Jul 5, 2010
Cancer and its treatment
Cancer is the new growth of tissue resulting from a continuous proliferation of abnormal cells that have the ability to invade and destroy other tissues. It is a disease in which cells divide in uncontrolled way. The cells which divide in such way are known as cancerous cells or malignant neoplasm.
The three major sub-types of cancer are :
- The first, sarcomas, arise from connective and supportive tissue, such as bone, cartilage, nerve, blood vessels, muscle, and fat.
- The second, carcinomas, which include the most frequently occurring forms of human cancer, arise from epithelial tissue, such as the skin and the lining of the body cavities and organs, and glandular tissue, such as that of the breast and prostate.
- The third subtype, leukemias and lymphomas, include the cancers that involve blood-forming tissue and are typified by the enlargement of the lymph nodes, the invasion of the spleen and bone marrow, and the overproduction of immature white blood cells.
CAUSES OF CANCER
About 80% of cancers are potentially preventable. The biggest known cause is smoking, which accounts for 30 per cent of deaths from the disease. Although all the causes of cancer are yet to be ascertained, accumulating evidence about the effects of smoking, diet, radiation, hereditary factors, hormones, chemicals, and certain types of infection shows that these factors may be involved.
- Smoking:-Smoking is one of the biggest causes of premature death. It causes 90% of lung cancers. It can also cause cancer in a number of other parts of the body, including the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, pancreas, renal pelvis, bladder, and cervix.
- Diet:- Diet is probably linked to about 30 -35% of cancers. Many researchers believe that it plays a part in many of the most common cancers, such as those of the breast and bowel. However, as yet, there is no concrete proof of which elements can cause cancer and which help to protect against it.
- Alcohols:- Over-consumption of alcohol is responsible for 3% of cancer deaths. Cancers of the mouth, throat, and oesophagus are linked to this, with those most at risk being people who drink excessively and smoke cigarettes.
- Infections:- There is growing evidence that some infections are linked to certain cancers. In particular, infections have been found to be involved in cancers of the stomach, liver and cervix and —a rare cancer which occurs in AIDS patients.The bacterium Helicobacter pylori may help to cause many cases of stomach cancer. Studies have shown that people infected with the bacterium are four times more likely to develop this cancer.
SYMPTOMS OF CANCER
- Persistent cough or hoarseness in a smoker.
- Persistent change in digestive and bowel habits.
- Rapid change in the form, appearance and growth of a mole or wart.
- A hard area in the breast.
- Excessive loss of blood during monthly period in women.
- A swelling or sore throat that does not heal easily.
- Unexpected loss of weight.
TREATMENT
The traditional means of treating cancer have been surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. However, revolutionary treatments are now under development and researchers are using laboratory discoveries to design drugs that will exploit specific biological processes in cancer.
- Surgery: the principal approach to curing cancer is to remove all the malignant cells by a surgical operation. In the past this meant the removal of all of the involved tissue and as much potentially involved tissue as possible, including adjacent tissues and lymph nodes.
- Radiation Therapy: Electromagnetic radiation includes gamma rays, which are emitted by radioactive decay, and X-rays, which are produced when a beam of electrons strikes a heavy-metal target. Particulate radiation includes beams of electrons, protons, neutrons, alpha particles and negative pi. Tumours vary greatly in their sensitivity to radiation. When a tumour is readily accessible—into which a radiation source can be introduced—it may be curable by radiation therapy.
- Chemotherapy: It is the use of drugs in the treatment of cancer. Since a drug is distributed throughout the body by the bloodstream, chemotherapy is prescribed for tumours that have spread beyond the area accessible by surgery or radiotherapy. A number of different types of anti-cancer drugs are used, but nearly all work by interfering with DNA synthesis or function. Rapidly dividing cells are therefore more sensitive to chemotherapy.
- Hormone Therapy: Many cancers arising from tissues that are hormone-dependent, such as the breast, prostate, endometrium (uterine lining), and thyroid, are responsive to hormone manipulation. This may consist of removing the source of the stimulating hormone or the administration of various hormones, antihormones, and hormone blockers, such as tamoxifen.
Prevention
- Smoking habit must be stopped.
- Chewing of tobacco, bettle should be stopped.
- Over exposure to solar-radiation & X-rays should be avoided.
- Canned food should not be taken as it is mixed with several antibacterial preservative chemicals.
- Avoid obesity. Too much fats & heavy intake of alcohols should be avoided.
- Regular medical check-up of the body is must in present age.
- Intake of cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, with other food rich in vitamin A and C is very beneficial.
- Balanced diet, pollution free environment, proper sanitation enhance the immune power against any disease
- Moderate exercise lessens the chance of cancer.
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