Cells are the smallest structural unit of living things. Every living thing, including humans, is made up of trillions of cells. Cells continue to grow until the individual dies and divide in the usual way if the person is healthy. When an abnormal cell division occurs and this division continues, cancer cells are formed and cancer diseases are seen. There are more than 200 types of cancer known today. Positive results can be obtained in the treatment when the cancer, which can be treated better day by day, is caught at an early stage. You can find more detailed information about cancer, such as cancer diagnosis, the fastest spreading type of cancer, and the factors that cause cancer, in the continuation of our article.
What is Cancer?
When cells age or encounter an abnormal situation, a programmed way they die. Cells that do not die in the face of any abnormality may continue to divide or grow uncontrollably, and as a result, cancer may occur in people. Out-of-control cells can infiltrate body tissues, crowding out normal cells. This situation disrupts the working system of the body and some problems begin to appear. Cancerous cells can spread to healthy tissues or organs. This spreading process is called metastasis.
Abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably come together to form a tumor, which is often a solid mass. Tumor formations are classified in 2 groups as benign or malignant by health authorities. Benign tumors do not metastasize (spread) to surrounding tissues, while malignant tumors can spread to more distant body parts via nearby neighboring tissues and the blood or lymphatic system. In short, another name for cancer is malignant tumor or neoplasm in the medical literature. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world after heart diseases. Cancer is the cause of death for one out of every five people who die in Turkey. However, today, advances in technology and regulations in health policies have made it possible to diagnose many types of cancer early and to reduce cancer-related deaths with advanced treatment options. Cancer; It can affect anyone, whether child, young or old. prostate in men, Colorectal and lung cancer are more common than other cancers. In women, breast, colorectal and lung cancer are the most common types of cancer. There are more than 200 types of cancer, and each can have different methods of diagnosis and treatment. In the presence of suspected cancer, some tests are performed for diagnosis, determination of mass size and staging. Cancers are handled in 4 different stages in order to make a treatment plan:
- 1. Stage: The cancer cell is in a small area. It did not metastasize.
- 2. Stage: Cancer tissue has grown; but it still has not metastasized yet.
- 3. Stage: The cancer has grown further and has begun to metastasize (spread) to other tissues.
- 4. Stage: The cancer has spread to a large part of the body. This stage is also known as the advanced stage.
Cancer Causes?
Genes are responsible for controlling the way cells divide. When something goes wrong and the genes do not perform their duties properly, there may be situations such as the growth of old cells and the formation of abnormal cells instead of dying. This can make it harder for the body to function normally, resulting in cancer.
There are various factors that play a role in the development of cancer in the body. For example, the body normally has the ability to remove cells with damaged DNA; however, aging can blunt this ability of the body. This is why the risk of cancer increases as a person ages. Although it is not known exactly why cancer occurs; Lifestyle habits, genes, exposure to some agents in the environment that can cause cancer can be triggers for cancer formation. Some factors that can increase the risk of cancer may be:
- Consuming high-fat foods
- Heredity
- Consuming tobacco products
- Exposure to radiation
- Not using sunscreen against sunlight
- Hormone therapy
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Insufficient physical activity
- Asbestos, some toxins such as pesticides
- Some viruses
Cancer Symptoms
Cancer symptoms differ for each person. Some unexplained symptoms seen in the body make it possible to diagnose cancer early. knows. Although not specific to cancer alone, some of the symptoms that can be seen in people with cancer may be:
- A palpable lump or mass under the skin
- Involuntary weight loss or gain
- Changes in skin color or redness
- Wounds do not heal or heal late
- Changes in moles in the body
- Changes in excretory habits
- Continuous cough
- Difficulty in breathing
- Dysphagia (Difficulty swallowing)
- Hoarseness
- Chronic fatigue
- Fever that occurs mostly at night
- Recurrent indigestion or discomfort after eating
- Unexplained and frequent muscle or joint pain
- Fever or night sweats
- Bleeding or bruising for no apparent reason
Types of Cancer
There are many types of cancer and each type of cancer may involve a different diagnosis and treatment process. The aim of cancer treatment is to diagnose the disease early and to prolong life expectancy with the right treatment. Cancers are named according to the organ, region and microscopic structures in the body. Some common cancer types are detailed below. Changes in the size and shape of the breast, constant pain in the breast, color change, unexpected discharge from the nipple or itching and rash are some of the symptoms. Breast cancer screening protocol is applied in our country for this cancer, where early diagnosis is very important.
Lung CancerLung cancer, which is one of the most common types of cancer in both genders, There are two types, cellular. It has the potential for rapid progress; however, it also responds well to chemotherapy treatments. The most common cause is smoking.
Prostate CancerThe prostate is a part of the male reproductive organ. Symptoms of prostate cancer often go undetected until they affect the urethra. It is more common in the age of 50 and above. Men whose father or brother has prostate cancer have a higher risk of this cancer and should have regular checkups.
Colon Cancer One of the most common cancers, colon cancer has symptoms such as blood in the stool or changes in bowel movements. Cancer can spread to healthy parts of the body over time, complicating the treatment process. Early diagnosis is very important for colon cancer.
Leukemia While other types of cancer affect an area and spread over time after spreading to the environment, in leukemia, blood cells produce abnormal cells. These abnormal cells can travel anywhere in the body. Therefore, the fastest spreading cancer type is leukemia. Leukemias require prompt diagnosis and effective treatment.
Liver Cancer There are 2 different types of cancers seen in the liver, which has many important functions in the body. One of these is cancer originating from the liver, while the other is liver metastases, which are seen as a result of the spread of cancer located elsewhere to the liver. Liver cancer is mostly seen in people infected with cirrhosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis B or C.
Cancer, known as abnormal cell division, may manifest itself with some changes in the body beforehand. Although every change in the body does not mean cancer, the risk of developing cancer may increase in cases where it is not treated. The best course of action would be for people with suspected cancer to apply to a nearby hospital for early diagnosis and treatment.
Cancer Treatment Methods
Cancer is a disease for which a definitive cure has not been found yet. However, thanks to the developing technology, promising treatment options are increasing day by day. The treatment of cancer may vary depending on the type of cancer, its stage and the health level of the cancer patient. cancer patients doctor Together with their patients, they can decide on the treatment option that is suitable for them. Commonly used cancer treatment methods are:
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