Our body is made up of cells. All cancers begin in the cells. These cells grow and ivide in to well controlled manner to produce more cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy. As cells become older or damaged, they die and are replaced with the new cells.
However due to certain reasons this normal functioning of our body cells in interrupted and leads to an abnormal behavior of the cells, typically in one part / organ of the body. When the cells continue to multiply and live beyond their lifespan, these are referred to as the "cancerous cells" In general the term cancer is used to describe a medical condition where there is:
Abnormal of uncontrolled multiplication of the body cells.
This abnormal multiplication is typically in one organ / part of the body.
These mutant cells can migrate and attack other parts of the body through blood and lymph.
Manifestation of this disease is in the form of a tumor – a group of mutant cells that form a tissue.
These can affect all living cells in the body, at all ages and in both genders.
Cancer is not a single disease but refers to a group of diseases which share similar characteristics. There are more than 100 types of cancer including breast cancer, skin cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer and lymphoma cancer. Factors such as tobacco consumption , environmental exposures, certain infections an well as genetic predisposition play a very important role.
How Does Cancer Start? Cancer starts when the genetic material of a cell becomes damaged or goes through the production changes which effect the normal cell growth and division. Many a times these changes are inherited, due to the effect of our diet or may be caused due to exposure to the environmental factors like some chemicals, tobacco, cigarette, smoke etc. When this happens, the body does not obey the normal life cycle resulting in to the new cells are continuously forming and old/damaged cells not dying resulting in to a formation of a mass of tissue which is called as
“tumor”. All these tumors may not be cancerous.
The non cancerous tumor is called as “Benign Tumor” and the cancerous tumor is called as” Malignant”.
The Benign Tumor (Non Cancerous) can be:
Surgically removed
Reoccurrence is very rare after it has been removed surgically.
It remains contained within its organ and does not spread to other parts of the body.
The Malignant tumors are "cancerous" as:
The cells in these tumors can spread to the other parts of the body.
The extent of growth of cells in the originating tissue and its spread to the distant organs determines the seriousness, the impact and the line of treatment of the disease. This assessment also determines the stage of cancer.
Common Cancers
The most common cancers are
Among Men: Lung cancer .Cancer of the Oesophagus ,stomach cancer of the head and neck, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer.
Among Women: Cervical cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer. oesophagus and stomach cancer, colorectal cancer.
Understanding Cancer – Symptoms
What Are the Symptoms of Cancer?
In its early stages, cancer usually has no symptoms, but eventually a malignant tumor will grow large enough to be detected. As it continues to grow, it may press on nerves and produce pain, penetrate blood vessels and cause bleeding, or interfere with the function of a body organ or system.
The Seven Warning Signs of Cancer
To remember the seven early warning signs of cancer (as designated by the American Cancer Society), think of the word CAUTION:
Change in bowel or bladder habits. Asore that does not heal. Unusual bleeding or discharge. Thickening or lump in the breast, testicles, or elsewhere. Indigestion or difficulty swallowing. Obvious change in the size, color, shape, or thickness of a wart, mole, or mouth sore. Nagging cough or hoarseness.
The following symptoms may also signal the presence of some form of cancer:
Persistent headaches
Unexplained loss of weight or appetite
Chronic pain in bones
Persistent fatigue, nausea, or vomiting
Persistent low-grade fever, either constant or intermittent
Repeated instances of infection
Call Your Doctor About Cancer If:
You develop symptoms that may signal cancer, are not clearly linked to another cause, and persist for more than two weeks. You should schedule a medical examination. If the cause of your symptoms is cancer, early diagnosis and treatment will offer a better chance of cure.
Cancer Treatment
Cancer treatment broadly consists of three approaches - Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy and Surgical Oncology. There are few best cancer hospital in India that offer all these three modes of treatment at one place that has been made possible through its world class technology and available facilities. These hospitals are well equipped to provide a comprehensive range of treatments for cancer and have a dedicated team of highly-trained doctors of international repute and research analysts working together to develop newer treatment approaches and using them for effective patient cure and care.