What is Cancer?
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the
body. Cancer develops when the body’s normal control mechanism stops working.
Old cells do not die and instead grow out of control, forming new, abnormal
cells. These extra cells may form a mass of tissue, called a tumor. Some
cancers, such as leukemia, do not form tumors.
.
Cells are the basic units that
make up the human body. Cells grow and divide to make new cells as the body
needs them. Usually, cells die when they get too old or damaged. Then, new
cells take their place.
Cancer begins when genetic changes interfere
with this orderly process. Cells start to grow uncontrollably. These cells may
form a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous
tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body.
A benign tumor means the tumor can grow but will not spread.
Some types of cancer do not form
a tumor. These include leukemias, most types of lymphoma, and myeloma.
Cancer spreads
As a cancerous tumor grows, the
bloodstream or lymphatic system may carry cancer cells to other parts of the
body. During this process, the cancer cells grow and may develop into new
tumors. This is known as metastasis.
One of the first places a cancer
often spreads is to the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are tiny, bean-shaped organs
that help fight infection. They are located in clusters in different parts of
the body, such as the neck, groin area, and under the arms.
Cancer may also spread through
the bloodstream to distant parts of the body. These parts may include the
bones, liver, lungs, or brain. Even if the cancer spreads, it is still named
for the area where it began. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the
lungs, it is called metastatic breast cancer, not lung cancer.
Types of cancer
Doctors divide cancer into types
based on where it begins. Four main types of cancer are:
·
Carcinomas. A
carcinoma begins in the skin or the tissue that covers the surface of internal
organs and glands. Carcinomas usually form solid tumors. They are the most
common type of cancer. Examples of carcinomas include prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer,
and colorectal
cancer.
·
Sarcomas. A sarcoma begins
in the tissues that support and connect the body. A sarcoma can develop in fat,
muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, blood vessels, lymph vessels, cartilage, or
bone.
·
Leukemias. Leukemia
is a cancer of the blood. Leukemia begins when healthy blood cells change and
grow uncontrollably. The 4 main types of leukemia are acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia,
and chronic
myeloid leukemia.
·
Lymphomas. Lymphoma
is a cancer that begins in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a
network of vessels and glands that help fight infection. There are 2 main types
of lymphomas: Hodgkin
lymphoma and non-Hodgkin
lymphoma
Diagnosing cancer
Often, a diagnosis begins when a
person visits a doctor about an unusual symptom. The doctor will talk with the
person about his or her medical history and symptoms. Then the doctor will do
various tests to find out the cause of these symptoms.
But many people with cancer have
no symptoms. For these people, cancer is diagnosed during a medical test for
another issue or condition.
Sometimes a doctor finds cancer after a screening test in an
otherwise healthy person. Examples of screening tests include colonoscopy, mammography, and
a Pap
test. A person may need more tests to confirm or disprove the result
of the screening test.
For most cancers, a biopsy is the only way to make a definite
diagnosis. A biopsy is
the removal of a small amount of tissue for further study. Learn more
about making
a diagnosis after a biopsy
Cancer treated
Treatment options depend on the type of cancer, its stage, if the cancer has spread and your general health. The goal of treatment is to kill as many cancerous cells while reducing damage to normal cells nearby. Advances in technology make this possible.
The
three main treatments are:
·
Surgery: directly removing the tumor
·
Chemotherapy: using chemicals to kill cancer
cells
·
Radiation therapy: using X-rays to kill cancer cells
The
same cancer type in one individual is very different from that cancer in
another individual. Within a single type of cancer, such as breast cancer,
researchers are discovering subtypes that each requires a different treatment
approach.
What is oncology?
The
branch of medicine dedicated to diagnosing, treating and researching cancer is
known as oncology, while a physician who works in the field is called
an oncologist. Some oncologists focus solely on particular cancer types or
treatments. Depending on the type, stage and location of a cancer, multiple
oncology specialists may be involved in a patient’s care. The field of oncology
has three main specialties—medical, surgical and radiation—and numerous
sub-specialties.
A
medical oncologist is a licensed physician (typically in internal medicine)
trained in diagnosing, staging and treating cancer. This specialist also leads
the development of the cancer patient’s treatment plan, which may include
surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or hormone therapy, while also coordinating with other
oncology specialists and clinicians who may have a role in the patient’s care.
A medical oncologist is also the doctor a cancer patient will continue to see
after treatment, for checkups over the long-term.
A
surgical oncologist is a surgeon who specializes in performing biopsies and
removing cancerous tumors and surrounding tissue, as well as other
cancer-related operations.
A
radiation oncologist specializes in treating cancer with radiation therapy to
shrink or destroy cancer cells or to ease cancer-related symptoms.
Many
cancer types are treated by an oncology sub-specialty. Gynecologic oncologists, for example, are trained to treat
cancers of the female reproductive system such as those affecting the uterus,
cervix, or ovaries, while hematologic oncologists specialize in diagnosing and
treating blood cancers (leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma). A
neuro-oncologist treats cancers of the brain, spine and peripheral nerves.
Side effects of cancer treatment
Supportive
care services describe a broad range of therapies designed to combat side
effects and maintain well-being. Treating cancer requires focusing on more than
the disease alone; it must also address the pain, fatigue, depression and other
side effects that come with it.
Supportive
care services include:
·
Nutrition therapy to help prevent malnutrition and
reduce side effects
·
Naturopathic support to use natural remedies to boost
energy and reduce side effects
·
Oncology rehabilitation to rebuild strength and overcome
some of the physical effects of treatment
·
Mind-body medicine to improve emotional well-being
through counseling, stress management techniques and support groups
What does the future hold for cancer treatment?
The
future of cancer treatment lies in providing patients with an even greater
level of personalization. Doctors are beginning to offer treatment options
based on the genetic changes occurring in a specific tumor.
An
innovative new diagnostic tool, the genomic tumor assessment, examines a
patient’s tumor genetically to identify the mechanism that caused the cancer.
Genomic tumor assessment may result in a more personalized approach to cancer
treatment.
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