How Cancer Starts and Spreads
Cancer is a group of more than 100 diseases that begin in cells, the basic building blocks of your body. Cancer causes cells to grow out of control and spread to other parts of the body. If left untreated, cancer can kill you.
Cancer researchers are studying ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. Their work helps people live longer and healthier lives. Their work also explains how cancer starts and spreads.
Scientists often publish their research findings in medical journals. These studies may be done in a laboratory or with volunteers in clinics. The studies that involve volunteers are called clinical trials. Sometimes, scientists write a review article that summarizes all of the published research on a particular topic.
Cancer starts when certain genes in your body begin to change. The changes are called mutations. Normally, when cells grow or divide, they are controlled by other genes that stop them from growing too fast or spreading to other areas of the body. If a gene mutation makes these control genes stop working properly, cells can grow and spread without control.
Some types of cancer start in cells that line the inside surface of organs. These types of cancer are usually easier to treat than cancer that begins in other cells.
Other types of cancer start in blood cells or in bone marrow, where blood cells are made. These types of cancer are more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
There are four stages of cancer: Stage 0 is the earliest stage. It’s like a pre-cancerous condition called dysplasia. In dysplasia, there isn’t a buildup of extra cells, but there are abnormal changes in the way your tissues look. Some types of dysplasia (such as an abnormal mole on your skin) can turn into melanoma, but most don’t.
Doctors haven’t yet found all the reasons that cancer develops. Some types of cancer are linked to lifestyle choices, such as smoking and sun exposure. Other types of cancer are caused by inherited gene mutations. Inherited gene mutations contribute to 5-10 percent of all cancers.
Some types of cancer are more common in specific groups of people. Race, age, and gender all affect a person’s chance of getting cancer. But these factors don’t explain why a person gets cancer. Some cancers are more likely to happen if a parent has had the disease.
Cancer is a group of more than 100 diseases that begin in cells, the basic building blocks of your body. Cancer causes cells to grow out of control and spread to other parts of the body. If left untreated, cancer can kill you. Cancer researchers are studying ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. Their work helps people live longer and healthier lives. Their work also explains how cancer starts and spreads. Scientists often publish their research findings in medical journals. These studies may be done in a laboratory or with volunteers in clinics. The studies that involve volunteers are called clinical trials. Sometimes, scientists write a review article that summarizes all of the published research on a particular topic. Cancer starts when certain genes in your body begin to change. The changes are called mutations. Normally, when cells grow or divide, they are controlled by other genes that stop them from growing too fast or spreading to other areas of the body. If a gene mutation makes these control genes stop working properly, cells can grow and spread without control. Some types of cancer start in cells that line the inside surface of organs. These types of cancer are usually easier to treat than cancer that begins in other cells. Other types of cancer start in blood cells or in bone marrow, where blood cells are made. These types of cancer are more likely to spread to other parts of the body. There are four stages of cancer: Stage 0 is the earliest stage. It’s like a pre-cancerous condition called dysplasia. In dysplasia, there isn’t a buildup of extra cells, but there are abnormal changes in the way your tissues look. Some types of dysplasia (such as an abnormal mole on your skin) can turn into melanoma, but most don’t. Doctors haven’t yet found all the reasons that cancer develops. Some types of cancer are linked to lifestyle choices, such as smoking and sun exposure. Other types of cancer are caused by inherited gene mutations. Inherited gene mutations contribute to 5-10 percent of all cancers. Some types of cancer are more common in specific groups of people. Race, age, and gender all affect a person’s chance of getting cancer. But these factors don’t explain why a person gets cancer. Some cancers are more likely to happen if a parent has had the disease.