Cancer: The Fatal Disease

March 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Cancer is said to be one of the most dangerous diseases which cause more death rates in human beings. Excessive multiplication of body cells in the body is called cancer. A Cancerous tumor in scientific term called as carcinoma. There are two types of tumors namely the malignant tumor and benign tumor. The malignant tumor is a very dangerous tumor, which penetrates into the body and ultimately destroys the normal tissue. Normally cancerous cells spread throughout the body through the blood stream. The benign tumor is not dangerous though its growth is very slow. Benign tumor cells do not spread all over the body. In olden days cancer was caused to old people. But nowadays, due to pollution and chemicals used in the industries all the age groups are getting affected to this hazardous disease. Cancer is mainly caused in human beings due to chemicals, radiation, unhealed wounds, and viruses. The agents which cause cancer is called carcinogens. Hydrocarbons in Cigarettes cause cancer too. Young people who are addicted to smoking are affected by cancer. Throat cancer is caused mainly by smoking. Mainly people working in chemical industries are affected by cancer due to the dyes and insecticides.

Ultra violet radiation causes skin cancer. Cancer might cause due to hereditary reasons also. Cancer might transfer from parents to offspring through DNA of the egg and sperm cells. The appearance of tumor is either inflammation or cystic. The cancer treatment methods are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and biological therapy. Cancers like the breast cancer, stomach and uterus is done through surgery. Few well known methods of curing cancer is chemotherapy. Biological therapy is the most recent approach to cure the fatal disease.

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Tumors

August 18, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Macrophages have identified a cancer cell (the...
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Most people often associate tumors with cancer.   When we hear the word tumor, whether on TV or read it in the paper, it tends to be used synonymous with cases of cancer.  This, however, is not the case.  A tumor is an abnormal swelling of tissue as a result of neoplasia, or the abnormal growth of cells.  Tumors can be benign, pre-malignant or malignant, whereas cancer, by definition, is malignant.  Benign means that the three malignant properties of cancer are not present, meaning the tumor is not spreading to non-adjacent tissues, it is not invading nearby tissue and it is not growing in an aggressive style.  One example of benign tumors is moles.
Pre-malignant tumors or neoplastic cells are those which do not spread to non-adjacent or surrounding tissues but remain withing the existing architecture of the organ affected.  These are more synonymous to cancer and thereby pre-malignant in that they can possess the trait of cancer associated with the aggressive growth of cells.  If left untreated pre-malignant or carcinoma in situ (CIS) can evolve into malignant neoplasia.
Tumors, however, are by definition a swelling of a region affected by neoplasia.   Certain neoplasia exists that would not fall under the same category as a tumor, in that it does not result in a solid lesion or swelling of the tissue.  Thereby, tumors are more easily detected in that they produce a swelling or otherwise visually or manually detectable growth of tissue. Most neoplasms result in tumors but some do not, such as leukemia.

Most people often associate tumors with cancer.   When we hear the word tumor, whether on TV or read it in the paper, it tends to be used synonymous with cases of cancer.  This, however, is not the case.  A tumor is an abnormal swelling of tissue as a result of neoplasia, or the abnormal growth of cells.  Tumors can be benign, pre-malignant or malignant, whereas cancer, by definition, is malignant.  Benign means that the three malignant properties of cancer are not present, meaning the tumor is not spreading to non-adjacent tissues, it is not invading nearby tissue and it is not growing in an aggressive style.  One example of benign tumors is moles.
Pre-malignant tumors or neoplastic cells are those which do not spread to non-adjacent or surrounding tissues but remain withing the existing architecture of the organ affected.  These are more synonymous to cancer and thereby pre-malignant in that they can possess the trait of cancer associated with the aggressive growth of cells.  If left untreated pre-malignant or carcinoma in situ (CIS) can evolve into malignant neoplasia.
Tumors, however, are by definition a swelling of a region affected by neoplasia.   Certain neoplasia exists that would not fall under the same category as a tumor, in that it does not result in a solid lesion or swelling of the tissue.  Thereby, tumors are more easily detected in that they produce a swelling or otherwise visually or manually detectable growth of tissue. Most neoplasms result in tumors but some do not, such as leukemia.

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Cancer

August 17, 2010 by Leave a Comment
A section of DNA; the sequence of the plate-li...
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One of the most common and often deadly diseases to afflict mankind that remains incurable, though the number and options for treatment continue to increase, is cancer.  Cancer is a disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth, or division of a group of cells beyond their normal limits.  Cancer is unique from benign tumors in that it possess the capability to invade adjacent tissues and metastasize or spread to other parts of the body via the blood or lymph.  Benign tumors are do not invade or spread to the rest of the body but are self-limited.
As of 2007, approximately 7.6 million people world wide died of cancer or suffered from cancer related deaths.  Though billions of dollars have been tagged towards research and development towards a cure for cancer, none exists.  Current treatment consists mostly of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as targeted therapy where certain drugs are able to act against molecular abnormalities typical of cancer and minimize damage to normal cells.
Cancer is caused as a result of abnormalities within the genetic material of the affected cells.  There can be several reasons for these abnormalities, such as the introduction of carcinogens, which include tobacco smoke, radiation and chemicals.   Other causes are less identifiable or predictable and may be due to errors in DNA replication or factors associated with heredity, whereby a person can inherit certain genetic abnormalities that may result in cancer.   The severity or degree of treat-ability for various forms of cancer depend on the location or tissues affected and the stage in which the cancer is detected.  If detected at an early stage of development than many types of cancer can successfully be treated and forced into remission.
Some preventative measures against cancer include avoiding known carcinogens, medical screenings, a healthy diet and exercise.

One of the most common and often deadly diseases to afflict mankind that remains incurable, though the number and options for treatment continue to increase, is cancer.  Cancer is a disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth, or division of a group of cells beyond their normal limits.  Cancer is unique from benign tumors in that it possess the capability to invade adjacent tissues and metastasize or spread to other parts of the body via the blood or lymph.  Benign tumors are do not invade or spread to the rest of the body but are self-limited.
As of 2007, approximately 7.6 million people world wide died of cancer or suffered from cancer related deaths.  Though billions of dollars have been tagged towards research and development towards a cure for cancer, none exists.  Current treatment consists mostly of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as targeted therapy where certain drugs are able to act against molecular abnormalities typical of cancer and minimize damage to normal cells.
Cancer is caused as a result of abnormalities within the genetic material of the affected cells.  There can be several reasons for these abnormalities, such as the introduction of carcinogens, which include tobacco smoke, radiation and chemicals.   Other causes are less identifiable or predictable and may be due to errors in DNA replication or factors associated with heredity, whereby a person can inherit certain genetic abnormalities that may result in cancer.   The severity or degree of treat-ability for various forms of cancer depend on the location or tissues affected and the stage in which the cancer is detected.  If detected at an early stage of development than many types of cancer can successfully be treated and forced into remission.
Some preventative measures against cancer include avoiding known carcinogens, medical screenings, a healthy diet and exercise.

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