired genetic mutations happen over the course of your life. Medical researchers have identified several risk factors that increase your chance of developing cancer.
What are the four stages of cancer?
Most cancers have four stages. The specific stage is determined by a few different factors, including the tumor’s size and location:
- Stage I: The cancer is localized to a small area and hasn’t spread to lymph nodes or other tissues.
- Stage II: The cancer has grown, but it hasn’t spread.
- Stage III: The cancer has grown larger and has possibly spread to lymph nodes or other tissues.
- Stage IV: The cancer has spread to other organs or areas of your body. This stage is also referred to as metastatic or advanced cancer.
Though stages one through four are the most common, there’s also a Stage 0. This earliest phase describes cancer that’s still localized to the area in which it started. Cancers that are still in Stage 0 are usually easily treatable and are considered pre-cancerous by most healthcare providers.
Cancer risk factors you can control
While doctors have an idea of what may increase your risk of cancer, the majority of cancers occur in people who don’t have any known risk factors. Factors known to increase your risk of cancer include:
- Your age: Cancer can take decades to develop. That’s why most people diagnosed with cancer are 65 or older. While it’s more common in older adults, cancer isn’t exclusively an adult disease — cancer can be diagnosed at any age.
- Your habits: Certain lifestyle choices are known to increase your risk of cancer. Smoking, drinking more than one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men, excessive exposure to the sun or frequent blistering sunburns, being obese, and having unsafe sex can contribute to cancer. You can change these habits to lower your risk of cancer — though some habits are easier to change than others.
- Your family history: Only a small portion of cancers are due to an inherited condition. If cancer is common in your family, it’s possible that mutations are being passed from one generation to the next. You might be a candidate for genetic testing to see whether you have inherited mutations that might increase your risk of certain cancers. Keep in mind that having an inherited genetic mutation doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get cancer.
- Your health conditions: Some chronic health conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, can markedly increase your risk of developing certain cancers. Talk to your doctor about your risk.
- Your environment: The environment around you may contain harmful chemicals that can increase your risk of cancer. Even if you don’t smoke, you might inhale secondhand smoke if you go where people are smoking or if you live with someone who smokes. Chemicals in your home or workplace, such as asbestos and benzene, also are associated with an increased risk of cancer.
Cancer risk factors you can control
- Smoking
- Diet
- Environment
- Radiation exposure
- Hormone therapy
Treatment of cancer.
Planning cancer treatment can take time and you should talk to your doctor about how long you can expect to wait until treatment starts. It’s important to learn about all your treatment options to make the decision that is best for your situation.
Types of Cancer Treatment
Many procedures and drugs are available to treat cancer, with many more being studied. Some are “local” treatments like surgery and radiation therapy, which are used to treat a specific tumor or area of the body. Drug treatments (such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy) are often called “systemic” treatments because they can affect the entire body. Learn about the most common types of treatment for cancer here.
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
- Targeted Therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplant
- Hormone Therapy
Treatment Approaches
There are many different approaches for treating cancer, depending on the type of cancer, how advanced it is, what types of treatment are available, and what the goals of treatment are. Learn about how cancer treatments might be used in certain situations here.
- Palliative Care
- Clinical Trials
- Precision or Personalized Medicine
- Off-label Drug Use
- Biosimilar Drugs
- Tumor-agnostic Drugs