Cancerous diseases
What is cancer?
One of the characteristics of cancer is the rapid proliferation of abnormal cells with unusual growth, which can then invade neighboring parts of the body and migrate to other organs.
This phenomenon, called metastasis, is the main cause of death from cancer.

The most
common cancers are:
breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, and
skin cancer.
The most frequent causes of cancerous diseases
Cancer
arises from the transformation of normal cells into tumor cells, a multi-step
process that usually starts with a precancerous lesion and then develops into a
malignant tumor. These mutations are the consequence of interactions between
genetic factors specific to the individual and external agents classified in three
categories, namely:
ü chemical
carcinogens such as asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin, or
arsenic.
ü Physical
carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation.
ü Biological
carcinogens such as infections caused by certain viruses, bacteria, or
parasites.
The
incidence of cancer increases dramatically with age, probably due to the
increasing accumulation of specific cancer risk factors and the fact that cell
renewal mechanisms generally become less effective with age.
how to reduce the incidence of cancer?
Prevention of cancer
ü abstaining from
smoking and avoiding alcohol abuse.
ü vaccinating
against HPV and hepatitis B.
ü avoiding
exposure to ultraviolet radiation and the use of artificial solar cells.
ü by lowering its
exposure to atmospheric pollution and indoor air pollution.
ü Assuring the
safe and acceptable use of radiation in healthcare.
ü eating a
balanced diet of fruits and vegetables and doing some physical activity.
Rapid Identification
Early identification
Treatment
is more likely to be successful, with higher chances of survival, fewer
diseases, and lower costs, if cancer is diagnosed quickly.
Identifying
cancers at the earliest phase and eliminating delays in treatment can improve
the life of patients.
Early detection has three components:
ü Raising
awareness of the symptoms of the various forms of cancer and the obligation to
consult a doctor if you have any worries.
ü accessibility
to clinical testing and diagnostic services.
ü and making
timely referrals to treatment services.
In the
context of diagnosis, cancer prevention must be designed to reduce delays and
obstacles, treatment, and care.
Screening
It is the
goal to find indications of specific cancer or pre-cancer before a patient
develops symptoms. When screening does find abnormalities, more tests should be
done to determine a diagnosis (positive or negative), and if required, the
patient should be guided to the appropriate services for treatment.
Some screening
programs are effective for specific types of cancer.
In general,
they are more complex and demanding of resources than early diagnosis, as they
require special equipment and specialized personnel.
To avoid high false-positive rates, patients are selected for a screening program based on age and risk factors. Early diagnosis requires quality assurance.
Some of the
screening methods used:
ü HPV testing,
cytology, and visual inspection after acetic acid application for cervical
cancer.
ü mammography for
breast cancer in areas with strong health systems.
Treatment
Correct
diagnosis of cancer is mandatory for proper and effective treatment, as each
type of cancer requires a specific treatment protocol.
Cancer
treatment involves radiation, chemotherapy, and/or surgery. It is necessary to
begin by defining the goals of treatment. The important goal is to cure the
patient or greatly prolong or improve the quality of life.
This can be accomplished by providing care that contributes to the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual well-being of the patient, as well as by providing palliative care to the patient with terminal cancer.
Other cancers, like testicular seminoma or various types of childhood leukemias and lymphomas, if correctly treated, also have high recovery rates, including cases where cancer cells have migrated to other parts of the body.
Cancer
mortality can be reduced by detecting and treating. If detected quickly and
treated by best practices, some popular types of cancer, such as breast,
cervical, oral cavity, and colorectal cancer, have high recovery success rates.
Palliative care services
Palliative
care aims to provide physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support to 90%
of people with cancer and their families.
Improving access to oral morphine for moderate and severe cancer pain, which more than 80% of patients with advanced illness, is urgently recommended.
The deadliest cancers in the world are lung cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, and breast cancer.
1. About
one-third of cancer deaths are attributable to the top five behavioral and
dietary risk factors:
ü High body mass
index
ü Low intake of
fruits and vegetables
ü Physical
inactivity
ü Smoking, and
alcohol consumption
2.
Cancer-causing infections such as hepatitis and human papillomavirus (HPV)
account for up to 25% of cancer cases in low- and middle-income countries.
You can
also watch the following video:
referred by Cancer Treatment Centers of America - CTCA (What is cancer? What causes cancer
and how is it treated?)
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