CANCER, ITS CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT

Cancer is characterised by the uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal cells in the body. It is referred to as an ailment characterised by an unrestrained growth of abnormal cells which if untreated and unchecked eventually kills the patient. Cancer is a complex disease that can affect many cells and tissues. Cancer leads to a mass of cells called NEOPLASM or TUMOR. Abnormal and persistent cell division localized in a particular region is called BENIGN TUMOR. Benign tumor contains well-differentiated cells, not usually dangerous. The spread of cancerous cells in distant site of the body is called metastasis. Cancer cells may be carried by blood stream or lymph or penetrate directly to other parts of the body resulting in dangerous MALIGNANT TUMOR. Cancer may be broadly classified into three major categories i.e. Carcinoma, Sarcoma and Leukaemia.

v  CARCINOMA: It is the malignant growth of the epithelial tissues that cover the body organs. e.g., Skin cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, cancer of stomach and pancreas. It is very common in humans which counts about 85% of all cancer patients.

v  SARCOMA: It is a malignant growth of tissues derived from primitive mesoderm. e.g., Bone tumors, muscle tumors, cancer of lymph nodes. It is very rare in human beings. It counts only 1% of all tumors.

v  LEUKAEMIA: It is a result of unchecked proliferation of cell types present in blood and their precursors in the bone marrow.

OTHER TYPES CANCERS AS FOLLOWS:

v  MELANOMA: Cancer of pigment cells of the skin.

v  ADENOMA: Cancer of glands.

v  MYOMA: Cancer of muscular tissue.

v  LYMPHOMA: Cancer of lymphatic tissue. It is also called Hodgkin’s disease.

v  GLIOMA: Cancer of glial cells of Central Nervous System (CNS).

Study of cancer cells is called ONCOLOGY. All cells carry certain cancer associated genes called PROTO-ONCOGENES. Susceptibility to cancer depends on some factors like familial factors, smoking, chemical and environmental factors, viral factors, alcohol and dietary factors etc. Any agent that induces cancer is called CARCINOGENIC or ONCOGENIC agent. Exposure to ionizing radiations like X-rays, gamma rays and non-ionizing Ultraviolet (UV) rays are probable agent for inducing cancer. Chemical substances that can cause mutation which lead to cancer are called carcinogens. There is a strong hereditary tendency to cancer. Physical irritants can also lead to cancer such as continued abrasion of the lining of the intestinal tract by some type of food.

Viruses cause a large number of cancer. These agents are tiny packages of nucleic acids, either DNA or RNA that are capable of infecting cells and converting them to virus producers. Although the link between viruses and cancer is strongly established for a variety of animal cancers, the relation in human cancer is less predictable. The number infected people with these viruses is much more larger than the number people who develop cancer but evidence suggests that chronic viral infections are associated with up to one-fifth of all cancers.

PRIMARY SIGNS OF CANCER:

Cancer may cause a variety of minor symptoms. Any that persist for several days should be checked by a doctor.

“THE EARLIER A CANCER IS DIAGNOSED, THE BETTER ITS CHANCE OF CURE.”

Following are the symptoms of cancer:

v  Rapid weight loss without any apparent cause.

v  A scab, sore of ulcer that fails to heal within 3 weeks.

v  A mole or blemish that enlarges, bleeds or itches.

v  Severe recurrent headaches.

v  Difficulty in swallowing.

v  Persistent hoarseness of voice.

v  Coughing of blood sputum.

v  Persistent abdominal pain.

v  Change in shape or size of testes.

v  Change in bowel and urine habits.

v  Lump or change in breast shape.

v  Bleeding or discharge from nipple.

v  Vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods or after menopause.

SOME CARCINOGENS AND THEIR TARGET ORGANS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

CARCINOGENS	TARGET ORGANS
Cigarette smoke (N-nitrosodimethylene)	Lungs and throat
Soot	Skin and lungs
Arsenic	Skin, lungs and alimentary canal
Coal tar (3,4-benzopyrene)	Skin and lungs
Mustard gas	Lungs
Aflatoxin	Liver
Asbestos	Lungs
Cadmium oxide	Prostate gland
Vinylchloride	Liver
Sex hormones, steroid	Breast, uterus and cervix
Diethylstilbestrol (DES)	Vagina
Nickel and chromium compounds	Lungs
X-ray, UV rays and other forms of irritation	Skin
Continued irritation by some type of foods	Alimentary canal

CANCER DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS:

Early detection of cancer is essential as it allows the disease to be treated successfully in many cases. Cancer detection is based on biopsy and histopathological studies of the tissue and blood and bone marrow tests for increased cell counts in the case of leukaemia (Blood cancer). Techniques like radiography (use of X-rays), CT (Computed Tomography) and MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) are very useful to detect cancers of the internal organs. Pap test is used in the diagnosis of cervical and genital tract cancer. Antibodies against cancer-specific antigens are used for detection of certain cancers e.g., “Herceptin”. Monoclonal antibodies are used for the diagnosis of breast cancer.

“Techniques like molecular biology can be applied to detect genes in individuals with inherited susceptibility to certain cancers. Identification of such genes which predispose an individual to certain cancers may be very helpful in the prevention of cancers. Such individuals may be advised to avoid exposure to particular carcinogens which they are susceptible (e.g. Tobacco smoke in case of lung cancer).”

TREATMENT OF CANCER:

If the cancer is detected at its early stages then it can be cured and the patient can live for many years without recurrence of the disease. Cancer can be treated in three different methods or the three methods can be combined.

v  SURGERY: it helps in removal of affected organ or the site of occurrence.

v  RADIOTHERAPY: It helps in burning the affected site so that the cancer cannot spread further.

v  CHEMOTHERAPY: It helps in isolating the affected site and thereby kills the cancer cells.

“NO ORGANISM IS IMMUNISED TO CANCER AND NO SPECIES IS FREE FROM CANCER.”

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