Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which the cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA (from chemicals, viruses, tobacco smoke, or sunlight, but it can be inherited). They outlive normal cells, and continue to grow and make more abnormal cells.
Metastasis is when cancer cells spread through the bloodstream or lymph system to other parts of the body, where they grow and replace normal tissue. Some cancer is benign, meaning that it does not metastasize. Benign tumors are very rarely life-threatening. Malignant tumors, however, do metastasize, and are life-threatening.
Cancer is treated in a variety of ways. In some cases, patients undergo surgery in which the cancer is removed from the body. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are other treatments, but it are harmful. Radiation therapy burns, scars, and damages healthy cells. Chemotherapy poisons bad cells, but destroys good cells. Immunotherapy is when artificial proteins help the immune system to fight against cancer.
The ten most common cancers in the U.S. are as follows:
1. Skin Cancer
2. Lung Cancer
3. Breast Cancer
4. Prostate Cancer
5. Colorectal/Colon Cancer
6. Kidney Cancer
7. Bladder Cancer
8. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
9. Thyroid Cancer
10. Endometrial Cancer
Risk Factors
Lung cancer
Smoking, radon, asbestos, radioactive ores, inhaled chemicals or minerals, diesel exhaust, radiation therapy, arsenic, family history of lung cancer, certain dietary supplements, and air pollution.
Non-melanoma skin cancer
UV light, light colored skin, old age, gender (men are at twice the risk of women), chemicals, radiation, psoriasis treatment, weakened immune system, HPV infection, and smoking.
Prostate cancer
Age (risk increases in men over 50), race (it is more common in African-American men), nationality (it is most common in North America, northwestern Europe, Australia, and on the Caribbean Islands), family history, genes, diet, obesity, smoking, inflammation of the prostate, sexually transmitted infections, vasectomy.
Breast cancer
Gender (women are 100 times more likely to have breast cancer than men), aging, genes, family history, personal history, race and ethnicity (white women are more likely to develop breast cancer, African-American women are more likely to die from it), dense breast tissue, certain benign breast conditions, lobular carcinoma in situ (cells that look like cancer cells growing in the lobules of the milk-producing glands of the breast, menstrual periods (women who began menstruating before 12 or went through menopause after age 55), previous chest radiation, diethylstilbestrol exposure, having children after age 30, birth control, hormone therapy after menopause, breastfeeding, alcohol, being overweight or obese, and low physical activity.
Pancreatic cancer
Age (almost all patients are over age 45), gender (men are 30% more likely to develop the cancer than women), race (African Americans are more likely to develop it than whites), smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, occupational exposure (exposure to certain pesticides, dyes, and chemicals in metal), family history, genetic syndromes, stomach problems, diet, possibly coffee, and alcohol.
Colon cancer
Age (risk increases after age 50), personal history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer, personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, family history of colon cancer, inherited syndromes, racial and ethnic background (African Americans have the highest rates), type 2 diabetes, diet, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, and heavy alcohol use.
Leukemia
Genes, inherited syndromes, inherited immune system problems, having a sibling with leukemia, radiation exposure, exposure to chemotherapy and certain other chemicals, and immune system oppression.
Metastasis is when cancer cells spread through the bloodstream or lymph system to other parts of the body, where they grow and replace normal tissue. Some cancer is benign, meaning that it does not metastasize. Benign tumors are very rarely life-threatening. Malignant tumors, however, do metastasize, and are life-threatening.
Cancer is treated in a variety of ways. In some cases, patients undergo surgery in which the cancer is removed from the body. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are other treatments, but it are harmful. Radiation therapy burns, scars, and damages healthy cells. Chemotherapy poisons bad cells, but destroys good cells. Immunotherapy is when artificial proteins help the immune system to fight against cancer.
The ten most common cancers in the U.S. are as follows:
1. Skin Cancer
2. Lung Cancer
3. Breast Cancer
4. Prostate Cancer
5. Colorectal/Colon Cancer
6. Kidney Cancer
7. Bladder Cancer
8. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
9. Thyroid Cancer
10. Endometrial Cancer
Risk Factors
Lung cancer
Smoking, radon, asbestos, radioactive ores, inhaled chemicals or minerals, diesel exhaust, radiation therapy, arsenic, family history of lung cancer, certain dietary supplements, and air pollution.
Non-melanoma skin cancer
UV light, light colored skin, old age, gender (men are at twice the risk of women), chemicals, radiation, psoriasis treatment, weakened immune system, HPV infection, and smoking.
Prostate cancer
Age (risk increases in men over 50), race (it is more common in African-American men), nationality (it is most common in North America, northwestern Europe, Australia, and on the Caribbean Islands), family history, genes, diet, obesity, smoking, inflammation of the prostate, sexually transmitted infections, vasectomy.
Breast cancer
Gender (women are 100 times more likely to have breast cancer than men), aging, genes, family history, personal history, race and ethnicity (white women are more likely to develop breast cancer, African-American women are more likely to die from it), dense breast tissue, certain benign breast conditions, lobular carcinoma in situ (cells that look like cancer cells growing in the lobules of the milk-producing glands of the breast, menstrual periods (women who began menstruating before 12 or went through menopause after age 55), previous chest radiation, diethylstilbestrol exposure, having children after age 30, birth control, hormone therapy after menopause, breastfeeding, alcohol, being overweight or obese, and low physical activity.
Pancreatic cancer
Age (almost all patients are over age 45), gender (men are 30% more likely to develop the cancer than women), race (African Americans are more likely to develop it than whites), smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, occupational exposure (exposure to certain pesticides, dyes, and chemicals in metal), family history, genetic syndromes, stomach problems, diet, possibly coffee, and alcohol.
Colon cancer
Age (risk increases after age 50), personal history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer, personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, family history of colon cancer, inherited syndromes, racial and ethnic background (African Americans have the highest rates), type 2 diabetes, diet, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, and heavy alcohol use.
Leukemia
Genes, inherited syndromes, inherited immune system problems, having a sibling with leukemia, radiation exposure, exposure to chemotherapy and certain other chemicals, and immune system oppression.