Cancer
When did you first hear about cancer? We have seen movies,
heard stories and read about cancer almost everywhere. Even our favorite
actors and actresses have portrayed the role of a cancer victim in a movie.
We may have even learned about a colleague, a friend, or a close relative
being diagnosed with the disease, and always, our initial reaction is that
of shock and pity. But when did it really occur to you how serious this
disease is, and those who have them suffer a great deal, both physically and
emotionally. We have been made aware about this fatal disease and that it
can pick anyone, no matter what race, color, age or stature you have in
society. Lets know more about this feared disease and how it affects us
physically.
What is cancer?
Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled
division of cells and the ability of these cells to invade other tissues,
either by growth to adjacent tissue through invasion or by implantation into
distant sites by metastasis (spread of cancer from its primary sites to
other places). Metastasis is defined as the stage in which cancer cells are
transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
The risk of this disease increases with age, although it may affect people
at all ages. There are many types of cancer, but the severity of symptoms
may vary and depend on the site and character of the malignancy and if
whether or not there is metastasis. To diagnose the disease usually requires
the histologic examination of tissue by a pathologist. The tissue is
obtained by biopsy or surgery. Depending on the specific type, location and
stage of a cancer, most can usually be treated.
Damage to DNA causes the unregulated growth that characterizes cancer,
resulting in mutations to genes that encode for proteins controlling cell
division. Many mutation occurrences entail the transformation of a normal
cell into a malignant cell. These mutations can be caused by chemicals or
physical agents called carcinogens, by close exposure to radioactive
materials, or by certain viruses that can insert their DNA into human
genome. Germ line mutations are passed down to generations.
Once a person is diagnosed of the disease, treatments would usually be a
combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. With modern research
and developments, treatments of the disease are becoming more specific for
the type of cancer pathology. There are now a lot of drugs that target
specific cancers. If this disease is untreated, it may eventually cause
illness and death, though it is not always the case.
Many forms of cancer are linked with a persons exposure to environmental
factors such as tobacco smoke, radiation, alcohol and certain viruses.
Although some of these can be avoided, there is no known method or way to
avoid the disease. Public health and vaccination programs also play an
important role on a global scale.
This article
is provided courtesy of Roxanne Courtmanch. Please visit
www.thehelpingcircle.com for more articles on cancer
as well as many other topics that may be of interest to you.
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