Cancer is the leading cause of death for those under 65 years, and every year millions are diagnosed with cancer nationwide. With the numbers on the rise, changes in lifestyle and early detection can reduce the occurrence. Read on to get an overview of disease from its causes to controlling it.
What is cancer
Cancer is an abnormal condition in which cells multiply continuously and uncontrollably to form lumps or tumors. Cancerous or malignant tumors could pose a threat to life and sometimes spread to nearby tissue and organs. Cells that break away from the cyst could travel through the blood or lymphatic system and develop in different parts of the body. These cancers are called metastatic tumors.
Causes
While genetic factors can contribute to cancer development, several others include:
- Poor nutrition
- heavy use of tobacco products
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Exposure to carcinogens
Categories of cancer
Cancers are named after the part of the body in which it originated, such as lung, breast, or skin. They fall under different categories too and can include
- Carcinomas: These cancers form solid tumors and start in epithelial cells.
- Adenocarcinomas: These are the most common types of cancer today, and they usually start in the glandular tissue.
- Sarcomas: Sarcomas are cancer that originates in the cells that create the supporting structure of the body, such as bones and muscles.
- Leukemias: This cancer generally affects the white blood cells and doesn’t cause tumors.
- Lymphomas: Cancer of the lymphatic system is called lymphoma.
Treatment
Depending on the patient’s overall health, stage at detection, and type of cancer, the treatment could include the following:
- Chemotherapy: This treatment uses medications to kill off the cancer cells
- Radiation: Doctors could use high doses of radiation to shrink cancerous tumors before surgery
- Surgery: A surgeon can remove the growth along with affected surrounding tissue
- Immunotherapy: This involves the use of medications to help a person’s immune system to fight cancer.
- Hormone therapy: Medication prescribed to interfere with the production of certain hormones can inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
With improvements in medicine and greater awareness of cancer screenings, early-stage detection is possible. Proper and timely intervention can help increase survival rates and improve the quality of life.
