Introduction:
You all might be familiar with Cancer- the horoscope sign, it’s a crab with claws spread throughout its body. Cancer- the disease also spreads throughout the body from its origin. This is how Cancer got its name. This concept was introduced by Hippocrates(philosopher).
However, doctors know Cancer from a different perspective. Cancer is the 2nd most common cause of deaths in the world. According to WHO, cancer has become a leading cause of death in the human population recently.
Cancer is basically the abnormal growth of cells that are rapidly dividing. It’s the type of tumor that spreads from its original site. If a tumor does not spread, it is called a benign tumor. WHO has declared lung cancer to be the most common cause of death for humans generally. Whereas if we talk gender-specific, then breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in females and Prostate cancer is the most occurring cancer in males.
Cancer is a very dangerous condition. The treatment process of cancer can take unexpected turns. The cost of treatment is also very expensive, especially if cancer becomes resistant to specific drugs. This process affects a person not only physically but also mentally and financially. It also takes a heavy toll on the patient’s family and closed ones.
Cancers are the last thing a patient would want to hear from a doctor as a diagnosis. The reason is because, even with good treatment standards, cancer cannot be treated properly, or it can reappear in later life.
Causes of Cancer:
Cancer can be caused by a number of things. It can be caused after bacterial or viral infection, exposure to chemicals such as in tobacco smoking or Paan/beetle nutچھالیا)), DNA damage caused by sun exposure, imbalance of the body’s own chemical setup (hormones), in response to any stress outside the body such as smoke.
Cancer is also known to run in families. This is due to inheritance or transfer of genes from parents to their child that can predispose the tissues to developing cancer.
How can you protect yourself from cancer:
Cancer can be prevented in conditions where a person avoids all causes as mentioned above in Causes of Cancer. Of all causes, smoking is the most notorious. It causes Lungs Cancer, which research, according to research, is the most common type of cancer to cause death.
It is important to know that cancer can be prevented completely in some cases, such as in cases where it is caused by bacterial or viral infections. Administration of vaccines for HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) should be advocated especially in females before marriage to prevent cervical cancer.
Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus can cause Liver Cancer. Both of these viruses are transmitted by blood transfusion or sexual contact, so it is important to screen for these viruses. The good thing is a vaccine against Hepatitis B Virus is available in the market which can cause protection against liver cancer. The Hepatitis C vaccine is still not present.
Similarly, gastric cancer can also be prevented completely. If a person is suffering from gastric ulcers, it is important to know whether the cause of the ulcer is Helicobacter Pylori. According to WHO, the only bacteria known to cause cancer in humans is this bacteria- Helicobacter Pylori. It is simple to prevent this type of cancer since Helicobacter Pylori infection can be treated simply by an antibiotic course.
Some cancers are also known to run in families. If a child’s parents suffered from a specific type of cancer in their lifetime, it is likely that it could also be present in the child in later life. Here, it is important that every person ensures to examine his own body for any skin lesion or outgrowth or any mass that presents in any part of the body.
Breast cancer tends to run in families. It is important for women to examine their body for any mass or outgrowth by themselves and report to a doctor as soon as possible if they feel anything suspicious.
Even symptoms of constipation, Diarrhea, pain, blood in the urine, cough or unexplained weight loss should be ruled out for cancer. It may seem needless, but one thing about cancer treatment that decides its efficacy or success is the time at which it is diagnosed, meaning it should be diagnosed as soon as possible. If cancer starts spreading inside the body, it is hard to treat it.
Treatment Options for Cancer: According to CDC-Centre for Disease Control, Atlanta, there are 4 treatment options generally used to treat cancers:
- Surgical removal of Cancer
- Chemotherapy- Use of Chemicals (Medicines) to destroy cancer
- Radiotherapy -Use of Radiation to destroy cancer mass
- Hormonal therapy-Use of hormones to destroy cancer
Even with ongoing research regarding cancer treatment, cancer treatment is still unpredictable. It is important that cancer is diagnosed early so that it does not spread to other parts, in which case it becomes difficult to remove it. Chemotherapy treatment medicines are very expensive and the price of treatment increases in case a cancer develops resistance from a specific drug. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy also have serious side effects since they also impose their effects on normal body cells that are non-cancerous.
Hormonal therapy can also cause side effects similarly by also affecting the normal cells while destroying cancerous cells.
Cancer can be prevented by diet and exercise:
According to the American Cancer Society, cancer can be prevented simply by following a good diet plan and staying physically active. This can be ensured by following these simple guidelines:
- Eating food in specific portions to maintain your weight
- Eat fruits and vegetables in good amounts throughout the day.
- Drink more water and fewer sweetened beverages.
- Avoid beef or lamb, instead utilize beans, poultry and fish as sources of protein.
- Avoid frying food more often. Also, avoid processed foods.
- Choose whole-grain products in place of products made from refined grains.
- Any physical activity such as brisk walking, cycling, running or gardening should be practiced as a daily routine objective.
Summary: Cancer is a dangerous condition in which cells grow and multiply without any check and balance. Breast cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer are the most important since they affect humans the most. Cancer can develop after bacterial or viral infections. Smoking, beetle nuts, paan, sun exposure for prolonged periods or some cancers simply run in families due to the transfer of genes from parents to their children. Cancer can be prevented if the cause is due to infection by simple vaccination or treating the infection by antibiotics. Regular self exams should be ensured to diagnose a person with cancer early. The sooner it is detected, the chances of success in treatment increase. Symptoms like pain, constipation, Diarrhea, blood in the urine, cancer or unexplained weight loss can be signs of cancer development. However, these symptoms can also point to many diseases or simply nothing. Cancer can be treated by surgical removal, with medicine, radiation therapy or administering hormones. The risk of cancer can be decreased by maintaining weight, eating fruits, vegetables and whole grain products, avoiding processed foods and red meat(lamb and beef) and fried products.
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