What To Know About Cancer

What to know about cancer
 What is cancer?
 Causes
 Treatments
 Types
 Outlook
 Takeaway
Cancer causes cells to divide uncontrollably. This can
result in tumors, damage to the immune system, and
other impairment that can be fatal.
In the United States, an estimated 15.5 millionTrusted Source people with a history

of cancer were living as of January 1, 2016, according to a 2018 report from the
American Cancer Society.
In this article, we examine types of cancer, how the disease develops, and the many
treatments that help improve the quality of life and survival rates.
What is cancer?
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Cancer is a broad term. It describes the disease that results when cellular changes
cause the uncontrolled growth and division of cells.
Some types of cancer cause rapid cell growth, while others cause cells to grow and
divide at a slower rate.
Certain forms of cancer result in visible growths called tumors, while others, such
as leukemia, do not.
Most of the body’s cells have specific functions and fixed lifespans. While it may
sound like a bad thing, cell death is part of a natural and beneficial phenomenon
called apoptosis.
A cell receives instructions to die so that the body can replace it with a newer cell
that functions better. Cancerous cells lack the components that instruct them to stop
dividing and to die.
As a result, they build up in the body, using oxygen and nutrients that would usually
nourish other cells. Cancerous cells can form tumors, impair the immune system
and cause other changes that prevent the body from functioning regularly.
Cancerous cells may appear in one area, then spread via the lymph nodes. These
are clusters of immune cells located throughout the body.
Causes
There are many causes of cancer, and some are preventable.
For example, over 480,000 peopleTrusted Source die in the U.S. each year from
smoking cigarettes, according to data reported in 2014.
In addition to smoking, risk factors for cancer include:
 heavy alcohol consumption

 excess body weight
 physical inactivity
 poor nutrition
Other causes of cancer are not preventable. Currently, the most significant
unpreventable risk factor is age. According to the American Cancer Society, doctors
in the U.S. diagnose 87 percentTrusted Source of cancer cases in people ages 50
years or older.
Is cancer genetic?
Genetic factors can contribute to the development of cancer.
A person’s genetic code tells their cells when to divide and expire. Changes in the
genes can lead to faulty instructions, and cancer can result.
Genes also influence the cells’ production of proteins, and proteins carry many of
the instructions for cellular growth and division.
Some genes change proteins that would usually repair damaged cells. This can lead
to cancer. If a parent has these genes, they may pass on the altered instructions to
their offspring.
Some genetic changes occur after birth, and factors such as smoking and sun
exposure can increase the risk.
Other changes that can result in cancer take place in the chemical signals that
determine how the body deploys, or “expresses” specific genes.
Finally, a person can inherit a predisposition for a type of cancer. A doctor may refer
to this as having a hereditary cancer syndrome. Inherited genetic mutations
significantly contribute to the development of 5–10 percentTrusted Source of cancer
cases.
Treatments
The side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss. However, advances in
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treatment are improving the outlook for people with cancer.
Innovative research has fueled the development of new medications and treatment
technologies.
Doctors usually prescribe treatments based on the type of cancer, its stage at
diagnosis, and the person’s overall health.
Below are examples of approaches to cancer treatment:
 Chemotherapy aims to kill cancerous cells with medications that target rapidly

dividing cells. The drugs can also help shrink tumors, but the side effects can
be severe.
 Hormone therapy involves taking medications that change how certain
hormones work or interfere with the body’s ability to produce them. When
hormones play a significant role, as with prostate and breast cancers, this is a
common approach.
 Immunotherapy uses medications and other treatments to boost the immune
system and encourage it to fight cancerous cells. Two examples of these
treatments are checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell transfer.
 Precision medicine, or personalized medicine, is a newer, developing
approach. It involves using genetic testing to determine the best treatments
for a person’s particular presentation of cancer. Researchers have yet to
show that it can effectively treat all types of cancer, however.
 Radiation therapy uses high-dose radiation to kill cancerous cells. Also, a
doctor may recommend using radiation to shrink a tumor before surgery or
reduce tumor-related symptoms.
 Stem cell transplant can be especially beneficial for people with blood-related
cancers, such as leukemia or lymphoma. It involves removing cells, such as
red or white blood cells, that chemotherapy or radiation has destroyed. Lab
technicians then strengthen the cells and put them back into the body.
 Surgery is often a part of a treatment plan when a person has a cancerous
tumor. Also, a surgeon may remove lymph nodes to reduce or prevent the
disease’s spread.
 Targeted therapies perform functions within cancerous cells to prevent them
from multiplying. They can also boost the immune system. Two examples of
these therapies are small-molecule drugs and monoclonal antibodies.
Doctors will often employ more than one type of treatment to maximize
effectiveness.
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Types
Share on Pin terest Smoking increases the risk of many different types of cancer.
The most common typeTrusted Source of cancer in the U.S. is breast cancer,

followed by lung and prostate cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute,
which excluded nonmelanoma skin cancers from these findings.
Each year, more than 40,000 people in the country receive a diagnosis of one of the
following types of cancer:
 bladder
 colon and rectal
 endometrial
 kidney
 leukemia
 liver
 melanoma
 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
 pancreatic
 thyroid
Other forms are less common. According to the National Cancer Institute, there
are over 100 typesTrusted Source of cancer.
Cancer development and cell division
Doctors classify cancer by:
 its location in the body

 the tissues that it forms in
For example, sarcomas develop in bones or soft tissues, while carcinomas form in

cells that cover internal or external surfaces in the body. Basal cell carcinomas
develop in the skin, while adenocarcinomas can form in the breast.
When cancerous cells spread to other parts of the body, the medical term for this is
metastasis.
A person can also have more than one type of cancer at a time.
To discover more evidence-based information and resources for cancer, visit our
dedicated hub.
Outlook
Improvements in cancer detection, increased awareness of the risks of smoking,
and a drop in tobacco use have all contributed to a year-on-year decrease in the
number of cancer diagnoses and deaths.
According to the American Cancer Society, the overall cancer death rate declined
by 26 percentTrusted Source between 1991 and 2015.
When a person has cancer, the outlook will depend on whether the disease has
spread and on its type, severity, and location.
Takeaway
Cancer causes cells to divide uncontrollably. It also prevents them from dying at the
natural point in their life cycle.
Genetic factors and lifestyle choices, such as smoking, can contribute to the
development of the disease. Several elements affect the ways that DNA
communicates with cells and directs their division and death.
After nonmelanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type in the U.S.
However, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death.
Treatments are constantly improving. Examples of current methods include

chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Some people benefit from newer
options, such as stem cell transplantation and precision medicine.
The diagnosis and death rates of cancer are dropping yearly.

Q:
How do I recognize cancer before it starts to cause serious health problems?
A:
Some cancers cause early symptoms, but others do not exhibit symptoms until they
are more advanced. Many of these symptoms are often from causes unrelated to
cancer.
The best way to identify cancer early is to report any unusual, persistent symptoms
to your doctor so they can advise you on any further testing that may be needed.
Some symptoms of cancer can be found hereTrusted Source.
Yamini Ranchod, PhD, MSTrusted Source Answers represent the opinions of our medical
experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
Last medically reviewed on January 6, 2020
 Cancer / Oncology
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FEEDBACK:
Medically reviewed by Yamini Ranchod, Ph.D., M.S. — Written by Rachel Nall,

MSN, CRNA on January 6, 2020
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What to know about cancer

In the United States, an estimated 15.5 millionTrusted Source people with a history

GSCHMEISSNER/ CSA Images/Getty Images

In addition to smoking, risk factors for cancer include:

 heavy alcohol consumption

Genetic factors can contribute to the development of cancer.

treatment are improving the outlook for people with cancer.

Below are examples of approaches to cancer treatment:

 Chemotherapy aims to kill cancerous cells with medications that target rapidly

The most common typeTrusted Source of cancer in the U.S. is breast cancer,

Cancer development and cell division

Doctors classify cancer by:

 its location in the body

For example, sarcomas develop in bones or soft tissues, while carcinomas form in

Treatments are constantly improving. Examples of current methods include

The diagnosis and death rates of cancer are dropping yearly.

Some symptoms of cancer can be found hereTrusted Source.

Last medically reviewed on January 6, 2020

Medically reviewed by Yamini Ranchod, Ph.D., M.S. — Written by Rachel Nall,

Weight-loss shot may reduce obesity, overweight

Police violence-induced stress may worsen Black women’s health

Mental health conditions are associated with dementia later in life

COVID-19 and dementia: Are scientists concerned?

Study finds link between chronic pain and disrupted eating

Was this article helpful?

Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, MD

What to know about bladder polyps

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