Cancer – A Disease That Starts When Cells Begin to Grow Out of Control
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells begin to grow and divide out of control. These cells often become malignant, meaning they grow into and destroy surrounding tissues. They may also spread to other parts of the body.
Cells are the building blocks of all living things, from single-celled organisms like bacteria to multicellular plants and animals. In order to become cancerous, a normal cell must undergo multiple genetic changes (mutations). These mutations can be caused by many factors including lifestyle habits and exposure to carcinogens in the environment. These genetic changes are called oncogenic mutations. Cancer cells have also been known to acquire additional mutations and develop resistance to drugs and therapies used against them. This resistance is called acquired oncogenic resistance (AOR).
Unlike healthy tissue, cancer cells can grow out of control and cause damage to surrounding tissues. Cancer cells are also able to invade surrounding tissue and spread to other parts of the body. They do this by releasing chemicals that encourage new blood vessels to form around the tumour to supply it with nutrients and oxygen. The growth of new blood vessels is called angiogenesis.
Because they can’t be killed by the immune system, cancer cells are able to survive for long periods of time. They also avoid undergoing apoptosis, the programmed cell death that occurs when healthy cells are under threat. This gives them a competitive advantage over healthy cells and allows them to continue to grow and develop.
Cancer cells are often unable to survive without a constant source of nutrition. As they get bigger, tumours have a harder time getting oxygen and nutrients from the blood vessels in the area. They can also be surrounded by a layer of fat that protects them from attack by the immune system.
Cancers have a variety of symptoms, which depend on where the tumour is and how far it has spread. Some cancers cause pain, which is usually mild at first and gets worse with time. Others don’t cause any symptoms until they are very large and start to push against the surrounding tissues. Symptoms can include fever, loss of appetite, tiredness, pain in your bones and joints, bleeding at the site of a tumour or in your bowels or bladder, and dark coloured stools or urine. Symptoms can be treated by surgery, radiation and medicines. Some cancers can be prevented by avoiding smoking or sunburn, or by treating precancerous conditions with medicine. If you are diagnosed with cancer, your doctor will help you decide what treatment is best for you. You may also want to ask about chemoprevention, which is the use of medications to prevent cancer from developing in the future. Almost all types of cancer can be prevented or treated by making lifestyle changes and avoiding or controlling things that are known to cause cancer. A few types of cancers can be prevented by finding and treating precancerous conditions, such as a change in a mole or abnormal blood test results.
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells begin to grow and divide out of control. These cells often become malignant, meaning they grow into and destroy surrounding tissues. They may also spread to other parts of the body. Cells are the building blocks of all living things, from single-celled organisms like bacteria to multicellular plants and animals. In order to become cancerous, a normal cell must undergo multiple genetic changes (mutations). These mutations can be caused by many factors including lifestyle habits and exposure to carcinogens in the environment. These genetic changes are called oncogenic mutations. Cancer cells have also been known to acquire additional mutations and develop resistance to drugs and therapies used against them. This resistance is called acquired oncogenic resistance (AOR). Unlike healthy tissue, cancer cells can grow out of control and cause damage to surrounding tissues. Cancer cells are also able to invade surrounding tissue and spread to other parts of the body. They do this by releasing chemicals that encourage new blood vessels to form around the tumour to supply it with nutrients and oxygen. The growth of new blood vessels is called angiogenesis. Because they can’t be killed by the immune system, cancer cells are able to survive for long periods of time. They also avoid undergoing apoptosis, the programmed cell death that occurs when healthy cells are under threat. This gives them a competitive advantage over healthy cells and allows them to continue to grow and develop. Cancer cells are often unable to survive without a constant source of nutrition. As they get bigger, tumours have a harder time getting oxygen and nutrients from the blood vessels in the area. They can also be surrounded by a layer of fat that protects them from attack by the immune system. Cancers have a variety of symptoms, which depend on where the tumour is and how far it has spread. Some cancers cause pain, which is usually mild at first and gets worse with time. Others don’t cause any symptoms until they are very large and start to push against the surrounding tissues. Symptoms can include fever, loss of appetite, tiredness, pain in your bones and joints, bleeding at the site of a tumour or in your bowels or bladder, and dark coloured stools or urine. Symptoms can be treated by surgery, radiation and medicines. Some cancers can be prevented by avoiding smoking or sunburn, or by treating precancerous conditions with medicine. If you are diagnosed with cancer, your doctor will help you decide what treatment is best for you. You may also want to ask about chemoprevention, which is the use of medications to prevent cancer from developing in the future. Almost all types of cancer can be prevented or treated by making lifestyle changes and avoiding or controlling things that are known to cause cancer. A few types of cancers can be prevented by finding and treating precancerous conditions, such as a change in a mole or abnormal blood test results.