| Cancer is a disease in which the body cells grow | | | | and throat cancers are related to tobacco |
| uncontrollably because their normal regulatory | | | | products such as cigarettes and cigars. 10% of |
| mechanisms have been damaged. There are | | | | skin cancer cases are related to the sun and UV |
| literally hundreds of different types and subtypes | | | | rays. 7% of lymphoma, leukaemia, bone cancer |
| of cancer however the majority form solid | | | | and liver cancer cases are related to viruses such |
| tumours in specific areas of the body. The most | | | | as Epstein Barr, HIV, Hepatitis C etc. Pesticides |
| common cancers are skin cancer, breast cancer, | | | | and chemicals, or occupational factors figure into |
| lung cancer, bowel cancer and prostate cancer. | | | | 4% or mouth, throat, stomach and lymphoma |
| Unfortunately the disease is very proficient at | | | | cancer cases. Approx 3% of stomach, colon and |
| spreading through the blood and the lymphatic | | | | liver cancer have been linked to excessive |
| system and so in advanced cancer cases it is not | | | | consumption of alchohol. |
| uncommon to see secondary tumours in far off | | | | Aging and Cancer |
| areas of the body. | | | | Cancer is most common among older people, |
| The Genetics of Cancer | | | | largely because their cells have had more time to |
| One of the most important breakthroughs in | | | | accumulate genetic damage, but also because the |
| cancer research came in the late 1970s when | | | | body's defences against cancer, particularly the |
| scientists discovered that all types of cancer begin | | | | cells and proteins of the immune system, |
| with the genetic material within normal body cells | | | | gradually become less efficient with age. In |
| becoming damaged. Every cell contains genetic | | | | addition a cancer that began earlier in life may not |
| information in the form of more than 90,000 pairs | | | | be diagnosed until old age because it can take |
| of genes which work together to control the | | | | years for some types of cancer, most noticeably |
| activities of the cell. A cell can become cancerous | | | | prostate cancer, to grow large enough to produce |
| when specific genes, such as those that control | | | | noticeable symptoms. |
| division, become damaged beyond repair. How and | | | | Because life expectancy has increased |
| why genes become damaged is still a hot topic | | | | dramatically over the last 50 years it means that |
| for research however it would seem that faulty | | | | cancer is now one of the most common causes |
| genes are either inherited or they are caused by | | | | of death in the developed world, second only to |
| carcinogens (cancer-causing agents), for example | | | | coronary heart disease. |
| sunlight and cigarette smoke. | | | | Cancer treatment today |
| Our body cells are continually exposed to | | | | For over 2000 years, doctors have attempted to |
| carcinogens however in the majority of cases | | | | cure cancer by surgically removing visible tumours. |
| cancer doesn't develop. There are a number of | | | | For some localised cancers radiotherapy is very |
| reasons why this is so, for example: | | | | effective and this treatment is often combined |
| � Cells can normally repair their own damaged | | | | with surgery with the aim of achieving a cure. |
| genes so that they continue to function properly. | | | | Treatment with anti-cancer drugs, known as |
| � More than one gene has to be damaged in | | | | chemotherapy, may be used instead of or in |
| order for cancer to develop. | | | | combination with surgery to destroy cancers that |
| � The body's immune system can normally kill | | | | have unfortunately already spread around the |
| any cancer cells before they get the chance to | | | | body. |
| multiply and form a tumour. | | | | New therapies for the treatment of cancer that |
| The Causes of Cancer | | | | are currently being assessed include inactivating |
| Although most cancers appear to be caused by | | | | the damaged genes so that they no longer send |
| several factors, including genetic/inherited ones, a | | | | messages to the cell, and boosting the body's |
| main environmental cause can often be identified | | | | natural immune system so that it has the ability |
| for a particular cancer i.e. smoking cigarettes is | | | | to destroy any cancerous cells. These therapies |
| commonly associated with lung cancer. | | | | are still in the experimental phase however both |
| Approximately 35% of stomach cancer and | | | | the American Cancer Society and the National |
| prostate cancer cases are related to diets of | | | | Cancer Institute of the UK, i.e. Cancer Research, |
| unhealthy foods with little or no fresh fruit and | | | | are working towards making them viable |
| vegetables. 30% of lung, breast, colon, cervical | | | | treatment options for future generation. |