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