Cancer

 Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020.

Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs; the latter process is referred to as metastasis. Metastases are the primary cause of death from cancer.

Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for where they start. For example, lung cancer starts in the lung, and breast cancer starts in the breast.

The most common in 2020 (in terms of new cases of cancer) were:

Breast (2.26 million cases);

Lung (2.21 million cases);

Colon and rectum (1.93 million cases);

Prostate (1.41 million cases);

Skin (non-melanoma) (1.20 million cases); and

Stomach (1.09 million cases).

The most common causes of cancer death in 2020 were:

Lung (1.80 million deaths);

Colon and rectum (935 000 deaths);

Liver (830 000 deaths);

Stomach (769 000 deaths); and

Breast (685 000 deaths).

Cancer Growth and Metastasis

Most of the body’s cells have specific functions and fixed lifespans. While it may sound like a bad thing, cell death is part of a natural and beneficial phenomenon called apoptosis.

A cell receives instructions to die so that the body can replace it with a newer cell that functions better. Cancerous cells lack the components that instruct them to stop dividing and to die.

As a result, they build up in the body, using oxygen and nutrients that would usually nourish other cells. Cancerous cells can form tumors, impair the immune system and cause other changes that prevent the body from functioning regularly.

Cancerous cells may appear in one area, then spread via the lymph nodes. These are clusters of immune cells located throughout the body.

Cancer is an umbrella term for a large group of diseases caused when abnormal cells divide rapidly, and spread to other tissue and organs. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world.

In a healthy body, the trillions of cells it’s made of grow and divide, as the body needs them to function daily. Healthy cells have a specific life cycle, reproducing and dying off in a way that is determined by the type of cell. New cells take the place of old or damaged cells as they die. Cancer disrupts this process and leads to abnormal growth in cells. It’s caused by changes or mutations in DNA.

DNA exists in the individual genes of every cell. It has instructions that tell the cell what functions to perform and how to grow and divide. Mutations occur frequently in DNA, but usually cells correct these mistakes. When a mistake is not corrected, a cell can become cancerous.

Mutations can cause cells that should be replaced to survive instead of die, and new cells to form when they’re not needed. These extra cells can divide uncontrollably, causing growths called tumors to form. Tumors can cause a variety of health problems, depending on where they grow in the body.

But not all tumors are cancerous. Benign tumors are noncancerous and do not spread to nearby tissues. Sometimes, they can grow large and cause problems when they press against neighboring organs and tissue. Malignant tumors are cancerous and can invade other parts of the body.

Some cancer cells can also migrate through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to distant areas of the body. This process is called metastasis. Cancers that have metastasized are considered more advanced than those that have not. Metastatic cancers tend to be harder to treat and more fatal.

Types of Cancer

Cancers are named for the area in which they begin and the type of cell they are made of, even if they spread to other parts of the body. For example, a cancer that begins in the lungs and spreads to the liver is still called lung cancer. There are also several clinical terms used for certain general types of cancer:

Carcinoma is a cancer that starts in the skin or the tissues that line other organs.

Sarcoma is a cancer of connective tissues such as bones, muscles, cartilage, and blood vessels.

Leukemia is a cancer of bone marrow, which creates blood cells.

Lymphoma and myeloma are cancers of the immune system.

What causes cancer?

Cancer arises from the transformation of normal cells into tumour cells in a multi-stage process that generally progresses from a pre-cancerous lesion to a malignant tumour. These changes are the result of the interaction between a person’s genetic factors and three categories of external agents, including:

physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation;

chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin (a food contaminant), and arsenic (a drinking water contaminant); and

biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites.

Some of the symptoms that cancer may cause include:

Breast changes

Lump or firm feeling in your breast or under your arm

Nipple changes or discharge

Skin that is itchy, red, scaly, dimpled, or puckered

Bladder changes

Trouble urinating

Pain when urinating

Blood in the urine

Bleeding or bruising, for no known reason

Bowel changes

Blood in the stools

Changes in bowel habits

Cough or hoarseness that does not go away

Eating problems

Pain after eating (heartburn or indigestion that doesn’t go away)

Trouble swallowing

Belly pain

Nausea and vomiting

Appetite changes

Fatigue that is severe and lasts

Fever or night sweats for no known reason

Mouth changes

A white or red patch on the tongue or in your mouth

Bleeding, pain, or numbness in the lip or mouth

Neurological problems

Headaches

Seizures

Vision changes

Hearing changes

Drooping of the face

Skin changes

A flesh-colored lump that bleeds or turns scaly

A new mole or a change in an existing mole

A sore that does not heal

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)

Swelling or lumps anywhere such as in the neck, underarm, stomach, and groin

Weight gain or weight loss for no known reason.

Risk Factors

Between 30 and 50% of cancers can currently be prevented by avoiding risk factors and implementing existing evidence-based prevention strategies.

The direct cause of cancer is changes (or mutations) to the DNA in your cells. Genetic mutations can be inherited. They can also occur after birth as a result of environmental forces. Some of these forces include:

Exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, called carcinogens

Exposure to radiation

Unprotected exposure to the sun

certain viruses, such as human papilloma virus (HPV)

smoking

Lifestyle choices, such as type of diet and level of physical activity

Cancer risk tends to increase with age. Some existing health conditions that cause inflammation may also increase your risk of cancer. An example is ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Knowing the factors that contribute to cancer can help you live a lifestyle that decreases your cancer risks.

Cancer treatment

Cancer Treatment has different objectives, depending on the type of cancer and how advanced it is. These objectives include:

Finding a cure: This is not possible for all cancers and situations.

Providing primary treatment: Killing the cancer cells in your body.

Providing adjuvant treatment: Killing cancer cells that remain after primary treatment to reduce your risk of the cancer coming back.

Providing palliative treatment: Relieving health symptoms associated with cancer, such as trouble breathing and pain.

The most common types of treatment are:

Surgery

Surgically removes as much of the cancer as possible.

Chemotherapy

Uses medications that are toxic to cells to kill rapidly-dividing cancer cells.

Radiation Therapy

Uses powerful, focused beams of radiation inside (brachytherapy) or outside (external beam radiation) your body to kill cancer cells.

Stem Cell (Bone Marrow) Transplant

Repairs diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can have a variety of functions. These transplants allow doctors to use higher doses of chemotherapy to treat the cancer.

Immunotherapy (Biological Therapy)

Uses antibodies to help your body’s immune system recognize cancer so it can fight it off.

Hormone Therapy

Removes or blocks hormones that fuel certain cancers to stop cancer cells from growing.

Targeted Drug Therapy

Uses drugs to interfere with certain molecules that help cancer cells grow and survive.

Alternative Medicine

Used to decrease symptoms of cancer and side effects of cancer treatment, such as nausea, fatigue, and pain. Alternative medicine includes:

Acupuncture

Hypnosis

Massage

Yoga

Meditation

Relaxation techniques.

Fruit therapy.

TAKE HOME NOTE

Between 30 and 50% of cancers can currently be prevented by avoiding risk factors and implementing existing evidence-based prevention strategies.

The cancer burden can also be reduced through early detection of cancer and appropriate treatment and care of patients who develop cancer. Many cancers have a high chance of cure if diagnosed early and treated appropriately.

According to experts, these are the best ways to prevent cancer:

Stop using tobacco and avoid secondhand smoke that is staying close to someone that smokes and inhaling it.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet.Fruits and vegetables may lower your risk of lung, oral, esophageal, stomach, and colon cancer.

The Mediterranean diet may protect against cancer. This diet focuses on foods such as fish, fruits and vegetables, beans, and whole grains.

Calcium and vitamin D may lower your risk of colorectal cancer.

Folic acid may protect against cancer.

Foods to limit

You should limit these processed foods and ingredients when following the Mediterranean diet:

Added sugar: added sugar is found in many foods but especially high in soda, candies, ice cream, table sugar, syrup, and baked goods

Refined grains: white bread, pasta, tortillas, chips, crackers

Trans fats: found in margarine, fried foods, and other processed foods

Refined oils: soybean oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, grapeseed oil

Processed meat: processed sausages, hot dogs, deli meats, beef jerky

Highly processed foods: fast food, convenience meals, microwave popcorn, granola bars

Consider adopting a “Mediterranean diet” that focuses mainly on plant-based foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

Avoid alcohol, or drink in moderation.

Keep a healthy weight and stay active by getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day.

Stay protected from the sun; Cover up with clothing, sunglasses, and a hat, and apply sunscreen frequently.

Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when the sun’s rays are at their strongest.

Stay in the shade as much as possible when you’re outside.

Avoid tanning beds and sunlight, which can damage your skin just as much as the sun.

Get vaccinated against viral infections that can lead to cancer, such as hepatitis B and HPV.

Ensuring safe and appropriate use of radiation in health care (for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes);

Minimizing occupational exposure to ionizing radiation; and

Reducing exposure to outdoor air pollution and indoor air pollution, including radon (a radioactive gas produced from the natural decay of uranium, which can accumulate in buildings — homes, schools and workplaces).

Don’t engage in risky behaviors. Practice safe sex and don’t share needles when using drugs or prescription medications. Only get tattoos at licensed parlors.

See your doctor or Nurse regularly so that you can be screened  for various types of cancer. This increases ones chances of detecting any cancers as early as possible.

Visit the Cancer Prevention centres for screening and early detection followed by prompt treatment.

TAKE LOOK AT THESE FIGURES.

Around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol use, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity.

Cancer-causing infections, such as hepatitis and human papillomavirus (HPV), are responsible for approximately 30% of cancer cases in low- and lower-middle-income countries .

Late-stage presentation and lack of access to diagnosis and treatment are common, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Comprehensive treatment is reportedly available in more than 90% of high-income countries but less than 15% of low-income countries.

The economic impact of cancer is significant and increasing. The total annual economic cost of cancer in 2010 was estimated at US$ 1.16 trillion

GET YOURSELF SCREENED

HPV testing for cervical cancer;

PAP cytology test for cervical cancer;

Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) for cervical cancer; and

Mammography screening for breast cancer.