Cancer – What it Is, Why it Happens and How we can find Hope

If you have been diagnosed with cancer you are not alone. Cancer is not a rare disease. In the United States it occurs in almost half of all men and more than one third of women at some stage in their lifetime. Today many people are living positively with the disease or are in remission. Most cancers (about 77%) are diagnosed in people aged 55 or older but anybody can get cancer at any time in their lives.

In the last two decades cancer treatment has been revolutionized and there is hope for successful cancer treatment. This is especially so if the illness is caught in its early stages; but what is cancer and what does it mean to the millions of people worldwide who have it?

What is Cancer?

To answer this question it will be helpful to understand a little about how the body functions. All the organs in the human body are made up of cells. This includes the skin, stomach, liver, lungs, mouth, reproductive organs and kidneys and even fatty tissue or nerves. In a healthy body these cells grow and regenerate normally by dividing and then dying in a perfectly ordered and controlled way.

When we are very young cells divide quickly to help us grow but once we reach maturity most cells in our body only divide in an effort to rejuvenate old or damaged cells or to repair injured ones, like when we cut or burn ourselves.

Cancer cells are different. They continue to grow and divide within the organ systems of the body and don’t die. In fact, cancerous cells actually outlive the normal cells in your body and go on to grow new abnormal cells in an uncontrolled way. While there are indeed many different types and forms of cancer they all begin with the overgrowth of abnormal cells in the body. This is the common denominator that defines cancer.

These abnormal cells are not always static however. Sometimes they can spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymph vessels (the clear, vein-like vessels that channel watery or milky ‘lymph’ from the tissue spaces into the blood). This is called metastasis and involves the cancerous cells growing and replacing normal body tissue. So for example a cancer that starts in the stomach could spread to the liver or lungs.

By now you are probably wondering what it is that causes normal, healthy cells to become abnormal and overgrow? Why does it happen in some people and not others?

Why Does Cancer Occur?

The answer to why cancerous cell changes occur lies in the body’s DNA, a substance that is found in all our body cells and is responsible for telling each cell how to behave and what to do to keep us healthy.

In general, when our DNA becomes damaged our bodies are able to repair it but cancer cells don’t behave this way. If the cell is not repaired by the body it develops into an abnormal, rapidly growing cancer cell.

How Does our DNA become Damaged?

In some cases we simply inherited cells from our parents in which the DNA was already damaged. (This explains why people with a family history of breast cancer are at increased risk of getting it too). In the vast majority if cases, however, our body’s cells are damaged by the environment in which we live or our lifestyle choices such as sunbathing, smoking or consuming too much alcohol or by cells that behave abnormally for no apparent reason. These might be called ‘cellular mistakes’.

How Does Cancer Show Itself in the Body?

How do we know if DNA damage has occurred? Cancer usually shows itself as a tumor but this is not so for all cancers. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and blood-forming organs and sent to other tissues where they continue to grow, for example, so its origin is not a tumor.

There are also tumors that remain where they are and don’t ever spread to other parts of the body. These are non cancerous or ‘benign’ tumors and are generally not a threat to life unless they have been allowed to grow very large and cause pressure on nearby organs.

Cancer may not show any early signs and symptoms and may only become apparent after they have advanced to a dangerous stage. This is why early detection of cancerous changes is so important.

There are many different types of cancer. Carcinomas affect the skin, stomach, colon, rectum, bronchial tubes, pancreatic, gall and breast duct, in fact any lining surface. Sarcomas arise from solid tissues like muscle, bone, lymph glands, blood vessels and fibrous and connective tissues. Both carcinomas and sarcomas tend to be invasive if they are not detected early.

Cancers in different parts of the body and even the same cancer in different people can behave in different ways and need to be treated differently. So the type of cancer you have will determine how it will be treated for the best possible outcome.

Can Cancer Be Prevented?

It is possible to minimize your risk of getting certain types of cancer. Drinking excessively and smoking can cause certain kinds of cancer as can eating the wrong kinds of foods and damaging the skin by sunbathing. Avoiding damaging lifestyle choices can, indeed, minimize your risk of developing certain cancers. If you smoke, quit and avoid taking in too much alcohol.

Stay out of the sun as much as possible and protect your skin with sunscreen and protective clothing if you are outdoors. Although the link between diet and cancer isn’t completely understood you should eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains like pasta and bread, and stick to low-fat choices.

Cancer Screening

Screening examinations should be done on a regular basis to rule out certain cancers. These include PAP smears and breast exams, especially if you had or have a relative with these kinds of cancers. Screening tests are very important since if a cancer is detected early enough it can very often be cured.

How to Find Help and Support

Cancer can be a very scary experience for most people and for this reason it is vital that you research and learn about the kind of cancer that you have so that you know the warning signs and understand what treatment options you have and why they are being utilized. This will help in calming your anxieties and fears about your disease and its treatment.

Each patient is treated as an individual and your treatment regime and response to it will be as unique as you are. You may be one of many people with cancer but you are nonetheless a precious and valuable individual and should be treated with a respect that supports this view.

We urge you to obtain as much information and understanding about your illness as you can and to open up the lines of communication with your treatment professionals. Ask as many questions as you need about your illness, your treatment and your fears and anxieties as you need to feel supported and encouraged. In so doing, you offer yourself the best in hope, understanding and a positive treatment program.

Talking to Your Doctor

You should feel comfortable with your doctor. His role is not only to explain your illness to you, but also to provide you with information regarding your treatment options, your prognosis and the effectiveness of your treatment program as it progresses. He or she should be someone you can talk to and answer all of your questions with care and concern.

If you are newly diagnosed with cancer we know you will have many questions about your illness and for this reason we have included a list of questions you may want to ask your doctor at your next visit. We hope you will make use of this list as a positive tool to assuage your immediate fears and concerns.

What kind of cancer do I have and what is the stage or extent of my cancer?

What is the prognosis for my cancer?

What treatment is advised and why?

Is the goal of treatment to cure or control my cancer?

What the risks or side effects of treatment?

What will the duration of my treatments be?

What changes will I need to make with regards to work, family life, and entertainment or relaxation?

What drugs will I take and what will they do in my body?

How and when will you know if my treatment is working?

Why do I need a blood test and when will I have one?

What symptoms or problems should I report immediately?

Could my cancer recur?

Will I still be fertile or able to have children after treatment?

Can I drink any alcohol?

How much will the treatment and medication cost?

We hope you found this general introduction helpful and informative. If you would like more information on different types of cancer, treatment options, and patient support we invite you to browse the links and resources on our site.