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What Is Cancer PDF

The document discusses cancer, including what it is, common causes and risk factors, genetics, symptoms, common types, and treatment options. Cancer is abnormal cell growth that can spread through the body. Some causes include genetics, tobacco use, poor diet and lack of exercise. Treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, immunotherapy and targeted therapies.

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277 views5 pages

What Is Cancer PDF

The document discusses cancer, including what it is, common causes and risk factors, genetics, symptoms, common types, and treatment options. Cancer is abnormal cell growth that can spread through the body. Some causes include genetics, tobacco use, poor diet and lack of exercise. Treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, immunotherapy and targeted therapies.

Uploaded by

BasitAfridi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Free Library Website: pro-library.blogspot.

com

Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth


with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.
Cancer is a broad term. It describes the disease that results when
cellular changes cause the uncontrolled growth and division of
cells.

Some types of cancer cause rapid cell growth, while others


cause cells to grow and divide at a slower rate. Certain forms of
cancer result in visible growths called tumors, while others,
such as leukemia, do not. Most of the body’s cells have specific
functions and fixed lifespans. While it may sound like a bad
thing, cell death is part of a natural and beneficial phenomenon
called apoptosis.

A normal cell receives instructions to die so that the body can


replace it with a newer cell that functions better, But Cancerous
cells lack the components that instruct them to stop dividing and
to die.

As a result, they build up in the body, using oxygen and


nutrients that would usually nourish other cells. Cancerous cells
can form tumors, impair the immune system and cause other
changes that prevent the body from functioning regularly.

Cancerous cells may appear in one area, then spread via the
lymph nodes. These are clusters of immune cells located
throughout the body.
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Causes:
Anything that may cause a normal body cell to develop
abnormally potentially can cause cancer; general categories of
cancer-related or causative agents are as follows:
Chemical or toxic compound exposures, Ionizing radiation,
Some pathogens, and human genetics.
Tobacco use is the cause of about 22% of cancer deaths.
Another 10% are due to obesity, poor diet, lack of physical
activity or excessive drinking of alcohol.

Is cancer genetic?
Genetic factors can contribute to the development of cancer. A
person’s genetic code tells their cells when to divide and expire.
Changes in the genes can lead to faulty instructions, and cancer
can result.

Genes also influence the cells’ production of proteins, and


proteins carry many of the instructions for cellular growth and
division. Some genes change proteins that would usually repair
damaged cells. This can lead to cancer.

If a parent has these genes, they may pass on the altered


instructions to their offspring. Some genetic changes occur after
birth, and factors such as smoking and sun exposure can
increase the risk.

Other changes that can result in cancer take place in the


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chemical signals that determine how the body deploys, or


“expresses” specific genes.
Symptoms:
Cancer symptoms and signs depend on the specific type and
grade of cancer; although general signs and symptoms are not
very specific the following can be found in patients with
different cancers:

• Fatigue,
• Weight loss,
• Pain,
• Skin changes,
• Change in bowel or bladder function,
• Unusual bleeding,
• Persistent cough or voice change,
• Fever,
• Lumps, or tissue masses.
Types:
There are more than 150 types of cancer but some of them are
common in men, women, and children:
• Men: Prostate, lung, Skin and colorectal
• Women: Breast, lung, Skin and colorectal
• Children: Leukemia, brain tumors, and lymphoma
Other types of Cancer are;

• Bladder
• Colon and rectal
• Endometrial
• Kidney
• Leukemia
• Liver
• Melanoma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Pancreatic
• Thyroid
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Treatments:
New researches are found every year for the treatment of cancer,
and Doctors usually prescribe treatments based on the type of
cancer, its stage at diagnosis, and the person’s overall health.

Below are examples of approaches to cancer treatment:


Chemotherapy aims to kill cancerous cells with medications
that target rapidly dividing cells. The drugs can also help shrink
tumors, but the side effects can be severe. The side effects of
chemotherapy include hair loss.

Hormone therapy involves taking medications that change how


certain hormones work or interfere with the body’s ability to
produce them. When hormones play a significant role, as with
prostate and breast cancers, this is a common approach.
Immunotherapy uses medications and other treatments to boost
the immune system and encourage them to fight cancerous cells.
Free Library Website: pro-library.blogspot.com

Two examples of these treatments are checkpoint inhibitors and


adoptive cell transfer.
Precision medicine, or personalized medicine, is a newer,
developing approach. It involves using genetic testing to
determine the best treatments for a person’s particular
presentation of cancer. Researchers have yet to show that it can
effectively treat all types of cancer, however.
Radiation therapy uses high-dose radiation to kill cancerous
cells. Also, a doctor may recommend using radiation to shrink
a tumor before surgery or reduce tumor-related symptoms.

Stem cell transplant can be especially beneficial for people


with blood-related cancers, such as leukemia or lymphoma. It
involves removing cells, such as red or white blood cells, that
chemotherapy or radiation has destroyed. Lab technicians then
strengthen the cells and put them back into the body.
Surgery is often a part of a treatment plan when a person has a
cancerous tumor. Also, a surgeon may remove lymph nodes to
reduce or prevent the disease’s spread.
Targeted therapies perform functions within cancerous cells to
prevent them from multiplying. They can also boost the immune
system. Two examples of these therapies are small-molecule
drugs and monoclonal antibodies.

Credits:

1- https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/men-
breast-cancer-need-more-treatment-options-and-access-genetic-
counseling

2- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323648

3- https://www.medicinenet.com/cancer/article.htm

4- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer

5- https://www.everydayhealth.com/cancer/guide/

6- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323485

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