Cancer is a medical term that includes a wide range of diseases. What distinguishes these diseases is the abnormal growth of the cells, wherein the cells uncontrollably divide and reproduce. Moreover, the cells can invade and destroy the healthy tissues of the body and hinder their functions. They are usually able to spread all over the body.
Cancer develops as a result of a mutation in the cells’ DNA. These cells are called cancerous cells.
A cancerous tumor is the mass of cancerous cells, however, not all types of cancer develop cancerous cells. For example, blood cancer is the reproduction of cancerous cells in the blood without developing tumors.
Cancer is divided into four stages, depending on its spread in the body—the first stage is when cancer has not spread and is only in one organ. The fourth stage, however, is when it spreads to other parts of the body.
Cancer is one of the primary death causes in the world; however, cancer survival rates are improving. Due to the constant development in discovering cancer and its treatments, wherein treating this disease in its first stage is easy.
The psychological state also plays a significant rule in recovery from cancer.
A benign tumor is a tumor that mainly grows in one part of the body and is surrounded by a fibrous sheath, which makes it unable to metastasize to other parts, however, in some rare cases, it can become malignant.
The benign tumors are removed by surgery, especially if they are large in size, wherein they can hinder the infected organ or the surrounding organs from functioning properly. After the benign tumors are removed, they do not regrow.
Malignant Tumors:
A malignant tumor is a tumor in which the abnormal cells rapidly grow without stopping and do not allow the damaged tissues to regenerate. It can also metastasize to other body organs through the lymphatic system or the bloodstream.
The symptoms differ depending on the infected organ. The following are the general symptoms and signs that are related, but not exclusive, to cancer:
Severe fatigue without making an effort.
Constant fever for an unknown reason, or heavy sweating at night (raise of body temperature).
Lump (tumor) or a thick area under the skin that you can feel (the lumps can appear on the chest, neck, back, or the testicles).
Constant pain in muscles or joints for unknown reasons.
Skin changes, like yellowing or darkening of the skin, red spots, and wounds and ulcers that do not heal.
Changes in the shape, texture, or size of the existing moles.
Changes in the bladder or bowel functions (burning sensation during urinating, inability to completely empty the bladder, or the urgent need to urinate). Moreover, excretion changes, like a change in the size of the feces, or the inability to completely excrete.
Chronic coughing that lasts for over a month, or breathing difficulties (may have phlegm mixed with blood)
Voice hoarseness for no reason.
Swallowing difficulty.
Constant indigestion, or discomfort after eating.
Bleeding for no reason (from the nose, with urine, with feces, or vaginal bleeding between periods).
Anemia for an unknown reason.
Constant itching, especially in the genital and anal area.
A chronic headache that does not ease with medications and sedatives.
Pain in the pelvic area and the lower back, and bloating that lasts for a long time.
Causes and Risk Factors
The reason behind many types of cancer is the accumulation of some defected or mutated cells that were not able to fix the defect, but are also not dead. Cells can usually fix their genetic defects, and they often die if they were not able to.
The genetic defect may cause the cell to stop functioning properly and cause changes in its growth and division, which may make it cancerous, wherein the genetic defect may prolong the cell’s lifespan, longer than the average age of the cell.
Furthermore, the genetic defect may allow the cells to grow and divide faster, which leads to producing a large amount of similar defected and mutated cells. Moreover, this mutation can cause a defect or even an entire failure regarding the stopping of the growth of the cells. Normal cells know when to stop when they reach the proper number for each cell type, whereas cancerous cells lose this property and allow the cancerous cells to continue growing and accumulate.
The Risk Factors That Raise the Risk of Cancer Include:
Cancer progression can take up to several years, therefore, many people over 55 years old get cancer.
Certain lifestyles and the surrounding environment may raise the risk of getting cancer.
Exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, such as gasoline, or Asbestos which is used in construction, roofing, water drainage pipes, and vent pipes.
Smoking and second-hand smoking.
Consuming alcohol.
Frequent exposure to the sun.
Unsafe/Unprotected
Obesity and hormonal changes.
Family history. Only 10% of cancer cases are based on genetic factors, therefore, if a particular type of cancer is spread in a family, then it is very likely for these genetic defects to be passed down from one generation to another. Risking another family member to get the disease.
Cancer Prevention
There is no specific method to prevent cancer. There are, however, several methods to reduce the risk of getting it. Including:
