Cancer is a group of diseases that start when cells in the body develop abnormally and grow out of control. These abnormal cells form a mass of tissue called a tumor. There are many different types of cancer, and each type grows differently. But they all start when certain genes in the body change and become abnormal over time. This change, or mutation, makes the cells grow faster and divide more often than normal cells. Cancer cells also ignore signals that normally tell cells to stop growing or to die, and they can spread into nearby tissues. Some cancers form solid tumours, while others develop in the blood and don’t form a lump (such as leukemia).
Cancer can affect any part of the body. Some types of cancer have specific warning signs, such as a sore that doesn’t heal, a lump in the breast or a mole that changes size, shape or color. Other cancers may cause symptoms such as fatigue, coughing or hoarseness that doesn’t go away. Blood in your stool or urine can be a sign of colon cancer, and a hole in the wall of your intestine can be a sign of rectal cancer.
Experts still don’t know what causes cancer. But they do know that some cancers are more likely to happen if you have certain risk factors. These include smoking, being overweight, drinking too much alcohol and being exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Some cancers are caused by genetic faults that are passed down from parents to their children.
The good news is that most types of cancer are curable if they are caught in the early stages. That’s the main reason for regular screening tests, such as mammograms and colonoscopies.
There are also a number of treatments that help prevent or treat cancer. For example, hormone therapy is used to treat cancers that are fueled by the body’s natural hormones (such as breast and prostate cancer). Other treatments include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. New treatments are always being developed.
In addition, there are a number of other methods for killing cancer cells without harming normal cells. For example, hyperthermia uses heat to kill cancer cells, and it can be delivered through a machine outside the body or with needles inserted into the tumor.
At Rogel Cancer Center(link is external), we provide state-of-the-art care for patients with all types of cancers. Our doctors are experts in the latest techniques and technologies, and they work together to deliver personalized treatment for every patient.