Cancer – What Is It and How Can We Prevent It?
Cancer is a disease that develops when some of the cells in our body become abnormal and grow and divide without control. There are over 100 different kinds of cancer, and each one starts in a different cell type and affects different parts of the body. Some cancers are slow-growing and stay where they start, while others grow quickly and spread to other parts of the body.
Cells are the basic building blocks of our body, and each day we produce millions of new cells as old ones die or are damaged. These cells are responsible for building tissues and organs, but when they become abnormal and keep growing, they may form a mass of tissue called a tumour. The mass of cancerous cells can grow and destroy healthy tissue around it. A tumour can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Many cancers are caused by changes in genes. These are the coded messages that tell cells how to behave and which proteins to make. Genetic changes can be inherited or they can happen as we grow older. Cancer-causing genes can also become damaged by certain substances known as carcinogens. Some types of cancer are more common as we get older, and some develop faster in people who have a family history of the same type of cancer or who have had other health problems such as infections like HIV/AIDS.
There are many ways to treat cancer. Some are used to cure it, while others help relieve symptoms and prevent the cancer from coming back. The most common treatment is surgery, but radiation and chemotherapy are also commonly used. Sometimes a combination of treatments is needed to get the best results.
Some cancers are fueled by hormones, and so their growth can be stopped by blocking the production of those hormones. This is called hormonal therapy. Other cancers are triggered by chemicals in the environment and can be treated by removing or blocking exposure to these substances. These are known as chemoprevention strategies.
The most recent developments in cancer research have focused on prevention and early detection. We now know more about how some cancers are triggered and which ones can be prevented than ever before. We also have more treatments to try if a cancer does develop, and we are developing ways to improve our understanding of how to treat cancer in its earliest stages when it is less likely to spread. There is no cure for all cancers, but we are making progress. Some cancers are more treatable than they were 5 years ago, and there is hope for a cure for many of the most dangerous forms of cancer. Some cancers are more easily prevented, such as those caused by hepatitis B virus or human papillomavirus. Others are easier to treat if caught early, for example when a lump is found on screening or as a result of an accident. Some cancers cannot be prevented, but we are working hard to reduce the chances of them developing through lifestyle changes such as not smoking and avoiding exposure to carcinogens.
Cancer is a disease that develops when some of the cells in our body become abnormal and grow and divide without control. There are over 100 different kinds of cancer, and each one starts in a different cell type and affects different parts of the body. Some cancers are slow-growing and stay where they start, while others grow quickly and spread to other parts of the body. Cells are the basic building blocks of our body, and each day we produce millions of new cells as old ones die or are damaged. These cells are responsible for building tissues and organs, but when they become abnormal and keep growing, they may form a mass of tissue called a tumour. The mass of cancerous cells can grow and destroy healthy tissue around it. A tumour can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Many cancers are caused by changes in genes. These are the coded messages that tell cells how to behave and which proteins to make. Genetic changes can be inherited or they can happen as we grow older. Cancer-causing genes can also become damaged by certain substances known as carcinogens. Some types of cancer are more common as we get older, and some develop faster in people who have a family history of the same type of cancer or who have had other health problems such as infections like HIV/AIDS. There are many ways to treat cancer. Some are used to cure it, while others help relieve symptoms and prevent the cancer from coming back. The most common treatment is surgery, but radiation and chemotherapy are also commonly used. Sometimes a combination of treatments is needed to get the best results. Some cancers are fueled by hormones, and so their growth can be stopped by blocking the production of those hormones. This is called hormonal therapy. Other cancers are triggered by chemicals in the environment and can be treated by removing or blocking exposure to these substances. These are known as chemoprevention strategies. The most recent developments in cancer research have focused on prevention and early detection. We now know more about how some cancers are triggered and which ones can be prevented than ever before. We also have more treatments to try if a cancer does develop, and we are developing ways to improve our understanding of how to treat cancer in its earliest stages when it is less likely to spread. There is no cure for all cancers, but we are making progress. Some cancers are more treatable than they were 5 years ago, and there is hope for a cure for many of the most dangerous forms of cancer. Some cancers are more easily prevented, such as those caused by hepatitis B virus or human papillomavirus. Others are easier to treat if caught early, for example when a lump is found on screening or as a result of an accident. Some cancers cannot be prevented, but we are working hard to reduce the chances of them developing through lifestyle changes such as not smoking and avoiding exposure to carcinogens.