Cancer

Cancer is a group of many related disease that begins in cells.

Normally, cells grow and divide to produce more cells only when the
body needs them. This orderly process helps keep the body healthy.
Sometimes, however, cells keep dividing even if new cells are not
needed. These extra cells form a mass of tissue, usually called a
lump, swelling, or tumor.

Tumors can be classified as: benign tumors, which are not

cancerous, can often be removed, and in most cases, do not come
back; and malignant tumors which are cancerous. Cells in the latter
tumors are abnormal; these can divide without control, and invade
and damage nearby tissues and organs.

Cause

A result of a complex mix of factors related to heredity, diet,

physical inactivity, and prolonged, continuous exposure to certain
chemicals and other substances.

A number of factors that increase a person’s chance of developing

cancer has been identified and are called “risk factors”.

 Cigarette Smoking. Smoking causes lung cancer. Smokers are

more likely to develop lung cancer compared with non-smokers.
Smoking has also been linked to cancers of the mouth, larynx,
pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, and bladder.
 Excessive Alcohol Intake. Heavy drinkers have an increased
risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx, and
liver. Some studies suggest that even moderate drinking may
slightly increase the risk of breast cancer.
 Unhealthy Diet. Diet plays an important role in the
development of many cancers, particularly in the digestive and
reproductive organs. Long-term habit of not eating a healthy
diet has been linked with increased incidence of cancer.
Likewise, being seriously overweight has been linked to breast
cancer.
 Chemicals and Other Substances. Exposure to substances, such
as chemicals, metals, or pesticides can increase the risk of
cancer. Asbestos, nickel, cadmium, uranium, radon, vinyl
chloride, and benzene are well-known cancer-causing agents
(carcinogens). These may act alone or together with other
 carcinogens, like cigarette smoke, to increase the risk of
cancer.
 Secondhand Smoke. Secondhand smoke is the smoke emitted from
the burning end of heated tobacco products usually in
combination with the smoke exhaled by the smoker.

Signs and Symptoms

General signs of cancer (Signs and symptoms are specific for

each type of cancer.):
 Fatigue
 Unexplained weight loss
 Fever
 Weakness
 Pain
 Skin changes(itching, excessive hair growth, redness,
jaundice, and hyperpigmentation)

Treatment

 Surgery
When used to treat cancer, surgery is a procedure in which a
surgeon removes cancer from your body. Learn the different ways
that surgery is used against cancer and what you can expect before,
during, and after surgery.
 Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high
doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Learn
about the types of radiation, why side effects happen, which ones
you might have, and more
 Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill
cancer cells. Learn how chemotherapy works against cancer, why it
causes side effects, and how it is used with other cancer
treatments.
 Immunotherapy to Treat Cancer
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune
system fight cancer. This page covers the types of immunotherapy,
how it is used against cancer, and what you can expect during
treatment.
 Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets the
changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide, and spread.
Learn how targeted therapy works against cancer and about common
side effects that may occur.
  Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is a treatment that slows or stops the growth of
breast and prostate cancers that use hormones to grow. Learn about
the types of hormone therapy and side effects that may happen.

 Stem Cell Transplant

Stem cell transplants are procedures that restore blood-forming
stem cells in cancer patients who have had theirs destroyed by very
high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Learn about the
types of transplants, side effects that may occur, and how stem
cell transplants are used in cancer treatment.

 Precision Medicine
Precision medicine helps doctors select treatments that are most
likely to help patients based on a genetic understanding of their
disease. Learn about the role precision medicine plays in cancer
treatment, including how genetic changes in a person's cancer are
identified and used to select treatments.

Prevention

There is no 100% guarantee that cancer can ever be

prevented. However, being aware of the cancer risk factors will
help reduce the possibility of cancer. To lessen the risk of
developing cancer:

 Quit smoking
 Limit drinking alcoholic beverages
 Watch your diet.
 Consult your doctor regularly.
 Do regular physical activity.
 Have yourself immunized (Hepatitis B vaccine at birth
up to 6 months old for prevention of liver cancer, and
human papillomavirus vaccine for the prevention of
cervical cancer among women.)

Early detection and proper treatment play a big role in

controlling cancer. Eating a balanced diet and exercising can also
help a lot.