Cancer
Cancer is a condition when a few of the body's cells grow out of control and spread to other body parts.
In the millions of cells that make up the human body, cancer can develop practically anywhere. Normally, human cells grow and multiply (through a process known as cell division) to form new cells as the body needs them. New cells replace old ones when they die as a result of aging or damage.
This methodical procedure occasionally goes wrong, resulting in damaged or abnormal cells reproducing when they shouldn't. These cells can grow into tumors, which are tissue masses.
Causes of Cancer:
The DNA in your cells has endured mutations, which are the main cause of cancer. Mutations in the DNA can be inherited. In addition, environmental factors may cause them to develop later in life.
These external elements, also referred to as carcinogens, may include:
- Physical carcinogens include radiation and ultraviolet light (UV)
- Examples of moderate chemical carcinogens include tobacco smoke, asbestos, alcohol, air pollution, contaminated food, and drinking water.
- biological carcinogens such parasites, viruses, and bacteria
Other causes may include poor nutrition, excess body weight, or physical inactivity.
Types of Cancer
Additionally, a number of clinical terms are employed for certain cancer types in general:
Carcinoma
Cancer known as a carcinoma is one that develops in the skin or the tissues surrounding other organs. Carcinoma is the most frequent type of cancer. Carcinomas develop in epithelial cells, which are the cells that cover the body's internal and external surfaces. Numerous types of epithelial cells can be seen, and when they are viewed via a microscope, they usually resemble columns.
Sarcoma
Sarcoma is a type of cancer that affects connective tissues, including blood vessels, muscles, cartilage, and bones. Sarcomas are tumors that develop in the muscle, fat, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and fibrous tissue that make up soft tissues and bone (such as tendons and ligaments).
Leukemia
A malignancy of the bone marrow, which produces blood cells, is leukemia. Leukemias are cancers that start in the bone marrow, which produces blood. Solid tumors are not produced by these malignancies. Instead, the bone marrow and blood become overpopulated with aberrant white blood cells (leukemia cells and leukemic blast cells), which drive out healthy blood cells. It may be more difficult for the body to manage to bleed, fight infections, or deliver oxygen to its tissues when the normal blood cell count is low.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is cancer that begins in lymphocytes (T cells or B cells). These immune system-supporting white blood cells work to fight off diseases. The lymph nodes, lymph arteries, and other organs of the body swell with abnormal cells in lymphoma.
Brain and Spinal Cord Cancers
Tumors of the brain and spinal cord can take many distinct forms. These tumors are given names based on the cell type in which they originated and the region of the central nervous system where the tumor first appeared. For instance, astrocytes, which assist maintain the health of nerve cells in the brain, are the origin of an astrocytic tumor. Brain tumors may be malignant (cancer) or benign (not cancer) (cancer).
Treatment of Cancers
The most common types of treatment are:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Stem cell (bone marrow) transplant
- Immunotherapy (biological therapy)
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted drug therapy
- Clinical trials
- Alternative medicine