WHAT IS CANCER ?

Cancer is a group of diseases involving
abnormal cell growth with the potential to
invade or spread to other parts of the body.

There are over 100
different types of cancer, and each is classified by uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue
called tumors (except in the case of leukemia
where cancer prohibits normal blood function by
abnormal cell division in the blood stream).

More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when
two things occur:

1. a cancerous cell manages to move
throughout the body using the blood or
lymphatic systems, destroying healthy
tissue in a process called invasion

2. that cell manages to divide and grow,
making new blood vessels to feed itself in
a process called angiogenesis.

According to the American Cancer Society, Cancer
is the second most common cause of death in
the US and accounts for nearly 1 of every 4
deaths. The World Health Organisation estimates
that, worldwide, there were 14 million new cancer
cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths in
2012 (their most recent data).

INDIVIDUAL TYPES OF CANCER.
There are said to be over 200 different types of
cancer. We have the following common cancer
types covered in individual Knowledge Center
articles:
Anal cancer,
Bladder cancer,
Bone cancer,
Breast cancer,
Cervical cancer,
Colon cancer,
Stoma cancer,
Thyroid cancer,
Vulvar cancer.

CAUSES OF CANCER.
The majority of cancers, some 90–95% of
cases, are due to environmental factors. The
remaining 5–10% are due to inherited genetics .
Common environmental factors that contribute to cancer death include
tobacco (25–30%), diet and obesity (30–35%),
infections (15–20%), radiation (both ionizing
and non-ionizing, up to 10%), stress, lack of
physical activity and environmental pollutants .
Tobacco smoke , for example, causes 90% of
lung cancer. It also causes cancer in the
larynx , head, neck, stomach, bladder, kidney,
esophagus and pancreas.

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF CANCER.
Bowel changes,
Rectal bleeding,
Urinary bleeding,
persistent back pain,
unusual coughing,
testicle lumps,
excessive fatigue,
unexplained weight loss,
lumps in the breast.

PREVENTIONS AND POSSIBLE CURE.

Not smoking and avoiding exposure to
tobacco smoke can greatly reduce the
risk of lung, kidney, bladder, and head
and neck cancer. Avoiding the use of
smokeless tobacco (snuff or chew)
decreases the risk of cancer of the mouth
and tongue.

Other lifestyle changes reduce the risk of
several types of cancer. Decreasing
alcohol intake can reduce the risk of
head and neck, liver, and esophageal
cancer. A reduced intake of fat in the
diet appears to decrease the risk of
breast and colon cancer. Avoiding sun
exposure (especially during the middle of
the day) can reduce the risk of skin
cancer. Covering exposed skin and using
sunscreen lotion with a sun protection
factor (SPF) of at least 15 that protects
against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet
B light also help reduce the risk of skin
cancer. Use of aspirin and other
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) reduces the risk of colorectal
cancer. Papanicolaou (Pap) tests can help
prevent cervical cancers by detecting
precancerous changes in cells of the
cervix.

CONCLUSION.
Early detection of cancerous or
precancerous growths can save lives. so a stitch in time saves nine.


Written by @iamhorpiey

cc:Lalasticlala