Cancer

The uninhibited growth of abnormal cells in the body and affects 1 in 3 people at some stage in their life.

Cancer grows out of body's normal cells. These normal cells multiply when the body needs them and die when not needed. When cells divide quickly and out of control, or when cells fail to die, cancer can occur. There are various types of cancers and almost any organ or tissue in the body can be afflicted. The lungs, skin, breasts, colon, bones, brain, lymph nodes, and nerve tissues are just some of the organs that can be afflicted by cancer.

Causes of cancer also vary. It can be triggered by certain viruses, sunlight, radiation, tobacco, poisonous mushrooms, chemicals such as benzene, and poisonous toxins that grow in some plants. There are also unknown causes of many cancers that which are being researched in laboratories to help scientists and doctors identify, diagnose and treat them. The 3 most common cancers in men are prostate cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer. In women, breast cancer is the most common, followed by colon cancer and lung cancer.

Certain parts of the globe may have more common types of cancers. For instance, in Japan, there is a high occurrence of gastric cancer compared to the United States [which is particularly rare]. It is believed that varying diets may have something to do with the occurrence of this type of cancer. Other types include brain cancer, cervical cancer, leukemia, kidney cancer, ovarian cancer, skin cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, testicular cancer and uterine cancer.

Symptoms usually depend on the type of cancer and the location of tumor. Some types of cancers may not have any symptoms which make them more difficult to cure. Most cancers may have the following symptoms: chills, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, malaise, night sweats and fever. Tests and examinations are done based on the type and location of the tumor. Biopsy, blood chemistry, chest x-ray, CT scan, CBC and bone marrow biopsy are the most common cancer tests. Treating cancer also depends on the type and stage. Surgery is done to remove the tumor, followed by chemotherapy or radiation, or both.