Definition
Cancer is basically the term given to the process where cells in the body grow abnormally. These cells end up dividing more rapidly than normal cells and can involve any tissue or organ. The disease is the second leading cause of death in developed countries. It mainly affects the elderly but it can affect even the youngest children.
Different types of cancer
Almost any cell in the body can become cancerous. There are many different types of cancer and they are named depending on the type of tissue they involve. The most common organs involved are the prostate, breast, lung, rectum and colon, bladder and uterus. The prevalence of the different types of cancer varies between ethnicities.
Carcinomas are cancers that arise from cells that line the internal and external surfaces of the body, like the lungs, colon, and breast. Sarcomas are cancers of the supporting tissues of the body like bone, fat, cartilage and muscle.
Lymphomas are cancers that involve the lymph nodes and other tissues that are part of the immune system. Leukemias are cancers of immature blood cells that accumulate in the bone marrow, preventing normal blood cells from forming.
Causes
With some cancers there are certain links, like with lung cancers the link is cigarette smoking. Then there are some cancers that have absolutely no link and no explanation. The chances of getting the disease depends on your genetics, lifestyle, exposure to the environment, as well as past illnesses, particularly with certain viruses.
Symptoms
The tricky part when it comes to cancers is that there are no set groups of symptoms that doctors can look at and make a diagnosis. Some patients will present with a history of tiredness and loss of weight. Others will present with pain or nausea and vomiting. The symptoms will be related to the organ involved. With lung involvement there may be coughing up of blood, and if it involves the breasts there may be pain. The history and the physical examination are equally as important in arriving at a differential diagnosis. Once a doctor suspects the disease there are various investigations that can be done.
Investigations
Different types of the disease will require different diagnostic tools. If it involves the breast then a mammogram would have to be done. The lump found could also be biopsied in order to look for cancerous cells. With lung cancer they can also do a biopsy or scan. With leukemia they would do a smear of the blood to look at the blood cells. With colorectal cancers they may decide to do a scope. They can also draw some blood in order to look for certain tumor markers. Each of the cancers has its own marker.
Treatment
Some cancers can be managed by surgical removal, while others require radiation or chemotherapy. This will all depend on the organs involved and how far it has progressed. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body then the chances of successful treatment are lowered.
