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The entire human body is made up of cells, each of which contains its own genetic material, or DNA-a long string of molecules that tells the cell what to do .In a healthy body, cells divide at a controlled rate so as to grow and reduce pair damaged tissues and replace dying cells. This predetermined rate of cell division is what keeps our bodies healthy. If cells keep multiplying when new ones are not necessary, a mass of tissue called a growth, or tumor, is formed.
A tumor can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors are not cancerous. They can occur anywhere in the body and generally do not pose a threat to health, do not metastasize (spread to other parts of body), and do not grow back if removed. Malignant tumors are cancerous. They are usually serious and can be life-threatening. Malignant tumors grow uncontrollably, interfere with normal metabolic and organ functioning, and have the ability to metastasize and invade other tissues.
The chain of events that leads to cancer is very complex, and each individual body reacts differently. A combination of genetic, behavioral, environmental, and lifestyle factors are believed to be involved in turning normal cells into cancer. There are also factors called inhibitors (such as certain vitamins and nutrients process), while other factors, called promoters (such as smoking or eating a high fat diet), can speed up the process.
Possible contributors to the development and growth of cancer be divided into three categories-external, internal, and lifestyle. External factors include unhealthy workplace environments and exposure to air and water pollution, chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides.
Internal factors include both genetics (heredity) and infections.
Lifestyles factors are those we personally can most readily control. These are also the factors scientists believe account for the largest proportion of cancers. They include diet, smoking, drinking, and sun exposure. For example, persons who do not smoke but are exposed to cigarette smoke have significantly higher rates of lung cancer than nonsmokers who are not. Regular alcohol consumption increases the risk of mouth and throat cancers. |
External and lifestyle factor s account for 80 percent of cancer deaths in United States .BY 2004, an estimated 563,700 people were lost to cancer annually, or 1,544 a day.
Classification
Cancer is one of the most significant killer diseases around the world although in fact, it's more accurate to say it's a collection of about 100 similar diseases.
There are more than one hundred different varieties of cancer. They have different causes, cause different symptoms, and vary in aggressiveness (the speed at which they spread).However, most types of cancer fall into one of four broad categories:
- Carcinoma: Malignant tumors derived from epithelial cells. This group represents the most common cancers, including the common forms of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer.
- Sarcoma: Malignant tumors derived from connective tissue, or mesenchymal cells.
- Lymphoma and leukemia: Malignancies derived from hematopoietic (blood-forming) cells
- Germ cell tumor: Tumors derived from totipotent cells. In adults most often found in the testicle and ovary; in fetuses, babies, and young children most often found on the body midline, particularly at the tip of the tailbone; in horses most often found at the poll (base of the skull).
- Blastic tumor or blastoma: A tumor (usually malignant) which resembles an immature or embryonic tissue. Many of these tumors are most common in children.
HOW TO IDENTIFY A CANCER?
The ten classic early warnings signs of cancer, which can be remembered by the acronym CAUTION, are the following:
- 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 in swallowing.
- Obvious change in a wart or mole.
- Nagging cough or hoarseness.
- Unintentional Weight Loss.
- A fever that is persistent or one that comes and goes frequently.
- Persistent fatigue is a symptom of both malignant and non-malignant conditions.
Cancer symptoms are quite varied and depend on where the cancer is located, where it has spread, and how big the tumor is. When cancer spreads, or metastasizes, additional symptoms can present themselves in the newly affected area. Swollen or enlarged lymph nodes are common and likely to be present early. If cancer spreads to the brain, patients may experience vertigo, headaches, or seizures. Spreading to the lungs may cause coughing and shortness of breath. According to the American Cancer society, 50 percent of all men and 33 percent of all women in the United States will develop some form of cancer at some point in their lives. The good news is that with the increasing information and treatment methods available today, millions of people are either living with, or have been cured of, cancer, and the risk of developing most types of cancer can be reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle. According to a report published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, there are 9.8 million cancer survivors in the United States.
TYPES AND WARNING SIGNS OF CANCER
Knowing the warning signs and factors that increase the risk of developing different forms of cancer can save your life .The American Cancer Societyestimates that of the 500,000 cancer deaths that occur in the United States, about one –third can be attributed to dietary factors, with another third being caused by cigarette smoking.
Following are descriptions of some of the major type of cancer, including information about who is affected, what are the symptoms and what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting them:
BLADDER CANCER
Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in males, eigth most common in female and fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. It is four times more common in men than women, twice as common in Caucasians as in African-Amercians, is usually diagnosed later in the live.
Causes and Risk factors
Cause of bladder cancer is not known. Smoking is the number one factor associated with bladder cancer. Also linked to bladder cancer are exposure to certain chemicals, such as benzidines, aniline dyes naphthalene’s; radiation exposure ;heredity ;possibly extremely high consumption of saccharin;chronic urinary tract infections or inflammation; and working in dye, chemical and rubber industries.
Sign and Symptoms
Often symptoms do not appear in the early stages. The first warning sign is usually blood in the urine. Other can be pain and burning with urination, increase frequency of urination, and difficulty urinating.
Dietary and Nutritional factors
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale have been credited with lowering the risk of bladder cancer due to their in antioxidant and other cancer-fighting compounds. Eating the USDA-recommended number of servings of fruits such as apples, berries, cherries, oranges, pears, and tomatoes can reduce the risk by 45 percent. Drinking a lot of liquids, especially pure water, helps to dilute carcinogens and increase urination, lessening the time any carcinogens in the bladder have to do any damage.
Eat a diet rich in Vitamin E that include nuts and olive oil. Dinithylsulfoxide (DMSO) is an FDA-approved, nontoxic solvent that has been shown to aid in treatment.
CAUTION: Only pure DMSO from a health food store should be used.
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