About Cancer, Its Survival Rate and Cancer Types
In spite of what most people think, cancer is not one disease, but a group of them. All the conditions described with the word “cancer” have two things in common. The first characteristic concerns cancerous cells – they start to grow and develop. The second characteristic includes the ability of cells to spread to other parts of the body (cancer metastasis).
25% of all deaths in America happen because of some form of cancer, which is the second place after heart disease. 10 years ago there were already 1.2 million people in the US with cancer diagnosis;, more than half of them were likely to die because of it. Cancer survival rate is quite pessimistic, therefore.
The worst thing about cancer is that anyone can get it, and the probability increases with age. Some of the most commonly found kinds of this disease are ovarian cancer, mouth cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer and some others. The organs that are also susceptible are kidneys, bladder, uterus, pancreas, as well as lymph and blood nodes.
Although this disease is still being studied, one thing that is known for sure about cancer is: it can affect the genes and cause predisposition to the disease in further generations. A gene is basically a part of a DNA molecule responsible for the behavior of your body cells. Genes are also responsible for the process of protein production, which makes it possible for us to participate in all kinds of activities and for our body – to function properly.
The usual cycle of the cells include their growth, development and destruction, or death. This cycle can be interrupted by the mutation of the cells, which results in their uncontrollable development and reproduction, and a formation of a growth, consisting of such cells. This growth is called a neoplasm, and is commonly known as a tumor.
The neoplastic cells can be destroyed by the immune system, if it’s strong enough to fight them. But it often happens so, that the immune system is unable to control the cells as they have gone through considerable mutation. There are two kinds of tumors that can form as a result of the uncontrollable growth of these cells: benign and malignant. The formerfirst one is characterized by a slow process of cell growth that is likely to stop once the tumor has been removed. Malignant The latter tumor spreads faster through the blood vessels and lymph nodes, and it often grows back after being removed.
The mutations in the genes have to do with carcinogens – the environmental factors. There are currently many carcinogens known to contribute to the development of melanoma cancer, skin cancer, and other cancer types.
Other factors contributing to the development of this disease are genetic factors. The genes that have mutated can be passed through generations, so if a child’s mother had breast cancer, she is more likely to develop breast cancer symptoms. However, most cases involve the combination of both environmental and genetic reasons.
Some characteristics can also add to the risk. For instance, according to the statistics, for people with fair skin the probability of developing some kind of skin cancer is higher than for those with dark skin.
The classification of cancers is based onf the parts of body they affect:
• Melanomas, or melanoma cancers, affect melanocytes – the cells responsible for the color of the person’s skin.
• Carcinomas. These kinds of cancer appear in the epithelium (a tissue composed of cells that line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body). There are squamous cell carcinomas (in the exterior part of the epithelium) and adenocarcinomas (developing in some organ).
• Sarcomas affect bones, muscles and blood vessels.
• Leukemias are blood cancers.
• Lymphomas are lymph system cancers.
• Gliomas are cancers that affect nerve tissue.
Words you need to know when speaking about cancer:
Benign:
Benign growth has a very high cancer survival rate as it’s not likely to grow after being removed.
Biopsy:
For biopsy the surgeon will remove a bit of your tissue to examine in the laboratory.
Bone marrow:
Sponge-like material located inside the bone responsible for the production of blood cells.
Carcinogen:
Any factor (e.g., ecology, a harmful substance) able to cause or contribute to cancer.
Chemotherapy:
A method of cancer therapy, which that involves drugs and chemicals weakening and destroying cancer cells and tissues affected by them.
Epithelium:
A tissue composed of cells that line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body.
Hormone therapy:
Another cancer therapy method aimed at slowing down the process of production of certain hormones.
Immunotherapy:
Stimulation of the immune system to help it fight the growth of mutated cells.
Malignant:
Cancer cells able to travel to other parts of the body forming tumors.
Cancer Metastasis:
Used to describe the process as a result of which cancerous cells spread and settle in other locations.
Radiation therapy:
Cancer therapy that involves radiation, killing cancer cells.
Tumor:
A growth formed by mutated cells that continue to develop uncontrollably.
X rays:
A method of cancer diagnosis that involves pictures of the body and helps to detect the presence of a tumor.
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