Cancer

Introduction

Cancer is a disease in which the damaged or abnormal cells of the body start multiplying rapidly and do not differentiate thus form a tumour. 

Usually, in the case of new cells in the body, the cells would multiply at a normal rate. But in the case of cancer, the cells multiply at a much faster rate, and in most conditions, cancer spreads to the other tissues and organs of the body and develops tumours. Tumours can be both cancerous and non-cancerous (benign tumours).

Benign tumours do not show the tendency to multiply, and hence after surgery, they do not tend to grow back. However, in the case of cancerous tumours, they always have the tendency to relapse.

Development of Cancer

It is our body’s genes that control the process of multiplication of cells and, at large, the functioning of the cells in our body. Hence, it is worth noting that cancer is a genetic disease. 

The genetic reasons that can cause the development of cancer in our bodies are:

• In the case of an error during the process of division of cells
• Overexposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays and inhaling tobacco while smoking can cause alterations and damage to our DNA, which can further lead to the development of cancer
• In most cases, the disease of cancer is genetically inherited by our parents

It is the general nature of our body to eliminate the damaged DNA cells before they develop cancerous conditions, but this process is completely dependent on the genetics of the body and also on the age of the individual.

As a person starts ageing, the ability of the body to naturally discard the damaged DNA cells reduces; hence, it has been commonly observed that cancer usually has the tendency to develop in the later period of human life.

Metastasis: Metastasis is the process in which cancer spreads from one part of the body to another. It is known as metastatic cancer.

The metastatic cancer cells have the same combination of chromosomes as the primary cancer cells, and hence, when observed from a microscope, they appear to be the same as the primary cancer cells. In most cases, the longevity of the life of a person in the stage of metastatic cancer can be improved by controlling the growth of metastasis.

Signs of Cancer

A person with cancer may experience various symptoms at the same time, which can be confused with a benign tumour or an injury. It is very important to note that the symptoms that persist for more than a week certainly call for medical attention by professionals.

Some of the general cancer symptoms observed in individuals are as follows:

• One of the major symptoms of cancer is feeling drowsy or fatigued all the time
• The presence of a lump under the skin can be a visible sign of cancer
• Yellowing or darkening of the skin may occur, and the person may notice that the sores on their body are taking a long time to heal
• There might be changes in bowel movement
• There can be persistent night sweats or fever
• The person might experience difficulty swallowing
• Some people might also experience frequent indigestion and discomfort after having meals
• Frequent unexplainable muscle or joint pains can also be a symptom
• Another symptom can be a strained or raspy voice

Sudden explainable weight loss is also one of cancer’s most common symptoms. Statistics show that almost half of the people diagnosed with cancer have shown signs of a rapid unexplainable weight loss.

While these are some of the common symptoms of cancer, it is important to keep in mind that not all of these symptoms might indicate cancer. They might sometimes simply depict the growth or development of a benign tumour that is completely malignant in nature.

One of the common cancer observed in women is;

Breast Cancer 

Breast cancer is the type of cancer that initially develops in the breast region. As is common in the case of all cancers, the cells of the breast tissue start growing and multiplying rapidly, which causes the formation of a lump that can be felt or seen in an x-ray.

It is important to note that not all tumours that develop in the breast region are cancerous; these are generally abnormal growth that can be treated and removed without posing a life risk.

On the other hand, there are certain benign tumours that can further develop into cancer. Breast cancers are of the following types:

• Phyllodes tumour
• Angiosarcoma
• Sarcoma
• Lymphoma
• Invasive carcinoma
• Ductal carcinoma

Signs of Breast Cancer

Some of the general signs of breast cancer are as follows:

• Presence of a lump in the underarm region or the breast which can be easily felt
• Changes in the shape and size of the breast
• Constant pain in a specific region of the breast
• Visibly prominent veins on the breast
• Nipple discharge
• Darkening, swelling, or redness of the breast

Conclusion

Cancer is the disease or condition in which the abnormal or damaged cells of the body start multiplying at a fast pace without any definite differentiation, causing the formation of a tumour which poses the risk of spreading to other tissues and organs of the body.

While certain types of tumours can further pose the risk of developing into cancer, other tumours can be malignant or benign, which are not as harmful and do not pose the risk of relapse after surgery, unlike cancerous tumours.