AN OVERVIEW ABOUT CANCER
Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and results in tumors, damage to body tissues, immune system, and other impairment that can be fatal. It is a depressive ailment. It is not a transmissible disease generally.
*Cancer can be benign or malignant*. Benign is localized while malignant can spread to different part of the body.
There are more than 100 different types of cancers that may affect men and women and the most common ones include breast cancer, skin cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer (for the men), lung cancer, ovarian cancer (for the women), liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia etc
*Risk factors for cancer* can be controlled or uncontrollable risk factors:
*Controlled risk factors* are: excess body weight, poor diet, smoking (Tobacco smoke contains over 50 known carcinogens, it’s use is the cause of 90% of lung cancer and about 22% of cancer deaths), heavy alcohol consumption, exposure to estrogen, oral contraceptive, anxiety, sun exposure, radiation, physical inactivity, infections, etc
*Uncontrollable risk factors* are: age (According to the American Cancer Society, doctors in the U.S. diagnose 87 percent of cancer cases in people ages 50 years or older), gender, family history of cancer, previous history of cancer, etc
*Cancer can be benign or malignant*. Benign is localized while malignant can spread to different part of the body.
There are more than 100 different types of cancers that may affect men and women and the most common ones include breast cancer, skin cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer (for the men), lung cancer, ovarian cancer (for the women), liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia etc
*Risk factors for cancer* can be controlled or uncontrollable risk factors:
*Controlled risk factors* are: excess body weight, poor diet, smoking (Tobacco smoke contains over 50 known carcinogens, it’s use is the cause of 90% of lung cancer and about 22% of cancer deaths), heavy alcohol consumption, exposure to estrogen, oral contraceptive, anxiety, sun exposure, radiation, physical inactivity, infections, etc
*Uncontrollable risk factors* are: age (According to the American Cancer Society, doctors in the U.S. diagnose 87 percent of cancer cases in people ages 50 years or older), gender, family history of cancer, previous history of cancer, etc
For breast cancer, women who had never had first full term pregnancy or have first full term pregnancy at the age above 30 have high risk of breast cancer. Early menarche is another factor, breastfeeding mother etc
For prostate cancer: it’s risk factors are age, race/ethnicity, family history, genetic changes, eating habits, high calcium intake etc
Most times, cancer is diagnosed during a medical test for another issue or condition, screening include, colonoscopy, mammography, a Pap test, biopsy.
The symptoms varies depending on the type. The earlier it is discovered, the better the chance of being cured.
Cancer is generally preventable since about 70-90% of it is from environmental factors. To prevent cancer, we need to have more knowledge about it, have a good eating habit, exercise regularly, stop smoking, drink moderately, avoid cancerous environment, seek medical checkup regularly.
*Treatment of cancer* depends on the type of cancer, stage of the cancer and the person overall health. Types of treatment are: chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation, immunotherapy, stem cell transplant, surgeries etc
In summary, Cancer is the second leading cause of death after heart failure. If the current trend continues, cancer will be our household disease and that’s why we should come together to fight it.
Finally, To those who overcame cancer, learn to share your story, to the cancer patients, let your faith be stronger than your fear. Cancer is a word not a sentence and so there’s hope.
Don’t wait for someone close to you or your loved one to be diagnosed of it before you join the fight against cancer, let’s fight for the cure, together we can win.
Help with it’s awareness, detection and treatment.
Finally, To those who overcame cancer, learn to share your story, to the cancer patients, let your faith be stronger than your fear. Cancer is a word not a sentence and so there’s hope.
Don’t wait for someone close to you or your loved one to be diagnosed of it before you join the fight against cancer, let’s fight for the cure, together we can win.
Help with it’s awareness, detection and treatment.
EDIOMO ISUNG (HARMONY).
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