| Cancer is a disease in which the body cells | | | | and vegetables. 30% of lung, breast, colon, |
| grow uncontrollably because their normal | | | | cervical and throat cancers are related to |
| regulatory mechanisms have been damaged. | | | | tobacco products such as cigarettes and |
| There are literally hundreds of different | | | | cigars. 10% of skin cancer cases are related |
| types and subtypes of cancer however the | | | | to the sun and UV rays. 7% of lymphoma, |
| majority form solid tumours in specific areas | | | | leukaemia, bone cancer and liver cancer cases |
| of the body. The most common cancers are skin | | | | are related to viruses such as Epstein Barr, |
| cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, bowel | | | | HIV, Hepatitis C etc. Pesticides and |
| cancer and prostate cancer. Unfortunately the | | | | chemicals, or occupational factors figure |
| disease is very proficient at spreading | | | | into 4% or mouth, throat, stomach and |
| through the blood and the lymphatic system | | | | lymphoma cancer cases. Approx 3% of stomach, |
| and so in advanced cancer cases it is not | | | | colon and liver cancer have been linked to |
| uncommon to see secondary tumours in far off | | | | excessive consumption of alchohol. |
| areas of the body. | | | | |
| | | | Aging and Cancer |
| The Genetics of Cancer | | | | |
| | | | Cancer is most common among older people, |
| One of the most important breakthroughs in | | | | largely because their cells have had more |
| cancer research came in the late 1970s when | | | | time to accumulate genetic damage, but also |
| scientists discovered that all types of | | | | because the body's defences against cancer, |
| cancer begin with the genetic material within | | | | particularly the cells and proteins of the |
| normal body cells becoming damaged. Every | | | | immune system, gradually become less |
| cell contains genetic information in the form | | | | efficient with age. In addition a cancer that |
| of more than 90,000 pairs of genes which work | | | | began earlier in life may not be diagnosed |
| together to control the activities of the | | | | until old age because it can take years for |
| cell. A cell can become cancerous when | | | | some types of cancer, most noticeably |
| specific genes, such as those that control | | | | prostate cancer, to grow large enough to |
| division, become damaged beyond repair. How | | | | produce noticeable symptoms. |
| and why genes become damaged is still a hot | | | | |
| topic for research however it would seem that | | | | Because life expectancy has increased |
| faulty genes are either inherited or they are | | | | dramatically over the last 50 years it means |
| caused by carcinogens (cancer-causing | | | | that cancer is now one of the most common |
| agents), for example sunlight and cigarette | | | | causes of death in the developed world, |
| smoke. | | | | second only to coronary heart disease. |
| | | | |
| Our body cells are continually exposed to | | | | Cancer treatment today |
| carcinogens however in the majority of cases | | | | |
| cancer doesn't develop. There are a number of | | | | For over 2000 years, doctors have attempted |
| reasons why this is so, for example: | | | | to cure cancer by surgically removing visible |
| | | | tumours. For some localised cancers |
| Cells can normally repair their own damaged | | | | radiotherapy is very effective and this |
| genes so that they continue to function | | | | treatment is often combined with surgery with |
| properly. More than one gene has to be | | | | the aim of achieving a cure. Treatment with |
| damaged in order for cancer to develop. | | | | anti-cancer drugs, known as chemotherapy, may |
| | | | be used instead of or in combination with |
| The body's immune system can normally kill | | | | surgery to destroy cancers that have |
| any cancer cells before they get the chance | | | | unfortunately already spread around the body. |
| to multiply and form a tumour. | | | | |
| | | | New therapies for the treatment of cancer |
| The Causes of Cancer | | | | that are currently being assessed include |
| | | | inactivating the damaged genes so that they |
| Although most cancers appear to be caused by | | | | no longer send messages to the cell, and |
| several factors, including genetic/inherited | | | | boosting the body's natural immune system so |
| ones, a main environmental cause can often be | | | | that it has the ability to destroy any |
| identified for a particular cancer i.e. | | | | cancerous cells. These therapies are still in |
| smoking cigarettes is commonly associated | | | | the experimental phase however both the |
| with lung cancer. | | | | American Cancer Society and the National |
| | | | Cancer Institute of the UK, i.e. Cancer |
| Approximately 35% of stomach cancer and | | | | Research, are working towards making them |
| prostate cancer cases are related to diets of | | | | viable treatment options for future |
| unhealthy foods with little or no fresh fruit | | | | generation. |