What is cancer?

Cancer is a common name for a broad group of cancers in which the body's cells begin to grow and divide uncontrollably. Without treatment, these diseases become fatal.

The ancient Egyptians knew that cancer is a deadly disease. And the name of this disease was invented by the famous ancient doctor Hippocrates, who noticed the similarity of the shape of the cancer with a crab.

What is cancer?

Normal cells in the body grow, divide, and die in an orderly manner. In childhood, cells divide and grow rapidly. As a person matures, the process of division and growth slows down, and cells multiply only to repair damage and replace worn-out or dying cells.

Cancer prevention

What can be done to minimize the risk of developing cancer? Find out in the article "Prevention of cancer".

All types of cancer begin when the body's cells begin to grow uncontrollably. Instead of dying, the cancer cells continue to grow and multiply. Cancer cells, unlike normal cells, have the ability to invade other tissues, gradually increasing the size of the tumor.

Why does cancer appear?

Normal cells become cancerous due to damage to the DNAthat carries the inherited information. Usually, if the DNA is damaged, the special structures of the cell repair it, or the cell dies.

But in cancer cells, the DNA remains damaged, and the cell continues to live and becomes immortal. In addition, it actively divides and produces new immortal cells with the same damaged DNA.

Such cells are not necessary for the body, because they are not able to perform the functions originally laid down in them.

What causes DNA damage?

Cancer is not our choice

Regular author of the portal Sergey Agapkin tellshow and why alcohol consumption increases the risk of tumor formations.

People can inherit damaged DNA in some tissues from their parents. Some of the genetic information disorders are caused by environmental influences, such as smoking.

It is often impossible to determine what caused the DNA damage.

What does a cancerous tumor do?

The tumor cells grow, squeezing and damaging the surrounding tissue. Because of this, the functions of the organ in which the tumor occurred are disrupted. In addition, the cancer produces toxinsthat lead to poisoning of the body, physical exhaustion and disruption of the immune system.

How does cancer spread?

When the tumor grows, the cancer cells enter the blood or lymphatic vessels and move through them. So they get to other parts of the body, grow there and form new tumors. This process is called metastasis. And new tumors are metastasized.

In leukemia, for example, cancer cells are found in the blood and blood-forming organs and initially spread throughout the body through the blood vessels.

How do cancers differ?

Depending on the location of the cancer, its cells can behave in completely different ways. For example, breast cancer and lung cancer are very different diseases.

Tumor cells grow at different rates, and they require different treatments.

Are all tumors malignant?

Tumors that are not cancerous are called benign. They do not form metastases, do not invade other tissues, and therefore are rarely life-threatening.

But with the active growth of a benign tumor, other, healthy tissues and organs can be squeezed, and the tumor itself can be reborn into a malignantone .

What contributes to the appearance of cancer?

Cancer symptoms

They are varied and depend on where the tumor is located, how large it is, and how it spreads. Some tumors can be felt through the skin or seen on the skin. For example, breast cancer or skin cancer.

Other forms of cancer in the early stages may be less obvious. Brain cancer leads to a violation of its functions, the liver - to the appearance of symptoms of jaundice, rectal cancer - to constipation, and the prostate - to a violation of urination.

Since cancer cells use up the body's resources, symptoms of tumor formation can include weakness, increased sweating, and unexplained weight loss. These same signs can also be symptoms of other diseases.

However, if they are detected, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo an examination.

Can cancer be prevented?

Studies have shown that smoking, an unbalanced diet, and a lack of physical activity are the main factors that significantly increase the risk of cancer.

Among people who lead a healthy lifestyle, cancer is much less common.

The most important thing

A cancerous tumor consists of cells in which the genetic information is damaged. It not only grows rapidly, but also spreads to other organs and tissues, disrupting their functions. Only a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of cancer.