What Is Cancer?

Cancer is a group of diseases when abnormal cells divide without control, and grow and spread to any part of the body invading tissue, bones and organs. So it can affect any part of the body. Cancers cells usually spread around the body through the blood and lymph systems.

There are more than 100 types of cancer. So it just not one disease but many diseases. It is usually named after the organ or type of cell in which they start. So you get cancers such as breast cancer or transitional cell carcinoma.

Types of cancer can be grouped into a number of categories:

• Carcinoma – cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
• Sarcoma – cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.
• Leukemia – cancer that starts in blood forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood.
• Lymphoma and myeloma – cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system.
• Central nervous system cancers – cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

All cancers begin in cells. The body is made up of many types of cells. These cells grow and divide in a controlled way to produce more cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy. When cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced with new cells.

However, sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. The genetic material or DNA of a cell can become damaged or changed, producing mutations that affect normal cell growth and division. When this happens, cells do not die when they should and new cells form when the body does not need them. The extra cells may form a mass of tissue called a tumor.

Many cancers can be prevented by avoiding exposure to common risk factors, such as tobacco smoke, poor diet and extreme radiation. A significant proportion of cancers can be cured, by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, especially if they are detected early. Or there are several successful alternative remedies, diets or therapies that can cure cancer as well.

The types of cancers and treatments will be covered at this site. So please check the list of categories to find what you need to know about cancer. And feel free to add any comments about what you want to know or share about your experiences with cancer.