Cancer is a term used to refer to a large group of diseases that can develop almost anywhere in the body. This is characterized by the development of abnormal cells that can grow and spread irrepressibly and have the ability to infiltrate normal tissues of the body. This medical condition can spread in the body.
Cancer is a leading cause of mortality in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 10 million deaths, which is 1 out of 6, in 2020 is due to cancer. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) had an estimated 1,806,590 new cases of cancer in the United States in 2020.
Among the most common types of cancer are breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, and liver cancer. The American Cancer Society has identified lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer death, composing an estimated 25% of all cancer deaths.
What is considered to be the main culprit of cancer is gene mutations. This happens when there are errors in the division of cells or abnormal changes in the DNA. If a gene mutation occurs, cells can grow and divide more rapidly, tumor suppressor genes will cancer cells can grow and accumulate, and DNA repair genes will fail to make corrections on DNA errors.
There are also factors that can contribute to the development of cancer cells in the body. Some of them are:
The signs and symptoms that one may experience will depend on the type of cancer he has. It can also vary depending on the severity of the condition.
Among the early signs of cancer that can indicate that you have the disease are the following:
Note that experiencing these symptoms does not immediately mean that you have cancer. These symptoms can also be indicative of other medical conditions. However, as these are warning signs of a serious illness, it is best to schedule an appointment with your doctor if you experience them.
Some of the general signs and symptoms that are associated with cancer are:
Diagnosing cancer early can increase the chance of survival. This is why medical professionals recommend cancer screening, especially to those people who are at greater risk. CDC advocates screening for lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and cervical cancer, among others.
In addition, diagnosis is important to know which cancer prescriptions or treatment options would be best for the patient. Some of the tests done to diagnose cancer are:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer
https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323648
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20370588
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12194-cancer#symptoms-and-causes
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics