What is Cancer?

Cancer is a large group of diseases that occur when abnormal cells divide rapidly and can spread to other tissues and organs. 
 These rapidly growing cells can cause tumors. They can also disrupt the normal functioning of the body. 
 Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Cancer was the cause of one in six deaths in 2020, according to trusted sources from the World Health Organization (WHO). Professionals are working hard every day to test new cancer treatments.

Image of Cancer Cells By BIOLOGY WITH DOCTOR A
Cancer cells 

What are the Causes of Cancer?

The main cause of cancer is mutations or changes in DNA in cells. Genetic variation can be inherited. They can also appear after birth as a result of environmental influences. 
 These external causes, called carcinogens,  include: 

  •  Physical carcinogens such as radiation and ultraviolet (UV) light.
  •  Chemical carcinogens such as tobacco smoke, asbestos, alcohol, air pollution,  contaminated food, and drinking water.
  •  Biological carcinogens such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites.
 Approximately 33% of cancer deaths are due to tobacco, alcohol, high body mass index (BMI), low fruit and vegetable consumption, and lack of physical activity, according to credible WHO sources. There is a possibility. 

Image of BMI by BIOLOGY WITH DOCTOR A
BMI


What are the Risk Factors of Cancer?

Certain risk factors can increase your chances of developing cancer. These risk factors  include: 

  •  Tobacco use 
  •  High alcohol consumption 
 According to a 2017 review, an unhealthy diet featuring processed lean meats, sweet drinks, salty snacks, starchy foods, and refined carbohydrates such as sugar and processed grains. 
  •  Lack of physical activity 
  •  Exposure to air pollution 
  •  Radiation exposure 
  •  Exposure to unprotected UV rays, etc. 
  •  Sunlight 
 Infection with specific viruses, including H. pylori, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and  Epstein-Barr virus causes infectious mononucleosis. 

 The risk of developing cancer also increases with age. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the risk of developing cancer generally increases up to the age of 70-80 and then decreases. 

  2020 Review TrustedSource suggests that this may be the result: 
 Lifelong accumulation of risk factors 
 Duration of exposure to carcinogens 
 Some existing health conditions that cause inflammation can also increase the risk of cancer. One example is ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

What are the Types of Cancer?

Cancer, even if it has spread to other parts of the body, is named after the area in which it develops and the type of cells it has. For example,  cancer that begins in the lungs and spreads to the liver is still called lung cancer. 

 There are also some clinical terms used for certain common types of cancer. 
  •  Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the tissues that line the skin or other organs.
Image of  Carcinoma by BIOLOGY WITH DOCTOR A
 Carcinoma


  •  Sarcomas are cancers of connective tissues such as bones, muscles, cartilage, and blood vessels.
Image of  Sarcomas by BIOLOGY WITH DOCTOR A
 Sarcomas


  •   Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow that produces blood cells.
Image of   Leukemia  by BIOLOGY WITH DOCTOR A
  Leukemia  

  •   Lymphoma and myeloma are cancers of the immune system.
Image of   Lymphoma by BIOLOGY WITH DOCTOR A
  Lymphoma

 Find out more about specific cancers in the resources below. 
  1.  Appendectomy 
  2.  Bladder cancer 
  3.  Osteosarcoma 
  4.  Brain tumor 
  5.  Breast cancer 
  6.  Cervical cancer 
  7.  Colon or colon cancer 
  8.  Duodenal cancer 
  9.  Ear cancer 
  10.  Endometrial cancer 
  11.  Esophageal cancer 
  12.  Heart cancer 
  13.  Gallbladder cancer 
  14.  Kidney cancer 
  15.  Throat cancer 
  16.  leukemia 
  17.  Lip cancer 
  18.  Liver cancer 
  19.  lung cancer 
  20.  Lymphoma 
  21.  Mesothelioma 
  22.  Myeloma 
  23.  Oral cancer 
  24.  Ovarian cancer 
  25.  Pancreatic cancer 
  26.  Penile cancer 
  27.  Prostate cancer 
  28.  Colon cancer 
  29.  Skin cancer 
  30.  Small intestine cancer 
  31.  Spleen cancer 
  32.  Gastric cancer or stomach  cancer 
  33.  Testicular cancer 
  34.  Thyroid cancer 
  35.  Uterine cancer 
  36.  Vaginal cancer 
  37.  Vulvar cancer
We will discuss all Types of Cancer In the Upcoming Articles

How Does a Cancer Treat?

There are different options for cancer treatment, depending on the type and degree of progression of cancer. 

 Topical treatment:

 Topical treatment usually uses treatment such as surgery or local radiation therapy for specific areas of the body or tumor.

  Systemic treatment:

Systemic drug treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy can affect the whole body.

  Palliative treatment:

 Palliative care includes relieving cancer-related health symptoms such as dyspnea and pain. Various cancer treatments are often used together to remove or destroy as many cancer cells as possible. 

 The most common types of treatment are: 

 surgery:

 Surgery removes as much cancer as possible. Surgery is often done in combination with other treatments to ensure that all cancer cells are gone. 

 Chemotherapy:

 Chemotherapy is a form of aggressive cancer treatment that uses cytotoxic drugs to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. It can be used to reduce the size of the tumor and the number of cells in the body, reducing the chance of the cancer spreading. 

 Radiation therapy:

 Radiation therapy uses a powerfully focused beam to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy given inside the body is called proximity radiation therapy, and radiation therapy given outside the body is called extracorporeal radiation therapy. 

 Transplantation of stem cells (bone marrow):

 This treatment repairs diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells and have various functions. These transplants allow doctors to treat cancer with higher doses of chemotherapy. Stem cell transplantation is often used to treat leukemia.

Image of  Transplantation of stem cells by BIOLOGY WITH DOCTOR A

 Transplantation of stem cells


Immunotherapy (biological therapy):

 Immunotherapy uses the body's immune system to attack cancer cells. These treatments help the antibody recognize cancer and can take advantage of the body's natural defenses to destroy the cancer cells. 

 Hormone therapy:

 Hormone therapy removes or blocks hormones that promote certain types of cancer to prevent the growth of cancer cells. This treatment is a common treatment for cancer that can grow and spread using hormones. B. Certain types of breast and prostate cancer. 

 Targeted drug therapy:

 Targeted drug therapy uses drugs to destroy specific molecules that help cancer cells grow and survive. Genetic testing can show if you are suitable for this type of treatment. This can depend on the type of cancer you have and the genetic variation and molecular characteristics of your tumor. 

 Clinical trial:

 Clinical trials are exploring new ways to treat cancer. This may include testing the efficacy of drugs that have already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but have different purposes.
 It may also include trying new medicines. Clinical trials may be another option for people who may not have achieved the expected success with conventional treatments. In some cases, this treatment can be provided free of charge. 

 If you are interested in this type of treatment, you can find a clinical trial near you. 

 Alternative medicine:

 Alternative medicine can be used to complement other treatments. It helps reduce the symptoms of cancer and the side effects of cancer treatment such as nausea, malaise, and pain. Alternative medicine for cancer includes: 
  •  Acupuncture and moxibustion 
  •  Yoga 
  •  Massage 
  •  Meditation 
  •  Relaxation method

How Do We Stay Prevented From Cancer?

Knowing the factors that cause cancer can help you lead a lifestyle that reduces your risk of cancer. 
 Precautions to reduce the risk of cancer  include:
 
  •  Avoiding tobacco and indirect smoking 
  •  Limit intake of processed meats 
  •  A diet that focuses primarily on plant-based foods, lean protein, and healthy fats, such as the Mediterranean diet. 
  •  Avoid alcohol or drink moderately 
  •  Maintain moderate  weight and BMI 
  •  Regular moderate physical activity of 150-300 minutes per week 
  •  Avoid direct sunlight and wear broad-spectrum sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses to protect from sunlight 
  •  Avoid tan beds 
  •  Get vaccinated against viral infections that can lead to cancer such as hepatitis B and HPV 
Image of HPV by BIOLOGY WITH DOCTOR A
HPV

 See your doctor regularly so that you can screen for different types of cancer. This increases your chances of getting a chance of cancer as soon as possible.