CANCER
What is Cancer?
Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin
to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they
all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells.
Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly
fashion. During the early years of a person's life, normal cells divide
more rapidly until the person becomes an adult. After that, cells in most
parts of the body divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells and to
repair injuries.
Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they
are different from normal cells. Instead of dying, they outlive normal
cells and continue to form new abnormal cells.
Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. This substance
is in every cell and directs all its activities. Most of the time when
DNA becomes damaged, either the cell dies or is able to repair the DNA.
In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired. People can inherit damaged
DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. Many times though, a person’s
DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment, like
smoking.
Cancer usually forms as a tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia,
do not form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and
blood-forming organs, and circulate through other tissues where they grow.
Cancer cells often travel to other parts of the body
where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process, called
metastasis, occurs as the cancer cells get into the bloodstream or lymph
vessels of our body. When cells from a cancer like breast cancer spread
to another organ like the liver, the cancer is still called breast cancer,
not liver cancer.
Remember that not all tumors are cancerous. Benign (non
cancerous) tumors do not spread to other parts of the body (metastasize)
and, with very rare exceptions, are not life-threatening.
Different types of cancer can behave very differently.
For example, lung cancer and breast cancer are very different diseases.
They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. That
is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their particular
kind of cancer.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United
States. Half of all men and one-third of all women in the US will develop
cancer during their lifetimes. Today, millions of people are living with
cancer or have had cancer. The risk of developing most types of cancer
can be reduced by changes in a person's lifestyle, for example, by quitting
smoking and eating a better diet. The sooner a cancer is found and treatment
begins, the better are the chances for living for many years.
Who gets Cancer?
Over one million people get cancer each year. Approximately
one out of every two American men and one out of every three American
women will have some type of cancer at some point during their lifetime.
Anyone can get cancer at any age; however, about 77% of all cancers are
diagnosed in people age of 55 and older. Although cancer occurs in Americans
of all racial and ethnic groups, the rate of cancer occurrence (called
the incidence rate) varies from group to group.
Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have
been cured of the disease. The sooner a cancer is found and the sooner
treatment begins, the better a patient's chances are of a cure. That's
why early detection of cancer is such an important weapon in the fight
against cancer.
How is Cancer treated?
The number of treatment choices you have will depend
on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer, and other individual factors
such as your age, health status, and personal preferences. You are a vital
part of your cancer care team - you should discuss with them which treatment
choices are best for you. Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as
you have. Make sure you understand your options. A cancer diagnosis usually
gives people a sense of urgency in making choices about treatment and
services. However, take the time to consider all the options available
to you so you will be as well informed as possible.
The four major types of treatment for cancer are surgery,
radiation, chemotherapy, and biologic therapies. You might also have heard
about hormone therapies such as tamoxifen and transplant options such
as those done with bone marrow.
What Treatment Will Be Best for Me?
Your cancer treatment will be entirely based on your
unique situation. Certain types of cancer respond very differently to
different types of treatment, so determining the type of cancer is a vital
step toward knowing which treatments will be most effective. The cancer's
stage (how widespread it is) will also determine the best course of treatment,
since early-stage cancers respond to different therapies than later-stage
ones. Your overall health, your lifestyle, and your personal preferences
will also play a part in deciding which treatment options will be best
for you. Not all types of treatment will be effective in your situation,
so be sure that you understand your options. Don't be afraid to ask questions;
it is your right to know what treatments are most likely to help you and
what their side effects may be.
Palliative versus Curative Goals: Before starting treatment,
ask about the goal of treatment. Is the purpose of the treatment to cure
the cancer, control it, or treat symptoms? Sometimes the goal of treatment
can change.
Can Cancer be prevented?
Smoking and drinking alcohol cause some people to get
certain types of cancer. These cancers might be prevented by avoiding
tobacco and alcohol. The best idea is to never use tobacco at all. Cigarettes,
cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco cause cancer and should not be used.
People who already smoke should try to quit. Former smokers have less
risk of cancer than do people who continue to smoke.
The chances of getting skin cancer can be lowered by
staying in the shade as much as you can, wearing a hat and shirt when
you are in the sun, and using sunscreen.
We know that our diet, (what we eat) is linked to some
types of cancer, although the exact reasons are not yet clear. The best
advice is to eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains
like pasta and bread, and to cut down on high fat foods.
There are tests, called screening examinations, that
adults should have in order to find cancer
early. If cancer is found early it can often be cured.
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