( আজকে বিশ্ব ক্যানসার দিবস ৷ তাই ইনটারনেট থেকে সংগ্রহ করা ক্যানসার রোগের এবং এর চিকিৎসার কিছু তথ্যাদি এখানে আগ্রহী পাঠকদের জন্যে পরিবেশিত হলো ৷ )
What Is Cancer? What
Causes Cancer?
What causes cancer?
Genes - the DNA type
Carcinogens
Genes - the family type
Other medical factors
What are the symptoms
of cancer?
How is cancer
classified?
How is cancer diagnosed
and staged?
How is cancer treated?
Surgery
Radiation
Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
Hormone therapy
Gene therapy
Using cancer-specific
immune system cells to treat cancer
How can cancer be
prevented?
Targeting cancers for
new drug therapies
Not only will this
approach lead to much more targeted cancer drugs, but also considerably cheaper
ones, the authors added. What Is Cancer?
Defining
Cancer
Origins of
Cancer
Cancer
Statistics
Additional
Information
What Is Cancer?
Normal cells in the body
How cancer starts
How cancer spreads
How cancers differ
Tumors that are not cancer
Cancer grows as cells multiply over and over
Some cancers can spread to other parts of the body
Is cancer genetic?
Cancer can sometimes come back
There are 5 main cancer groups
Stages and grading of cancer
What Is Cancer? What
Causes Cancer?
Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by
out-of-control cell growth. There are over 100 different types of cancer, and
each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.
Cancer harms the body when damaged cells
divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors (except
in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood function by
abnormal cell division in the blood stream). Tumors can grow and interfere with
the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, and they can release hormones
that alter body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited
growth are generally considered to be benign.
More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when
two things occur:
1.
a cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the
blood or lymph systems, destroying healthy tissue in a process called invasion
2.
that cell manages to divide and grow, making new blood vessels
to feed itself in a process called angiogenesis.
When a tumor successfully spreads to other
parts of the body and grows, invading and destroying other healthy tissues, it
is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called metastasis, and the
result is a serious condition that is very difficult to treat.
How cancer spreads -
scientists reported in Nature Communications (October 2012 issue) that they have discovered an important clue as to why cancer cells spread. It has something to do with their adhesion (stickiness) properties. Certain molecular interactions between cells and the scaffolding that holds them in place (extracellular matrix) cause them to become unstuck at the original tumor site, they become dislodged, move on and then reattach themselves at a new site.
scientists reported in Nature Communications (October 2012 issue) that they have discovered an important clue as to why cancer cells spread. It has something to do with their adhesion (stickiness) properties. Certain molecular interactions between cells and the scaffolding that holds them in place (extracellular matrix) cause them to become unstuck at the original tumor site, they become dislodged, move on and then reattach themselves at a new site.
The researchers say this discovery is
important because cancer mortality is mainly due to metastatic tumors, those
that grow from cells that have traveled from their original site to another
part of the body. Only 10% of cancer deaths are caused by the primary tumors.
The scientists, from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, say that finding a way to stop cancer cells from
sticking to new sites could interfere with metastatic disease, and halt the
growth of secondary tumors.
In 2007, cancer claimed the lives of about 7.6
million people in the world. Physicians and researchers who specialize in the
study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer are called oncologists.
Malignant cells are
more agile than non-malignant ones - scientists from the
Physical Sciences-Oncology Centers, USA
Professor Robert Austin and team created a new
catalogue of the physical and chemical features of cancerous cells with over
100 scientists from 20 different centers across the United States
The authors believe their catalogue will help
oncologists detect cancerous cells in patients early on, thus preventing the
spread of the disease to other parts of the body.
Prof. Austin said "By bringing together
different types of experimental expertise to systematically compare metastatic
and non-metastatic cells, we have advanced our knowledge of how metastasis
occurs."
more about cencer ;-
more about cencer ;-
What causes cancer?
Cancer is ultimately the result of cells that
uncontrollably grow and do not die. Normal cells in the body follow an orderly
path of growth, division, and death. Programmed cell death is called apoptosis,
and when this process breaks down, cancer begins to form. Unlike regular cells,
cancer cells do not experience programmatic death and instead continue to grow
and divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grows out of control.
Genes - the DNA type
Cells can experience uncontrolled growth if
there are damages or mutations to DNA, and therefore, damage to the genes
involved in cell division. Four key types of gene are responsible for the cell
division process: oncogenes tell cells when to divide, tumor suppressor genes
tell cells when not to divide, suicide genes control apoptosis and tell the
cell to kill itself if something goes wrong, and DNA-repair genes instruct a
cell to repair damaged DNA.
Cancer occurs when a cell's gene mutations
make the cell unable to correct DNA damage and unable to commit suicide.
Similarly, cancer is a result of mutations that inhibit oncogene and tumor
suppressor gene function, leading to uncontrollable cell growth.
Carcinogens
Carcinogens are a class of substances that are
directly responsible for damaging DNA, promoting or aiding cancer. Tobacco,
asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma and x-rays, the sun, and compounds
in car exhaust fumes are all examples of carcinogens. When our bodies are
exposed to carcinogens, free radicals are formed that try to steal electrons
from other molecules in the body. Theses free radicals damage cells and affect
their ability to function normally.
Genes - the family type
Cancer can be the result of a genetic
predisposition that is inherited from family members. It is possible to be born
with certain genetic mutations or a fault in a gene that makes one
statistically more likely to develop cancer later in life.
Other medical factors
As we age, there is an increase in the number
of possible cancer-causing mutations in our DNA. This makes age an important
risk factor for cancer. Several viruses have also been linked to cancer such
as: human papillomavirus (a cause of cervical cancer), hepatitis B and C
(causes of liver cancer), and Epstein-Barr virus (a cause of some childhood
cancers). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - and anything else that
suppresses or weakens the immune system - inhibits the body's ability to fight
infections and increases the chance of developing cancer.
What are the symptoms
of cancer?
Cancer symptoms are quite varied and depend on
where the cancer is located, where it has spread, and how big the tumor is.
Some cancers can be felt or seen through the skin - a lump on the breast or
testicle can be an indicator of cancer in those locations. Skin cancer
(melanoma) is often noted by a change in a wart or mole on the skin. Some oral
cancers present white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue.
Other cancers have symptoms that are less
physically apparent. Some brain tumors tend to present symptoms early in the
disease as they affect important cognitive functions. Pancreas cancers are
usually too small to cause symptoms until they cause pain by pushing against
nearby nerves or interfere with liver function to cause a yellowing of the skin
and eyes called jaundice. Symptoms also can be created as a tumor grows and
pushes against organs and blood vessels. For example, colon cancers lead to
symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and changes in stool size. Bladder or
prostate cancers cause changes in bladder function such as more frequent or
infrequent urination.
As cancer cells use the body's energy and
interfere with normal hormone function, it is possible to present symptoms such
as fever, fatigue, excessive sweating, anemia, and unexplained weight loss.
However, these symptoms are common in several other maladies as well. For
example, coughing and hoarseness can point to lung or throat cancer as well as
several other conditions.
When cancer spreads, or metastasizes,
additional symptoms can present themselves in the newly affected area. Swollen
or enlarged lymph nodes are common and likely to be present early. If cancer
spreads to the brain, patients may experience vertigo, headaches, or seizures.
Spreading to the lungs may cause coughing and shortness of breath. In addition,
the liver may become enlarged and cause jaundice and bones can become painful,
brittle, and break easily. Symptoms of metastasis ultimately depend on the
location to which the cancer has spread.
How is cancer
classified?
There are five broad groups that are used to
classify cancer.
1.
Carcinomas are characterized by cells that cover internal and
external parts of the body such as lung, breast, and colon cancer.
2.
Sarcomas are characterized by cells that are located in bone,
cartilage, fat, connective tissue, muscle, and other supportive tissues.
3.
Lymphomas are cancers that begin in the lymph nodes and immune
system tissues.
4.
Leukemias are cancers that begin in the bone marrow and often
accumulate in the bloodstream.
5.
Adenomas are cancers that arise in the thyroid, the pituitary
gland, the adrenal gland, and other glandular tissues.
Cancers are often referred to by terms that
contain a prefix related to the cell type in which the cancer originated and a
suffix such as -sarcoma, -carcinoma, or just -oma. Common prefixes include:
§
Adeno- = gland
§
Chondro- = cartilage
§
Erythro- = red blood cell
§
Hemangio- = blood vessels
§
Hepato- = liver
§
Lipo- = fat
§
Lympho- = white blood cell
§
Melano- = pigment cell
§
Myelo- = bone marrow
§
Myo- = muscle
§
Osteo- = bone
§
Uro- = bladder
§
Retino- = eye
§
Neuro- = brain
How is cancer diagnosed
and staged?
Early detection of cancer can greatly improve
the odds of successful treatment and survival. Physicians use information from
symptoms and several other procedures to diagnose cancer. Imaging techniques
such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, and ultrasound scans are used
regularly in order to detect where a tumor is located and what organs may be
affected by it. Doctors may also conduct an endoscopy, which is a procedure
that uses a thin tube with a camera and light at one end, to look for
abnormalities inside the body.
Extracting cancer cells and looking at them
under a microscope is the only absolute way to diagnose cancer. This procedure
is called a biopsy. Other types of molecular diagnostic tests are frequently
employed as well. Physicians will analyze your body's sugars, fats, proteins,
and DNA at the molecular level. For example, cancerous prostate cells release a
higher level of a chemical called PSA (prostate-specific antigen) into the
bloodstream that can be detected by a blood test. Molecular diagnostics,
biopsies, and imaging techniques are all used together to diagnose cancer.
After a diagnosis is made, doctors find out
how far the cancer has spread and determine the stage of the cancer. The stage
determines which choices will be available for treatment and informs prognoses.
The most common cancer staging method is called the TNM system. T (1-4)
indicates the size and direct extent of the primary tumor, N (0-3) indicates
the degree to which the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and M (0-1)
indicates whether the cancer has metastasized to other organs in the body. A
small tumor that has not spread to lymph nodes or distant organs may be staged
as (T1, N0, M0), for example.
TNM descriptions then lead to a simpler
categorization of stages, from 0 to 4, where lower numbers indicate that the
cancer has spread less. While most Stage 1 tumors are curable, most Stage 4
tumors are inoperable or untreatable.
How is cancer treated?
Cancer treatment depends on the type of
cancer, the stage of the cancer (how much it has spread), age, health status,
and additional personal characteristics. There is no single treatment for
cancer, and patients often receive a combination of therapies and palliative
care. Treatments usually fall into one of the following categories: surgery,
radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or gene therapy.
Surgery
Surgery is the oldest known treatment for
cancer. If a cancer has not metastasized, it is possible to completely cure a
patient by surgically removing the cancer from the body. This is often seen in
the removal of the prostate or a breast or testicle. After the disease has
spread, however, it is nearly impossible to remove all of the cancer cells.
Surgery may also be instrumental in helping to control symptoms such as bowel
obstruction or spinal cord compression.
Innovations continue
to be developed to aid the surgical process, such as the iKnife that "sniffs" out cancer. Currently,
when a tumor is removed surgeons also take out a “margin” of healthy tissue to
make sure no malignant cells are left behind. This usually means keeping the
patients under general anesthetic for an extra 30 minutes while tissue samples
are tested in the lab for “clear margins”. If there are no clear margins, the
surgeon has to go back in and remove more tissue (if possible). Scientists from
Imperial College London say the iKnife may remove the need for sending samples
to the lab.
Radiation
Radiation treatment, also known as
radiotherapy, destroys cancer by focusing high-energy rays on the cancer cells.
This causes damage to the molecules that make up the cancer cells and leads
them to commit suicide. Radiotherapy utilizes high-energy gamma-rays that are
emitted from metals such as radium or high-energy x-rays that are created in a
special machine. Early radiation treatments caused severe side-effects because
the energy beams would damage normal, healthy tissue, but technologies have
improved so that beams can be more accurately targeted. Radiotherapy is used as
a standalone treatment to shrink a tumor or destroy cancer cells (including
those associated with leukemia and lymphoma), and it is also used in
combination with other cancer treatments.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy utilizes chemicals that interfere
with the cell division process - damaging proteins or DNA - so that cancer
cells will commit suicide. These treatments target any rapidly dividing cells
(not necessarily just cancer cells), but normal cells usually can recover from
any chemical-induced damage while cancer cells cannot. Chemotherapy is
generally used to treat cancer that has spread or metastasized because the
medicines travel throughout the entire body. It is a necessary treatment for
some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. Chemotherapy treatment occurs in cycles so
the body has time to heal between doses. However, there are still common side
effects such as hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. Combination therapies
often include multiple types of chemotherapy or chemotherapy combined with
other treatment options.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy aims to get the body's immune
system to fight the tumor. Local immunotherapy injects a treatment into an
affected area, for example, to cause inflammation that causes a tumor to
shrink. Systemic immunotherapy treats the whole body by administering an agent
such as the protein interferon alpha that can shrink tumors. Immunotherapy can
also be considered non-specific if it improves cancer-fighting abilities by
stimulating the entire immune system, and it can be considered targeted if the
treatment specifically tells the immune system to destroy cancer cells. These
therapies are relatively young, but researchers have had success with
treatments that introduce antibodies to the body that inhibit the growth of
breast cancer cells. Bone marrow transplantation (hematopoetic stem cell
transplantation) can also be considered immunotherapy because the donor's
immune cells will often attack the tumor or cancer cells that are present in
the host.
Hormone therapy
Several cancers have been linked to some types
of hormones, most notably breast and prostate cancer. Hormone therapy is
designed to alter hormone production in the body so that cancer cells stop
growing or are killed completely. Breast cancer hormone therapies often focus
on reducing estrogen levels (a common drug for this is tamoxifen) and prostate
cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing testosterone levels. In
addition, some leukemia and lymphoma cases can be treated with the hormone
cortisone.
Gene therapy
The goal of gene therapy is to replace damaged
genes with ones that work to address a root cause of cancer: damage to DNA. For
example, researchers are trying to replace the damaged gene that signals cells
to stop dividing (the p53 gene) with a copy of a working gene. Other gene-based
therapies focus on further damaging cancer cell DNA to the point where the cell
commits suicide. Gene therapy is a very young field and has not yet resulted in
any successful treatments.
Using cancer-specific
immune system cells to treat cancer
Scientists from the
RIKEN Research Centre for Allergy and Immunology in Yokohama , Japan
The authors added that their study has shown
that it is possible to clone versions of the patients’ own cells to enhance
their immune system so that cancer cells could be destroyed naturally.
Hiroshi Kawamoto and team created
cancer-specific killer T-lymphocytes from iPSCs. They started off with mature
T-lymphocytes which were specific for a type of skin cancer and reprogrammed
them into iPSCs with the help of “Yamanaka factors”. The iPSCs eventually
turned into fully active, cancer-specific T-lymphocytes - in other words, cells
that target and destroy cancer cells.
How can cancer be
prevented?
Cancers that are closely linked to certain
behaviors are the easiest to prevent. For example, choosing not to smoke
tobacco or drink alcohol significantly lower the risk of several types of
cancer - most notably lung, throat, mouth, and liver cancer. Even if you are a
current tobacco user, quitting can still greatly reduce your chances of getting
cancer.
Skin cancer can be prevented by staying in the
shade, protecting yourself with a hat and shirt when in the sun, and using
sunscreen. Diet is also an important part of cancer prevention since what we
eat has been linked to the disease. Physicians recommend diets that are low in
fat and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
Certain vaccinations have been associated with
the prevention of some cancers. For example, many women receive a vaccination
for the human papillomavirus because of the virus's relationship with cervical
cancer. Hepatitis B vaccines prevent the hepatitis B virus, which can cause
liver cancer.
Some cancer prevention is based on systematic
screening in order to detect small irregularities or tumors as early as
possible even if there are no clear symptoms present. Breast self-examination,
mammograms, testicular self-examination, and Pap smears are common screening
methods for various cancers.
Researchers from
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago
Targeting cancers for
new drug therapies
Researchers at The Institute of Cancer
Research reported in the journal Nature
Reviews Drug Discovery (January
2013 issue) that they have found a new way of rapidly prioritizing the best
druggable targets online. They managed to identify 46 previously overlooked
targets.
The researchers used
the canSAR database together with a tool and were able to compare up to 500
drug targets in a matter of minutes. With this method, it is possible to analyze huge volumes of data
to discover new drug targets, which can lead to the development of effective
cancer medications.
The scientists analyzed 479 cancer genes to
determine which ones were potential targets for medications. Their approach was
effective - they found 46 new potentially “druggable” cancer proteins.
Not only will this
approach lead to much more targeted cancer drugs, but also considerably cheaper
ones, the authors added. What Is Cancer?
Defining
Cancer
Cancer is a term used for diseases in which
abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues.
Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.
Cancer is not just one disease but many
diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are
named for the organ or type of cell in which they start - for example, cancer
that begins in the colon is called colon cancer; cancer that begins in melanocytes of
the skin is called melanoma.
Cancer types can be grouped into broader
categories. The main categories of cancer include:
·
Carcinoma - cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line
or cover internal organs. There are a number of subtypes of carcinoma,
including adenocarcinoma, basal cell carcinoma,squamous cell carcinoma, and transitional cell carcinoma.
·
Sarcoma - cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle,
blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.
·
Leukemia - cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the
bone marrow and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and
enter the blood.
·
Lymphoma and myeloma - cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system.
·
Central nervous system cancers - cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and
spinal cord.
(For definitions of other cancer-related
terms, see NCI's Dictionary
of Cancer Terms.)
To find out more about a specific type of cancer, see the A to
Z List of Cancers or
the list of Cancers
by Body Location/System.
Origins of
Cancer
All cancers begin in cells, the body's basic
unit of life. To understand cancer, it's helpful to know what happens when
normal cells become cancer cells.
The body is made up of many types of cells.
These cells grow and divide in a controlled way to produce more cells as they
are needed to keep the body healthy. When cells become old or damaged, they die
and are replaced with new cells.
However, sometimes this orderly process goes
wrong. The genetic material (DNA) of a cell can become damaged or changed,
producing mutations that
affect normal cell growth and division. When this happens, cells do not die
when they should and new cells form when the body does not need them. The extra
cells may form a mass of tissue called a tumor.
(Image from Understanding Cancer Series:
Cancer.)
Not all tumors are cancerous; tumors can be
benign or malignant.
·
Benign tumors aren't cancerous. They can often be removed, and, in most
cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts
of the body.
·
Malignant tumors are cancerous. Cells in these tumors can invade nearby
tissues and spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer from one
part of the body to another is called metastasis.
Some cancers do not form tumors. For example,
leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood.
Cancer
Statistics
A report from the nation's leading cancer
organizations shows that rates of death in the United States from all cancers
for men and women continued to fall between 2001 and 2010, the most recent
reporting period available. (Read more about the Annual Report.)
Estimated new cases and deaths from cancer in
the United States
·
New cases: 1,665,540 (does not include nonmelanoma skin cancers)
·
Deaths: 585,720
NCI's Cancer
Stat Fact Sheets provide
frequently requested cancer statistics for a number of cancer types.
Additional
Information
Cancers that are diagnosed with the greatest
frequency in the United States
·
Leukemia
·
Melanoma
More cancer topics:
The risk of developing many types of cancer
can be reduced by practicing healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating a healthy
diet, getting regular exercise, and not smoking. Also, the sooner a cancer is
found and treatment begins, the better the chances are that the treatment will
be successful.
What Is Cancer?
Cancer is the general name for a group of more
than 100 diseases. Although there are many kinds of cancer, all cancers start
because abnormal cells grow out of control. Untreated cancers can cause serious
illness and death.
Normal cells in the body
The body is made up of trillions of living
cells. Normal body cells grow, divide to make new cells, and die in an orderly
way. During the early years of a person’s life, normal cells divide faster to
allow the person to grow. After the person becomes an adult, most cells divide
only to replace worn-out or dying cells or to repair injuries.
How cancer starts
Cancer starts when cells in a part of the body
start to grow out of control. Cancer cell growth is different from normal cell
growth. Instead of dying, cancer cells continue to grow and form new, abnormal
cells. Cancer cells can also invade (grow into) other tissues, something that
normal cells can’t do. Growing out of control and invading other tissues are
what makes a cell a cancer cell.
Cells become cancer cells because of DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) damage. DNA is in every cell and it directs all its
actions. In a normal cell, when DNA is damaged the cell either repairs the
damage or dies. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired, but the cell
doesn’t die like it should. Instead, the cell goes on making new cells that the
body doesn’t need. These new cells all have the same damaged DNA as the first
abnormal cell does.
People
can inherit abnormal DNA (it’s passed on from their parents), but most often
DNA damage is caused by mistakes that happen while the normal cell is
reproducing or by something in the environment. Sometimes the cause of the DNA
damage may be something obvious like cigarette smoking or sun exposure.
But it’s rare to know exactly what caused any one person’s cancer.
In
most cases, the cancer cells form a tumor. Over time, the tumors can replace
normal tissue, crowd it, or push it aside. Some cancers, like leukemia,
rarely form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and
blood-forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow.
How cancer spreads
Cancer
cells often travel to other parts of the body where they can grow and form new
tumors. This happens when the cancer cells get into the body’s bloodstream or
lymph vessels. The process of cancer spreading is called metastasis.
No matter where a cancer may spread, it’s
always named based on the place where it started. For example, colon cancer
that has spread to the liver is called metastatic colon cancer, not liver
cancer. In this case, cancer cells taken from the liver would be the same as
those in the colon. They would be treated in the same ways too.
How cancers differ
Different
types of cancer can behave very differently. For instance, lung cancer and skin cancer are very different diseases. They grow
at different rates and respond to different treatments. This is why people with
cancer need treatment that’s aimed at their kind of cancer.
Tumors that are not cancer
A
tumor is an abnormal lump or collection of cells, but not all tumors are
cancer. Tumors that aren’t cancer are calledbenign. Benign
tumors can cause problems – they can grow very large and press on healthy
organs and tissues. But they can’t grow into (invade) other tissues. Because
they can’t invade, they also can’t spread to other parts of the body
(metastasize). These tumors are seldom life threatening.
Cancer is when abnormal cells divide in an
uncontrolled way. Some cancers may eventually spread into other tissues.
There are more than 200 different types of
cancer.
1 in 2 people in the UK
Thanks to research many people are cured and
more than half live for more than 10 years.
Cancer grows as cells multiply over and over
Cancer starts when gene changes make one cell
or a few cells begin to grow and multiply too much. This may cause a growth
called a tumour.
Some cancers can spread to other parts of the body
A primary tumour is the name for where a
cancer starts.
Cancer can sometimes spread to other parts of
the body – this is called a secondary tumour or a metastasis.
Cancer and its treatments can affect body
systems, such as the blood circulation, lymphatic and immune systems,
and the hormone system.
Is cancer genetic?
Most cancers start due to gene changes that
happen over a person’s lifetime.
More rarely cancers start due to inherited
faulty genes passed down in families.
Cancer can sometimes come back
Many cancers are cured. But in some people
cancer can return.
Some cancers can’t be cured but treatment is
often able to control them for some years.
There are 5 main cancer groups
Cancers are divided into groups according to the
type of cell they start from. They include
- Carcinomas
- Lymphomas
- Leukaemias
- Brain
tumours
- Sarcomas
Stages and grading of cancer
Staging and grading give an idea of how
quickly a cancer may grow and which treatments may work best
The stage of a cancer means how big it is and
whether it has spread.
Grading looks at how abnormal the cancer
cells are.
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal
cells in the body. Cancer develops when the body’s normal control mechanism
stops working. Old cells do not die and cells grow out of control, forming new,
abnormal cells. These extra cells may form a mass of tissue, called a tumor.
Some cancers, such as leukemia, do not form tumors.
What are the most
common forms of cancer?
Cancer can occur anywhere in the body. In women, breast cancer is most common. In men, it’s prostate cancer. Lung cancer and colorectal cancer affect
both men and women in high numbers.
There are five main categories of cancer:
§
Carcinomas begin in the
skin or tissues that line the internal organs.
§
Sarcomas develop in the
bone, cartilage, fat, muscle or other connective tissues.
§
Leukemia begins in the
blood and bone marrow.
§
Lymphomas start in the
immune system.
§
Central nervous system
cancers develop in the brain and spinal cord.
How is cancer
treated?
Treatment options depend on the type of cancer,
its stage, if the cancer has spread and your general health. The goal of
treatment is to kill as many cancerous cells while minimizing damage to normal
cells nearby. Advances in technology make this possible.
The three main treatments are:
§
Surgery: directly removing the tumor
§
Chemotherapy: using
chemicals to kill cancer cells
§
Radiation therapy: using
X-rays to kill cancer cells
The same cancer type in one individual is very
different from that cancer in another individual. Within a single type of
cancer, such as breast cancer, researchers are discovering subtypes that each
requires a different treatment approach.
What can you do to
manage the side effects of cancer treatment?
Integrative oncology services describe a broad
range of complementary treatments that combat side effects, boost the immune
system and maintain well-being. Treating cancer cannot focus on the disease
alone but must address the pain, fatigue and depression that comes with it.
Integrative oncology services include:
§
Nutrition therapy to help
prevent malnutrition and reduce side effects
§
Naturopathic medicine to safely
strengthen your immune system, boost your energy and reduce side effects
§
Oncology rehabilitation to
rebuild strength and overcome some of the physical effects of treatment
§
Mind-body medicine to
improve emotional well-being through counseling, stress management techniques
and support groups
What does the future
hold for cancer treatment?
The future of cancer treatment lies in providing
patients with an even greater level of personalization. Doctors are beginning
to offer treatment options based on the genetic changes occurring in a specific
tumor.
An innovative new diagnostic tool, the genomic tumor assessment, examines a
patient’s tumor genetically to identify the mechanism that caused the cancer.
Genomic tumor assessment can result in a more personalized approach to cancer
treatment.
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