Cancer – What Is It and How Can It Be Treated?
Cancer is a disease that causes abnormal cells to grow and divide out of control. These new cells can crowd out healthy cells, and cause organs or tissues to develop tumors. Cancer can be caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Scientists are constantly improving treatment options, and the diagnosis and death rates from cancer are dropping yearly.
Cancer happens when a gene mutation disrupts the normal process of cell growth and division. Normally, genes are controlled by a series of checks and balances that stop any changes that could turn into cancer. However, some genes can get “mutated” due to environmental or lifestyle factors. For example, exposure to toxins like tobacco smoke and UV rays can cause certain types of cancer. Certain viruses and bacteria can also lead to cancer. For instance, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses can cause liver cancer, and sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) can lead to cervical and anal cancers.
The most common ways to diagnose cancer are through medical tests that check for signs and symptoms of the disease. These may include blood tests, X-rays, MRI scans, or a biopsy. Sometimes, cancer is diagnosed in people who don’t have any symptoms at all. This is often because doctors find the cancer during a screening test that is done for another reason, such as a colonoscopy or mammogram. Cancer screenings are important because they can detect some types of cancer in their early stages, when they are easier to treat.
If you are at risk for cancer, your doctor will recommend regular screenings. The type of screening depends on your age and other health conditions.
Some cancers start in a single organ or tissue, while others spread from one part of the body to other parts through the bloodstream. This is called metastatic cancer. Cancers that are still in the same place they started in are named for the area of the body where they started. For example, breast cancer that spreads to the lungs is called stage IV cancer, while stage I cancer stays in the breast tissue.
There are many different treatments for cancer, and the choice will depend on the type of cancer and its stage. Some cancers are treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or other medications. Others are treated with hormone therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or laser therapy.
Many cancers are now treated with combinations of these therapies. Targeted therapy uses drugs to attack specific parts of the cancer cell. These drugs usually work by blocking the enzymes that cancer cells need to grow and change. Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy that helps the body’s natural defenses fight the cancer. This therapy works by using medicines that trick the cancer cells to think they are being attacked.
Hormone therapy treats some types of cancer by removing or blocking hormones that fuel the cancer’s growth. For example, it is used to treat some breast and prostate cancers. It can also be used to help relieve symptoms of some other cancers, such as bone pain and problems with urination.
Cancer is a disease that causes abnormal cells to grow and divide out of control. These new cells can crowd out healthy cells, and cause organs or tissues to develop tumors. Cancer can be caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Scientists are constantly improving treatment options, and the diagnosis and death rates from cancer are dropping yearly. Cancer happens when a gene mutation disrupts the normal process of cell growth and division. Normally, genes are controlled by a series of checks and balances that stop any changes that could turn into cancer. However, some genes can get “mutated” due to environmental or lifestyle factors. For example, exposure to toxins like tobacco smoke and UV rays can cause certain types of cancer. Certain viruses and bacteria can also lead to cancer. For instance, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses can cause liver cancer, and sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) can lead to cervical and anal cancers. The most common ways to diagnose cancer are through medical tests that check for signs and symptoms of the disease. These may include blood tests, X-rays, MRI scans, or a biopsy. Sometimes, cancer is diagnosed in people who don’t have any symptoms at all. This is often because doctors find the cancer during a screening test that is done for another reason, such as a colonoscopy or mammogram. Cancer screenings are important because they can detect some types of cancer in their early stages, when they are easier to treat. If you are at risk for cancer, your doctor will recommend regular screenings. The type of screening depends on your age and other health conditions. Some cancers start in a single organ or tissue, while others spread from one part of the body to other parts through the bloodstream. This is called metastatic cancer. Cancers that are still in the same place they started in are named for the area of the body where they started. For example, breast cancer that spreads to the lungs is called stage IV cancer, while stage I cancer stays in the breast tissue. There are many different treatments for cancer, and the choice will depend on the type of cancer and its stage. Some cancers are treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or other medications. Others are treated with hormone therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or laser therapy. Many cancers are now treated with combinations of these therapies. Targeted therapy uses drugs to attack specific parts of the cancer cell. These drugs usually work by blocking the enzymes that cancer cells need to grow and change. Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy that helps the body’s natural defenses fight the cancer. This therapy works by using medicines that trick the cancer cells to think they are being attacked. Hormone therapy treats some types of cancer by removing or blocking hormones that fuel the cancer’s growth. For example, it is used to treat some breast and prostate cancers. It can also be used to help relieve symptoms of some other cancers, such as bone pain and problems with urination.