Cancer disease.

What is cancer?

Cancer a category of disease where the   cells show uncontrolled division (growth) and invasion causing tumor or malignant growth (except in the case of leukemia) which spreads to other body parts via blood stream or lymphatic system. Tumors are lumps or tissue masses formed when ruined cells grow or divide uncontrollably and they affect the body systems such as digestive systems, circulatory systems, nervous system, etc. Tumors can also change the body function by releasing unnecessary hormones. There are many different cancer types basically over one hundred and are classified according to the type of cell affected. Cancer is a common and very dangerous disease claiming many lives in the current word. For instance, in 2007 only, it claimed 7.6 million lives worldwide.

How does cancer start?

Cancer begins in a certain body part where the abnormal cells begin to grow uncontrollably. The abnormal cells unlike normal cells, they do not die but continue to grow forming more new abnormal cells .Also the cancer cells unlike normal body cells they invade other tissues .Cancer cell contain damaged DNA  which has very severe effect on the body functions and body systems. Some people can inherit damaged DNA from their relatives. However, most of the damaged DNA results from mistakes that   occur as the normal cells are reproducing or from the environment or even from such behaviors as cigarette smoking.

Types of cancers.

There are many different types of cancer such as breast cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer bone cancer and many more. However, all tumors are not cancerous and those tumors that are not cancerous are called benign. These tumors (benign) though cannot invade other tissues can cause health problems by growing to be very large and affecting healthy tissues and organs.

Diagnosis of cancer.

Cancer is often diagnosed by using patients’ symptoms information and using other methods such as endoscopy where a thin tube having a camera and lighting at end is used to check inside the body for abnormalities. Imaging techniques such as ultrasound scans, PET scans, CT scans-rays etc. X-rays etc that detect tumor location and affected organs are also used.

Treatment of cancer.

People suffering from cancer need different treatment aimed at their specific cancer types as all these different types of cancers have very different growing patterns and rates thus they respond to very different treatments. As there exist no single cancer treatment method, patients regularly receive therapies and palliative care combinations. There are any categories of cancer treatment and include: chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, surgery etc.