Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth, with some forms caused by genetics and others by environmental factors. Early detection is difficult, and cancer can spread to other organs. Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, but each carries risks. Some forms of cancer are now curable, and research continues to find safer ways to prevent and treat cancer.
Cancer is the generic name for over 100 medical conditions involving uncontrolled and dangerous cell growth. Scientists suggest that some forms are caused by genetic factors, while other forms are caused by environmental conditions. In other words, one patient may already have a family history of breast cancer while another was exposed to a carcinogenic or carcinogenic chemical in a factory. The only difference is the underlying mechanism that triggered the abnormal cell growth.
Because cancer begins at the microscopic cellular level, early signs of a malignant or actively cancerous growth are nearly impossible to detect without special testing and training. In the case of pancreatic cancer, for example, there is little or no pain as the first malignant cells form around the organ. As the tumor becomes more organized, new blood vessels may form to feed it directly or older vessels may be shunted. Meanwhile, the host body may exhibit only a few symptoms that resemble many other conditions. Only after a suspicious tissue sample has been removed and tested can many forms of this condition be diagnosed.
One of the most insidious aspects of cancer is the way it grows. When the tumor overgrowth the original organ, pieces of malignant tissue often rupture or metastasize and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The cells can then attach themselves to other vulnerable organs and form new tumors. So a pancreatic cancer patient may possibly also have lung, brain, kidney, breast, or colon cancer. This is why oncologists place so much emphasis on containing malignant tumors to their place of origin.
Treatment for these conditions ranges from rounds of powerful chemicals to targeted bursts of radiation to complete surgical removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue. Each type of treatment carries a certain level of risk and pain to the patient, but untreated cancer cells will almost inevitably suffocate vital organs and circulation. Chemotherapy introduces powerful drugs that target rapidly growing cells, but this also includes normal events like hair growth and digestion. Radiation treatments use heat energy to literally burn away malignant cells, but healthy tissue is also damaged. Surgical removal can lead to permanent recovery, but undetected malignant cells may have already metastasized to other organs or be dissolved by the surgery itself.
Curing cancer has been a major focus of medical researchers for decades, but developing new treatments takes time and money. There are already many forms of cancer that are no longer considered incurable. Some cancers, such as leukemia, can actually stop growing as suddenly as they started. This is called remission. Science may yet find the root causes of all cancers and develop safer ways to stop them before they have a chance to grow or spread.
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