CANCERSerwelas, Claudine M.

Cancer• Cancer is a term

used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.

• Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. There are over 100 different types of cancer, and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.

• Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors .

Not all tumors are cancerous; tumors can be:a. BenignBenign tumors aren't cancerous. They can often be removed, and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.

b. MalignantMalignant tumors are cancerous. Cells in these tumors can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.

What causes cancer?Cancer is ultimately the result of cells that uncontrollably grow and do not die. Normal cells in the body follow an orderly path of growth, division, and death. Programmed cell death is called apoptosis, and when this process breaks down, cancer begins to form. Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not experience programmatic death and instead continue to grow and divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grows out of control.

• Genes- the DNA type

Cells can experience uncontrolled growth if there are damages or mutations to DNA, and therefore, damage to the genes involved in cell division. Four key types of gene are responsible for the cell division process: oncogenes tell cells when to divide, tumor suppressor genes tell cells when not to divide, suicide genes control apoptosis and tell the cell to kill itself if something goes wrong, and DNA-repair genes instruct a cell to repair damaged DNA.

• Carcinogens Carcinogens are a class of substances that are directly responsible for damaging DNA, promoting or aiding cancer. Tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma and x-rays, the sun, and compounds in car exhaust fumes are all examples of carcinogens. When our bodies are exposed to carcinogens, free radicals are formed that try to steal electrons from other molecules in the body. Theses free radicals damage cells and affect their ability to function normally.

• Genes- family type

Cancer can be the result of a genetic predisposition that is inherited from family members. It is possible to be born with certain genetic mutations or a fault in a gene that makes one statistically more likely to develop cancer later in life.

• Other medical factors

As we age, there is an increase in the number of possible cancer-causing mutations in our DNA. This makes age an important risk factor for cancer. Several viruses have also been linked to cancer such as: a. human papillomavirus (a cause of cervical cancer)b. hepatitis B and C (causes of liver cancer)c. Epstein-Barr virus (a cause of some childhood

cancers). d. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - and anything

else that suppresses or weakens the immune system - inhibits the body's ability to fight infections and increases the chance of developing cancer.

• How is cancer diagnosed and staged?

Early detection of cancer can greatly improve the odds of successful treatment and survival. Physicians use information from symptoms and several other procedures to diagnose cancer. Imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, and ultrasound scans are used regularly in order to detect where a tumor is located and what organs may be affected by it. Doctors may also conduct an endoscopy, which is a procedure that uses a thin tube with a camera and light at one end, to look for abnormalities inside the body.

Prevention of Cancer

Roque, Aryana Rose

How can cancer be prevented?

A person's cancer risk can be reduced in other ways by receiving regular medical care, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol use, avoiding excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun and tanning beds, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, and being physically active.

Effective Cancer Prevention Measures

Opportunities exist to reduce cancer risk and prevent some cancers. Cancer risk can be reduced by avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol use, limiting exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun and tanning beds, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, and seeking regular medical care. Research shows that screening for cervical and colorectal cancer at recommended intervals can prevent these diseases by finding lesions that can be treated before they become cancerous. Screening also can help find cervical, colorectal, and breast cancers at an early, treatable stage. Vaccines also can reduce cancer risk. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps prevent some cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. The hepatitis B vaccine can reduce liver cancer risk. Making cancer screening, information, and referral services available and accessible to all Americans can reduce cancer incidence and deaths.

Types of Interventions for Controlling Cancer

• Primary prevention

Primary prevention, which aims to reduce or eliminate exposure to cancer-causing risk factors, will be critical for controlling cancers in developing countries. The most important prevention measures are the following:

Immunization against or treatment of infectious agents associated with cancers.

*Two vaccines are particularly important: a human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine to prevent infection from certain types of the virus that can lead to cervical cancer, and Hepatitis B to help prevent liver cancer. The HPV vaccine can potentially prevent about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases.

National tobacco and alcohol control programs.* Tobacco use is the most important cause of cancers of the lung and respiratory system and the esophagus, and it contributes to several other cancers. Excessive alcohol consumption accounts for 20 percent to 30 percent of liver and esophageal cancers. Effective tobacco and alcohol control programs include increasing taxes on the products, restricting or banning advertising and promotion, banning smoking in public places, educating the public about the health risks of excessive use, and making therapy available to combat addiction.

Programs to promote diets that include more fruits and vegetables and fewer harmful fats and processed foods.

*Promoting healthy diets and exercise can take place in schools and work sites and through other public health campaigns. Promoting healthy lifestyles and curbing obesity can reduce the risk of cancer as well as the risk of many other (particularly cardiovascular) diseases.

• Secondary preventionEarly Detection of Cancer

*The main objective of making cancer screening widely available is to detect cancer cases early enough to make curative treatment possible. Screening for liver, stomach, lung, and colorectal cancers have focused on people at higher risk for those cancers (for example, people over age 50 and smokers), but the value of early detection varies greatly with the type of cancer. For example, screening for liver cancer can result in earlier diagnosis, but because treatment of that cancer is largely ineffective, screening has not been shown to lower mortality rates.

Cancer prevention is an essential component of all cancercontrol plans because about 40% of all cancer deaths canbe prevented.