LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer is a disease that arises due to uncontrollable growth of malignant cells inside the lungs. This cancer holds a highest cancer fatality rate with men. Sudden change in the breadth of exertion and prolonged coughing are the major symptoms of this cancer. Small cell carcinoma and non-small cell carcinomas are the two types of lung cancer. The treatment methodologies vary for the two types. The former type is usually treated using direct surgery and the latter is cured using chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Smoking is main factor that paves the way for becoming a fatal victim to lung cancer. Chest X-ray and MRI scan can clearly identify the presence of lung cancer. Lung cancer vigorously metastasizes to liver, bone and brain. Staging of lung cancer is done according to the level of spread from the original source. Even passive smoking can lead to lung cancer among non-smokers. Please quit smoking…….!


 

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SKIN CANCER

Skin cancer characterizes malignancy in skin cells. There are three common types of skin cancers namely, basal cell cancer, melanoma, and squamous cell cancer. This cancer usually develops in the outer layer of the skin. This category of cancer can be very easily cured if shown in early stages. The symptoms of this kind of cancer are clearly visible. More than 100000 people are becoming a victim to skin cancer every year which makes it a very common type of cancer globally. Melanoma is deadliest of types and it requires immediate attention to its symptoms. Basal cell cancer is usually caused as the result of extensive exposure to sunlight. Squamous cell cancer is usually associated with HPV (human papilloma virus).Nowadays vaccination is done to prevent this type of cancer. The usual symptoms of this type of cancer are discoloration and formation of ulcers on skin. A sudden change in the size of the mole can also be the symptom of melanoma

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CHEMOTHERAPY

Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs for cancer treatment. Cancer cells are rapidly dividing cells. The drugs used in this therapy usually targets the cells which are rapidly dividing, thereby destroying cancer cells. This therapy has major side effects. The drugs used in this treatment would eventually kill all the cells which are rapidly dividing. But after this treatment gets over, the normal cells would recover again. Chemotherapy has the potential to even damage healthy tissues. The cells that are present in the intestinal lining have a high replacement rate and hence this healthy tissue can be damaged during this therapy. Generally, a high dose of chemo-drugs are used in the treatment of leukemia’s and lymphomas. During the treatment of leukemia, the bone marrow gets ablated and hence the blood circulation is repopulated again. A secondary stem cell is harvested before the ablation of bone marrow. This is what is generally known as stem cell transplantation.

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RADIATION THERAPY

Radiations can eventually kill cancer cells to a great extent. This method is one of the most common treatment methods used in all over the world. Cancer found in early stages can be completely cured using this therapy. X-ray and gamma radiations are generally used in this therapy. The radiation being used can be made localized and confined precisely to the affected region. The main aim of radiation therapy is to kill as many cancer cells as possible. In this case normal cells are also affected, but it can be recovered soon. This method is applicable only to solid tumors. Cancers in brain, stomach, kidney and lungs, can be well diagnosed in this radiation therapy. Radio-sensitivity is one of the key factors in radiation therapy. Each type of cancer cells has a characteristic radio-sensitivity. Depending on the nature of the cells and its radio-sensitivity, radiation doses are given to affected site. Nowadays radiation therapy is also used to treat leukemia. Like every therapy, radiation therapy has its own side effects. 

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CANCER DETECTION

People who are diagnosed with cancer are subjected to many clinical tests. Endoscopy and CT scan are the tests which are used for clinical detection of cancer. The presence of cancer is confirmed only after the confirmation in the biopsy report. Biopsy is the test which is performed to find whether the tumor being tested is either benign or malignant. Usually a small piece of the suspected tissue would be clinically examined by the medical professionals during biopsy. All types of solid tumor can medically examined with biopsy tests. Biopsy is not helpful in detecting leukemia or lymphomas. Several types of blood tests are available to detect blood cancer. Cancers affecting lungs, liver, pancreas and intestine can be detected with help of endoscopy. Generally, cancer affecting any tissue present in the alimentary canal can be detected only with help of endoscopy. X-rays and CT-scans are useful in detecting cancers affecting the bones. X-rays can clearly identify lung cancer. Early stages of cancer could be identified only with symptoms. Some of the cancer does not have any symptom in its early stage. Offspring’s coming from cancer heredity should be very cautious with the cancer symptoms and should perform periodic tests regularly. Reporting cancer in early stages and performing all the above tests can definitely help to completely recover from this deadly disease. 

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CAUSES FOR CANCER

The causes for cancer are pervasive and they are highly diversified. The universal reason for most of the cancer is due to the abnormality in the genetic material of the cells. Researchers ended that the causes for cancer can be divided into three areas of focus. First area draws attention to the agents and action which eases the abnormality in the genetic material that leads to malignancy. Secondly, the accurate nature of the genetic damage is analyzed and the level of infection is measured. The last area focuses on the various consequences generated by the genetic disorder and mutation. Many researches proved that smoking habits have a high potential to cause lung cancer. Almost majority of the alcohol consuming people have an alarming risk of getting liver cancer. Most of the cancers arise as a result of tobacco usage. Almost one third of the cancer deaths are caused by tobacco consumption. Prolonged exposure to any ionizing radiation especially UV radiations from sun can cause skin cancer (melanoma). Some of the generalized causes for cancer are mentioned below  
1) Mutation (exposure to radiations or carcinogens) 
2) Heredity 
3) Hormonal dysfunction 
4) Immune system dysfunction 
5) Infections caused by virus or bacteria 

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COMMON SYMPTOMS OF CANCER

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF CANCER

Cancer symptoms are purely based on the location of the malignant tumor. These symptoms can roughly be classified into three major groups. 1) Easily perceptible systematic symptoms 2) Local symptoms 3) Symptoms of internal communicability.
The first categorized symptoms include 
• An unusual loss of weight
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive sweating during night
• Anemia 
• Hormonal changes and frequent nausea.
Para-neoplastic condition is the one of the major symptoms of cancer. This condition generally refers to certain biological abnormalities like thrombosis or some kind of hormonal discrepancy.
Local symptoms include 
• A sudden change in the breadth of exhalation or inhalation
• A sore that does not heal especially in mouth
• Unusual bleeding in any part of the body (hemorrhage)
• A sudden change in the size of mole
• Yellowing of some parts of skin and eyes
• Unusual lumps or swelling
• Formation of ulcers on skin
Symptoms of Internal communicability
• Prolonged coughing
• Sudden enlargement in lymph nodes
• Liver enlargement
• Paining of bones or even fracture of bones
• Certain neurological problems may the symptom of brain tumor
These are some of the generalized symptoms of cancer.

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CANCER AND HERIDITY

Cancer can also be described as the disease of the genes. It is the master molecule of the cell present in the DNA. These genes produce proteins which are responsible for body building. These proteins are responsible for all the metabolic and physical actions performed in the body. Human cells have a high rate of replacement. This replacement process is carried out from birth to death. There are some genes which produce proteins that regulate the growth characteristics of the cells. Any abnormality or mutation in a DNA molecule can make the genes to produce faulty proteins. These proteins in turn produce unwanted cells which divide uncontrollably resulting in cancer. Majority of the cancers are caused by alterations in DNA resulting from environmental factors. These factors include carcinogens and several other radiations. Off springs inherit genes (transcript genetic information) from parent cell which influences him/her to get cancer. Almost one-tenth of the cancers are purely genetic. There is a scientific confirmation that both environmental as well as genetic factors play a role. Cancers caused by heredity includes uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer. Even inheritance of some of the psychological parental qualities can contribute to cancer.  

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