Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the human body proliferate uncontrollably, often leading to the development of tumours. Cancerous tumours can then metastasize or spread into different places in the body. There are over a hundred different types of cancer that can occur in the human body. The two most common cancers in the world are breast cancer and lung cancer, which accounted for a quarter of the cancers diagnosed in 2020.
The symptoms for cancer often depend on the type of cancer that is involved. For example, a symptom of lung cancer is a cough that does not go away while a symptom of brain cancer is the onset of seizures. There are a handful of symptoms that are shared by many cancers. They include:
The symptoms listed above are only some of the symptoms for cancer. It is best to see a doctor if one notices any change in his/her body that worsens over time.
Cancer is caused by genetic mutations that cause normal cells to become cancerous. Genetic mutations can occur for multiple reasons as described below:
Factors known to increase one’s odds of developing cancer include the following:
Doctors rely on a plethora of tests to determine whether one has cancer or not. These tests include physical exams, lab tests, imaging tests, and biopsies.
When one has been diagnosed with cancer, additional tests may need to be administered to determine the severity of the cancer.
The goal of cancer treatment is to remove the cancer and stop it from progressing. Treatment options include the following:
The battle against cancer typically involves more than just one of the treatment options listed above. For example, surgery is often combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Surgery serves to remove the bulk of the cancer while the chemotherapy and radiation therapy serve to kill any cancer cells left behind.
Several methods for reducing one’s risk for cancer include the following:
The best prevention for cancer is to participate in cancer-related check-ups and screening tests whenever possible. Some of the screening tests available for adults include mammograms, colonoscopies, and Pap tests for the detection of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and cervical cancer, respectively.