Cancer

Cancer means the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one’s body. These cancerous cells are called malignant cells as well. Basically cells are the building blocks of living things. Cancer spreads out of the normal cells in the body. Normal cells are used to multiply when the body needs them, and die when the body doesn't need them. Cancer occurs when the growth of cells in the body is out of control and cells divide too quickly. It can also occur when cells do not die.
There are manifold cancers. Cancer can develop in almost any organ or tissue like in the lung, colon, breast, skin, bones, or nerve tissue. Now, what are the causes of cancer?

Causes

There are many causes of cancers such as:
• Tobacco
• Radiation
• Sunlight
• Certain viruses
• Benzene and other chemicals
• Poisonous mushrooms and a type of poison that can grow on peanut plants (aflatoxins)
However, the causes of many cancers remains unknown.

Types

The three most common cancers in men are:
• Colon cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Lung cancer
And the three most common cancers in women are:
• Breast cancer
• Lung cancer
• Colon cancer
Gastric cancer is also a kind of cancer which is seen mainly in Asia. Because, differences in diet can also play a role.
Some other types of cancers include:
• Liver cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Brain cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Leukemia
• Thyroid cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Uterine cancer
• Skin cancer

Symptoms

Symptoms of cancer depend on the location and type of the tumor. For example, colon cancer often causes constipation, blood in the stool and diarrhoea. Lung cancer can cause chest pain,coughing or shortness of breath. Some cancers may not have any symptoms at all. In certain cancers, such as gallbladder cancer, often symptoms do not shows until the disease reaches to an advanced stage.
The following symptoms can occur with most cancers:
• Malaise
• Fever
• Chills
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Night sweats

Treatment

Treatment varies according to the type of cancer and its stage. The stage of a cancer means that how much it has grown and whether the tumor has spread from its original location or not.
• If the cancer is confined to one location and has not spread, the most appropriate way for treatment are surgery and cure. This is often the case with skin cancers, as well as cancers of the lung, breast, and colon.
• If the tumor has spread to local lymph nodes only, sometimes these can also be removed.
• If surgery cannot remove all of the cancer, the options for treatment include chemotherapy, radiation or both. Some cancers require a combination of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.
Although treatment for cancer can be difficult, there are many ways to keep up your strength.
If you get radiation treatment, keep in mind that:
• Radiation treatment is painless.
• Allow 30 minutes for each treatment session, although the treatment usually takes only a few minutes.
• Skin in the treated area may become sensitive and easily irritated.
• Get plenty of rest and eat a well-balanced diet during the course of your radiation therapy.
• Side effects of radiation treatment are usually temporary.
While taking chemotherapy, you should eat right. Chemotherapy causes your immune system to weaken, so you should avoid people with colds or the flu. Also you should get plenty of rest.It will help you to talk with family, friends, or a support group about your feelings.

Prevention

One of the best prevention of cancer is to avoid smoking or chewing tobacco. Also many types of cancers can be prevented by avoiding excessive exposure to sunlight and heavy drinking.
Cancer screenings, such as breast examination for breast cancer and mammography and colonoscopy for colon cancer, may help catch these cancers at their early stages when they are most curable. Some people at high risk for developing certain cancers can take medication to reduce their risk.