Cancer

Cancer
Introduction
A class of diseases known as cancer is typified by unchecked cell division that results in the development of
aberrant tissue. This implies that cancer is fundamentally a mitotic illness. One transformed or changed from a
normal cell to a cancerous cell, is when cancer starts. Unchecked growth and division of cancer cells result in the
formation of a mass of cancer cells known as a tumour. Healthy cells are crushed by growing tumours, which
also rob them of nutrients and impair their ability to function normally. Several characteristics set cancer cells
apart from healthy cells:
1. Normal cells receive signals from the body to cease growing and dividing, but cancer cells ignore these
signals. On the other hand, cancer cells continue to divide and do not react to bodily signals.
2. New blood vessels are grown by cancer cells: When a tumor gets bigger, it starts to release proteins
that draw in new blood vessels. Blood vessels starve healthy cells by taking nutrients away from them,
which permits the tumor to grow. Additionally, cancer cells can enter the bloodstream and spread to
other parts of the body thanks to the newly formed blood vessels.
3. One additional characteristic of cancer cells is their ability to metastasize or move throughout the body.
Malignant tumors are those that have the potential to spread to other bodily parts. Cancer cells have the
ability to travel through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to invade nearby tissues.
Since cancer cells are malignant, as was already mentioned, they have the ability to infiltrate tissues and spread
to other areas of the body. Benign tumors are those that are unable to metastasize to other tissues. Benign
tumors don't cause cancer.
Figure 3.4: Benign tumours are unable to metastasise. Malignant tumours are able to metastasise away from the
original tumour site.
Watch some videos to learn more about how normal cells turn cancerous.
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-reproduction-and-cell-division/hs-the-cell-
cycle-and-mitosis/v/cancer?playlist=Biology
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-reproduction-and-cell-division/hs-the-cell-
cycle-and-mitosis/v/cancer?playlist=Biology
Types of cancers
Nearly every tissue in the body is susceptible to cancer. Here is a list of some typical cancers:
• Breast cancer
• Cancer of the lung
• gastric cancer
• Cancer of the blood, leukemia
• Skin cancer, or melanoma
Simply put, a metastasis is a cancer that has spread to another organ but is still the same type of cancer as the
original. Consequently, melanoma, or skin cancer, that metastasizes to the liver is not liver cancer but rather a
melanoma.
Causes of cancer
Carcinogens are substances that cause cancer. Carcinogens damage DNA, making it unable to code for the
critical cell cycle regulatory processes, which is how cancer is caused. Certain viruses may also raise the risk of
developing specific cancers. Hepatitis B or C infection raises the risk of liver cancer, and human papillomavirus
(HPV), the virus that causes genital warts, can raise a woman's risk of cervical cancer. Furthermore, some
individuals have inherited genetic mutations from their parents from birth, which raises their risk of developing
cancer. A genetic propensity for cancer does not, however, guarantee that you will develop the disease. It simply
means that limiting your exposure to carcinogens is more crucial if you have a family history of cancer
Examples of some carcinogens include:
• cigarette smoke
• radiation
• x-rays
• UV light
• food additives
• several dangerous chemicals
Watch this video to learn more about how gene mutations and cancer.
https://youtu.be/iHOspvc4yb0
Beliefs and attitudes concerning cancer

There are some common misconceptions about cancer
• Cancer is a result of human error: It is not always possible to lower your risk of developing cancer,
despite the fact that there are methods to try. Unpredictable DNA mutations are the cause of cancer,
though occasionally cancer develops just by accident.
• Cancer is a death sentence: Although many cancers respond well to treatment when detected early,
there are times when there is little that can be done to save a person with a very advanced cancer.
People can survive cancer and go on to lead healthy, happy lives, depending on the type and stage of
the disease.
• You could develop cancer if a member of your family already has it: A family history of cancer does not
guarantee that you will get it, even though some cancers are more common in certain families due to an
inherited genetic mutation. However, it is advisable to visit a doctor for routine screenings if a particular
type of cancer runs in your family.
• Cancer is communicable and can spread to other people: One person cannot contract cancer from
another.
• It is well-established that having a positive outlook can help an individual with cancer feel better and
remain healthier for a longer period of time. That being said, optimism is not the sole factor that impacts
a person's prognosis.
• Cancer only affects the elderly: Cancer can strike children and babies as well, despite the fact that it
primarily affects the elderly. One common childhood cancer is leukemia.
• Breast cancer only affects women: While it is more common in women, men can also develop breast
cancer.
• Only pale people can develop skin cancer: Although skin cancer is more common in light-skinned
people (melanin, the pigment that gives skin its dark colour, also acts as a protective barrier), dark-
skinned people can also develop skin cancer.
Cancer treatment
Conventional methods, grounded in Western evidence-based medicine, are typically employed in the treatment
of cancer. Nonetheless, a lot of people prefer to treat cancer holistically, and as a result, they also employ
traditional techniques to treat symptoms. The sections that follow will outline a few traditional and local
approaches to cancer treatment.

Cancer

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Beliefs and attitudes concerning cancer

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