What is Cancer and How Can it Be Prevented?
Cancer is a disease that begins when cells in the body develop abnormally and grow out of control. This growth causes tumors, which are masses of cells that can affect the body’s normal function. Cancers can also spread to other parts of the body through microscopic processes, causing more cancers and affecting how the body works.
Normally, healthy cells grow and divide to make more cells as the body needs them. Cells that no longer need to grow are either destroyed or stop dividing and die. If the genes that control this process become damaged, cells may start growing and dividing without control and form tumors. Cancers can start in any type of cell, and they grow and spread in different ways.
Many types of cancer can be prevented by making healthy choices and getting regular screening tests. Screening tests can find some cancers early, when they are smaller and easier to treat. Vaccines can also help lower your risk of cancer. For example, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine can prevent most cervical cancers and the hepatitis B vaccine can reduce liver cancer risk.
All cancers begin in cells and most of the time, those cells do not cause any symptoms until they are very large. If cancer is found at a very early stage, it is easier to treat and more likely to cure the patient. Some cancers can grow fast and spread to other parts of the body, causing pain, fatigue and other health problems. Some cancers can be treated by removing the tumor, but more often than not, treatment involves radiation, chemotherapy and/or surgery combined with other drugs or medicines to reduce side effects or help the body fight the cancer.
It takes years for cells to develop into cancer, and it is not the same in every person. This is because a number of different things can damage the genes that control cells, causing them to change and develop into precancerous cells or cancers. These changes are called mutations.
A person’s chances of developing cancer increase as they get older because the effects of these changes on the genes can build up over time. But there are many things people can do to help keep their risks low, such as not smoking, eating a balanced diet and getting regular screening tests for colon and lung cancer.
Symptoms of cancer can be different for everyone and can include many kinds of symptoms, from mild to severe. Some cancers can be found with routine physical exams, while others can only be diagnosed by lab tests or by imaging tests like X-rays and ultrasounds. Some cancers have general warning signs, such as a lump or mass or feeling tired a lot of the time. Other symptoms are more specific and can help doctors narrow down what kind of cancer is causing the signs and symptoms. For example, cancers that start in the blood can cause fever and swollen lymph nodes (lymph glands located near the spleen and thymus). The cells of these cancers also secrete enzymes that break down the barriers that surround and protect tissues, allowing the cells to move more easily through the surrounding tissue.
Cancer is a disease that begins when cells in the body develop abnormally and grow out of control. This growth causes tumors, which are masses of cells that can affect the body’s normal function. Cancers can also spread to other parts of the body through microscopic processes, causing more cancers and affecting how the body works. Normally, healthy cells grow and divide to make more cells as the body needs them. Cells that no longer need to grow are either destroyed or stop dividing and die. If the genes that control this process become damaged, cells may start growing and dividing without control and form tumors. Cancers can start in any type of cell, and they grow and spread in different ways. Many types of cancer can be prevented by making healthy choices and getting regular screening tests. Screening tests can find some cancers early, when they are smaller and easier to treat. Vaccines can also help lower your risk of cancer. For example, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine can prevent most cervical cancers and the hepatitis B vaccine can reduce liver cancer risk. All cancers begin in cells and most of the time, those cells do not cause any symptoms until they are very large. If cancer is found at a very early stage, it is easier to treat and more likely to cure the patient. Some cancers can grow fast and spread to other parts of the body, causing pain, fatigue and other health problems. Some cancers can be treated by removing the tumor, but more often than not, treatment involves radiation, chemotherapy and/or surgery combined with other drugs or medicines to reduce side effects or help the body fight the cancer. It takes years for cells to develop into cancer, and it is not the same in every person. This is because a number of different things can damage the genes that control cells, causing them to change and develop into precancerous cells or cancers. These changes are called mutations. A person’s chances of developing cancer increase as they get older because the effects of these changes on the genes can build up over time. But there are many things people can do to help keep their risks low, such as not smoking, eating a balanced diet and getting regular screening tests for colon and lung cancer. Symptoms of cancer can be different for everyone and can include many kinds of symptoms, from mild to severe. Some cancers can be found with routine physical exams, while others can only be diagnosed by lab tests or by imaging tests like X-rays and ultrasounds. Some cancers have general warning signs, such as a lump or mass or feeling tired a lot of the time. Other symptoms are more specific and can help doctors narrow down what kind of cancer is causing the signs and symptoms. For example, cancers that start in the blood can cause fever and swollen lymph nodes (lymph glands located near the spleen and thymus). The cells of these cancers also secrete enzymes that break down the barriers that surround and protect tissues, allowing the cells to move more easily through the surrounding tissue.