What is Cancer?
Cancer is a generic term covering a huge number of abnormal cellular growth disorders. Rapidly growing abnormal cells invade the surrounding tissue, spreading the disease to other organs [1]. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death across the globe. Normal cells have a specific life cycle; they reproduce and die at a fixed time determined by genetics. Cancer disrupts this normal process of cellular growth and reproduction, leading to the production of abnormal cells. Mutations in DNA are responsible for cancer.

 

What are its Types?

Cancers are classified based on their origin and cell type. Following are the types of cancer-based on the origin [2]:

• Carcinoma: cancers arising from skin and tissue linings of other organs are carcinomas. 
• Sarcoma: connective tissue cancers are referred to as sarcomas. It includes bones, cartilages, muscles, and blood vessel cancers.
• Lymphoma: it is cancer arising from the immune system.
• Myeloma: it is the cancer of the immune system.
• Leukemia: bone marrow and blood cancers come under this category.

 

What Causes Cancer?

Mutations in genetic material cause cancer. Every cell of the human body has its own genetic material enclosed in the nucleus. There are trillions of genes encoding various important cellular traits. Mutation in any of these can be disastrous to the cell [3]. Abnormal cells alter the normal cellular reproductive cycle leading to the rapid growth of cancerous cells. Mutations allow cellular reproduction at an exponential rate, causing the speedy spread of cancer.

Apart from the mutations, certain risk factors increase the chances of developing cancer. These include age, gender, lifestyle, family history, overall health, environmental conditions, etc.

 

What are its Symptoms?

Symptoms of cancers differ depending upon the types of cancers and the affected organs. However, the following are some common signs and symptoms of cancers [4]:

• Fever
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lumps under the skin
• Altered bowel and bladder habits
• Persistent indigestion
• Cough
• Muscle and joint pain
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Headache
• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Night sweats
• Skin changes
• Hoarseness
• Sores
• Depression
• Cognitive impairment
• Breathing difficulty

 

Treatment Options for Cancer:

Cancer treatment is of several types depending upon various factors. These factors include origin, classification, severity, extent, and many other essential aspects of treatment. Here is a general list of standard treatment options available [5]:

• Surgery: it involves the surgical removal of the area of cancer.
• Chemotherapy: chemotherapeutic medicines are toxic to the cancer cells, killing them and preventing the spread of cancer.
• Radiotherapy: it uses powerful rays to kill cancer cells inside and outside the body. The beams are targeted to the cancer cells only to avoid damage to the healthy cells.
• Immunotherapy: antibodies are introduced into the body to fight cancerous cells. 
• Stem cell transplant: healthy stem cells are transplanted into the diseased bone marrow to replace it.
• Targeted drug therapy: drug therapy is used to target certain chemicals that aid cancer cell growth.

 

 

 

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20362/#:~:text=Cancer%2C%20then%2C%20is%20a%20disease,an%20individual%20experiences%20as%20cancer.
2. https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/cancer-basics/what-cancer
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4734938/#:~:text=The%20World%20Cancer%20Research%20Fund,adult%20height%20and%20sedentary%20lifestyles.
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11034629/#:~:text=Patients%20with%20cancer%20experience%20multiple,well%20managed%20are%20often%20undertreated.
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6753017/

---

Find articles related to: Medicine Telehealth Health cancer tumor


More articles about General Health Tips & News

Back to the Health Tips Index