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~ Cancer ~
Romeesa-Chan:
~Cancer
*Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells anywhere in a body. The abnormal cells are termed cancer cells, malignant cells, or tumor cells. Many cancers and the abnormal cells that compose the cancer tissue are further identified by the name of the tissue that the abnormal cells originated from (for example, breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer). Cancer is not confined to humans; animals and other living organisms can get cancer. Below is a schematic that shows normal cell division and how when a cell is damaged or altered without repair to its system, the cell usually dies. Also shown is what can occur when such damaged or unrepaired cells do not die and become cancer cells and proliferate with uncontrolled growth; a mass of cancer cells develop. Frequently, cancer cells can break away from this original mass of cells, travel through the blood and lymph systems, and lodge in other organs where they can again repeat the uncontrolled growth cycle. This process of cancer cells leaving an area and growing in another body area is termed metastatic spread or metastatic disease. For example, if breast cancer cells spread to a bone (or anywhere else), it means that the individual has metastatic breast cancer.
There are over 200 types of cancers; most can fit into the following categories according to the National Cancer Institute:
• 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
*What causes cancer?
Anything that may cause a normal body cell to develop abnormally potentially can cause cancer. Many things can cause cell abnormalities and have been linked to cancer development. Some cancer causes remain unknown while other cancers may develop from more than one known cause. Some may be developmentally influenced by a person's genetic makeup. Many patients develop cancer due to a combination of these factors. Although it is often difficult or impossible to determine the initiating event(s) that cause a cancer to develop in a specific person, research has provided clinicians with a number of likely causes that alone or in concert with other causes, are the likely candidates for initiating cancer. The following is a listing of major causes and is not all-inclusive as specific causes are routinely added as research advances:
Chemical or toxic compound exposures: Benzene, asbestos, nickel, cadmium, vinyl chloride, benzidine, N-nitrosamines, tobacco or cigarette smoke (contains at least 66 known potential carcinogenic chemicals and toxins), and aflatoxin
Ionizing radiation: Uranium, radon, ultraviolet rays from sunlight, radiation from alpha, beta, gamma, and X-ray-emitting sources
Pathogens: Human papillomavirus (HPV), EBV or Epstein-Barr virus,hepatitis viruses B and C, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), Merkel cell polyomavirus, Schistosoma spp., and Helicobacter pylori; other bacteria are being researched as possible agents
Genetics: A number of specific cancers have been linked to human genes and are as follows: breast, ovarian, colorectal, prostate, skin and melanoma; the specific genes and other details are beyond the scope of this general article so the reader is referred tohttp://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/genetics for more details about genetics and cancer.
*What are cancer symptoms and signs?
Symptoms and signs of cancer depend on the type of cancer, where it is located, and/or where the cancer cells have spread. For example, breast cancer may present as alump in the breast or as nipple dischargewhile metastatic breast cancer may present with symptoms of pain (if spread to bones), extreme fatigue (lungs), or seizures (brain). A few patients show no signs or symptoms until the cancer is far advanced. However, there are some signs and symptoms, although not specific, which usually occur in most cancer patients that are fairly easy for the person to detect. They are as follows:
• Fever (no clear infectious source, recurrent or constant)
• Fatigue (not relived by rest)
• Weight loss (without trying to lose weight)
• Pain (usually persistent)
• Skin changes (coloration, sores that do not heal, white spots in mouth or on tongue, wart changes)
• Change in bowel or bladder functions (including trouble swallowing orconstipation)
• Unusual bleeding (mouth, vaginal, and bladder) or discharge
• Persistent cough or change in voice
• Lumps or tissue masses
Anyone with these signs and symptoms should consult their doctor.
*Can cancer be prevented?
Most clinicians and researchers are convinced that many cancers can either be prevented or the risk of developing cancers can be markedly reduced. Some of the methods are simple; others are relatively extreme, depending on an individual's view.
Prevention of cancer, by avoiding its potential causes, is the simplest method.
*The top five cancer-causing foods are:
1. Hot dogs
Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.
2. Processed meats and bacon
Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.
3. Doughnuts
Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.
4. French fries
Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .
5. Chips, crackers, and cookies
All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.
Source: http://www.todaysten.com/2008/08/top-five-cancer-causing-foods.html
http://www.medicinenet.com/cancer/article.htm
(^Read more on it, please!)
Further reading:
http://www.naturalnews.com/cancer.html
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/cancer/overview.html
http://www.cancersociety.com/cancer_information.html
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/default.htm
~ Prevention is better than cure ~
Malak:
Thank you so much for all the info :)
I hope Allah protects us all from such diseases O_O
Romeesa-Chan:
Thank you fer reading, chere <3
Ameen. (:
The Golden Girl =D:
Thank you for sharing =D
It taught me loads ;D
Jazak Allah kair sis :)
Romeesa-Chan:
--- Quote from: ~ The Golden Girl ~ on July 15, 2011, 05:08:18 pm ---Thank you for sharing =D
It taught me loads ;D
Jazak Allah kair sis :)
--- End quote ---
JazakAllah khair fer reading, sis <333
If yuh can . . . yuh can share it with others as well. :D
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