CANCER

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Cancer starts out as a mutation in one gene in one cell. Then the mutated cell starts dividing itself rapidly and taking over the whole area.

LEUKEMIA is a cancer in blood-forming cells.

LYMPHOMA is a tumor developing in lymphatic tissues.

CARCINOMA is a tumor developing in any part of the epithelium.

MELANOMA is a tumor developing in the pigment of the skin.

SARCOMA is a tumor developing in muscles and connective tissues.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CANCER CELLS

1. LACK DIFFERENTIATION

Normal cells have specialized functions, but cancer cells do not differentiate and do not contribute to the function of the body.

2. ABNORMAL NUCLEI

They have large or multiple nuclei with mutated chromosomes.

3. FORM TUMORS

Cancer cells grow and divide rapidly until they accumulate and form a lump of cancer cells called a tumor. A BENIGN tumor is an accumulation of non-cancerous cells because they stay in their own capsule (encapsulated) and do not invade.

MALIGNANT tumors are cancerous cells that spread and invade.

4. INDUCE BLOOD VESSEL FORMATION

Since these tumors need nutrients, they create new blood vessels just for them to feed on.

5. METASTASIZE

Pieces of the tumor break off and travel in the bloodstream to any new location, invade nearby tissues and continue their massive cell division and growth there. If there is a tumor in the lung, it is biopsied (the doctor surgically takes out a piece). If the cells are lung cells, it is lung cancer. But if the cells are pancreas cells, it is pancreatic cancer that has metastasized.

NUMBER OF CANCER CASES BY SITE AND SEX

ORIGIN

There are many factors that play a role in the development of cancer, including heredity factors, carcinogens, and mutagens.

CARCINOGEN is an environmental agent that contributes to cancer

Examples of a carcinogen are radiation, toxic chemicals, and viruses.

MUTAGEN is an agent that increases chances of DNA change or mutation.

Cancer cells arise from mutated chromosomes. This is caused from either hereditary factors or cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) in the environment.

1. CARCINOGENS

a) RADIATION is from overexposure to sunlight or x-rays.

b) ORGANIC CHEMICALS include tobacco, foods, and pollutants

2. HEREDITY

Particular types of cancers run in families, such as breast, lung, and colon cancer.

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES

PAP SMEARS detect cervical cancers. They just swab the cervix and look at the cells under a microscope.

MAMMOGRAMS are diagnostic procedures to detect breast cancer. The breast is just placed on a special type of machine like an x-ray.

COLONOSCOPY is a diagnostic procedure to detect colon cancer. A scope is inserted into the rectum so the doctor can look for polyps.

The American Cancer Society says the following are signs of cancer:

Change in bowel or bladder habits

A sore that does not heal

Unusual bleeding or discharge

Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere

Indigestion or difficulty swallowing

Obvious change in wart or mole

Nagging cough or hoarseness

PREVENTION

1. BEHAVIORS

DON’T smoke, sunbathe, drink alcohol, or get too many x-rays. Smoking cigarettes is associated with many types of cancers, including cancer of the lung, larynx, throat, and urinary bladder.

DO be tested (self-breast exams and Dr. check-ups), be aware of chemical hazards at work, and be aware that using estrogen for menopause symptoms must be combined with estrogen, otherwise there is an increased risk of cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends breast self-exams and testicular self-exams every month.

2. DIET

Avoid fats, salty, smoke-cured, pork, and pickled foods. Eat plenty of fiber, green leafy vegetables and fruits, and eat cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. There are things you can change in your diet that help prevent cancer. Green leafy vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli are associated with cancer prevention, as are vitamins A and C.

PREVENTION OF SKIN CANCER:

A. use broad-spectrum sunscreen

B. stay out of the sun altogether from 10-3

C. wear protective clothing

D. wear sunglasses

E. do not use tanning machines

TREATMENT OF CANCER

1. RADIATION

When someone has surgery to remove a tumor, it is often followed by radiation because the cancer cells may have spread throughout the body. Cells that are in the process of dividing are the most likely cells to mutate. Since cancer cells are always in the process of dividing, exposing them to x-rays may kill them. The x-ray beam is coned down so just the tumor is exposed. However, scatter radiation kills off other cells that rapidly divide (stomach lining and hair follicles), so the side effects include baldness and nausea.

2. CHEMOTHERAPY

This is for cancer that has metastasized. It is also good for cancer of the blood (leukemia). The drugs are designed to specifically kill just the cancer cells, but it tends to also kill off the normal blood cells that are just being formed in the bone marrow. Thus, bone marrow transplants are also needed sometimes.

3. BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS

Someone needs to volunteer to donate a small piece of bone from the crest of their hip. This bone marrow will contain healthy new blood cells that can repopulate the depleted bone marrow of the sick person. These cells are injected into the sick person’s vein.

4. IMMUNOTHERAPY

Blood cells are taken from the sick person and are fused with an antibody that is specifically designed to seek out and destroy the cancer cell.

5. GENE THERAPY

This is new research, attempting to find a gene that will shrink tumors.

6. COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

This involves natural healing therapies such as biofeedback, acupuncture, and exotic foods. It’s worth a try if you’re going to die!