“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.”
— Eleanor RooseveltFAQs : Cancer
What is cancer?
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancer develops when the body’s normal control mechanism stops working. Old cells do not die and instead grow out of control, forming new, abnormal cells. These extra cells may form a mass of tissue, called a tumor. Some cancers, such as leukemia, do not form tumors.
What causes cancer?
Some cancers are caused by the things people do or expose themselves to. For instance, tobacco usage can cause cancer of the lungs, mouth, throat, bladder, kidneys, and many other organs. Not everyone who uses tobacco will get cancer, but it can increase the risk. It can also increase the chances of developing heart and blood vessel disease.Too much sun exposure without sun protection can cause skin cancer called melanoma. Melanoma is a very serious form of skin cancer. It’s linked to UV lighting from the sun and tanning beds.
Other things people are exposed to
Radiation can cause cancer. For example, people who are exposed to nuclear fallout have a higher cancer risk than those who aren’t. Sometimes, radiation treatment for one type of cancer can cause another cancer to grow many years later. This is why doctors and dentists use the lowest possible doses of radiation for x-rays and scans (much lower than the doses used for cancer treatment).There are certain chemicals that have been linked to cancer. Being exposed to or working with these chemicals can increase a person’s risk of cancer.It’s a known myth that injuries can cause cancer.
Note: falls, bruises, broken bones, or other such injuries have not been linked to cancer. Rarely, a burn scar can be cancer, many years after the burn has healed. Most often, skin cancer is the type that starts in a burn scar.
Who can get cancer?
Over 1.5 million new cancer cases are diagnosed every year. Anyone can get cancer and at any age, but the risk goes up age. Nine out of ten individuals who are 50 years old and older are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer can be found in all people, regardless of race and ethnicity, but the rate of cancer occurrence (incidence rate) varies from group to group.
The five main categories of cancer.
- Carcinomas begin in the skin or tissues that line the internal organs.
- Sarcomas develop in the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle or other connective tissues.
- Leukemia begins in the blood and bone marrow.
- Lymphomas start in the immune system.
- Central nervous system cancers develop in the brain and spinal cord.
Over 1.5 million new cancer cases are diagnosed every year. Anyone can get cancer and at any age, but the risk goes up age. Nine out of ten individuals who are 50 years old and older are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer can be found in all people, regardless of race and ethnicity, but the rate of cancer occurrence (incidence rate) varies from group to group.
The three main types of treatments
- Surgery: directly removing the tumor
- Chemotherapy: using chemicals to kill cancer cells
- Radiation therapy: using X-rays to kill cancer cells
The same cancer type in one individual is very different from that cancer in another individual. Within a single type of cancer, such as breast cancer, researchers are discovering subtypes that each requires a different treatment approach.
Can cancer be prevented?
There’s no sure way to prevent cancer, but there are things you can do to help reduce your chances of getting it. Minimizing your intake of tobacco, alcohol, ultraviolet (UV) rays, and sunlight and eating a healthy diet.
Vaccines that help reduce cancer risk
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). It’s been linked to cervical cancer, anal cancer, many genital cancers, and even head and neck cancers. There are vaccines to help prevent HPV infections. But most adults have already been infected with HPV, and the vaccines haven’t been proven to help people who already have HPV. Young people who are not yet sexually active should have a lower future cancer risk if they get one of the vaccines before they’re exposed to the virus. The American Cancer Society recommends the vaccines for girls and boys aged 11 and 12, though they can be given as young as age 9. Vaccination is also recommended up to age 26 in women, as well as in certain men who may be at higher risk for HPV infection.
