| If you are looking for some basic facts about | | | | and could also be prevented through lifestyle and |
| cancer, here is a simple list for you. | | | | behavioral changes, vaccines, or antibiotics. |
| What Is Cancer? | | | | - Regular screening can detect, diagnose and |
| - Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by | | | | remove cancers at early stage when they are |
| uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells, | | | | most treatable. |
| resulting in death if not controlled or treated. | | | | Other Facts: |
| Cancer is caused by both external factors such | | | | - Anyone is at risk developing cancer |
| as tobacco, chemicals, radiation... and internal | | | | - The National Cancer Institute estimated that |
| factors such as inherited, mutations, hormones, | | | | about 10.8 million Americans who have had cancer |
| and immune conditions... | | | | in the past were alive in January 2004, some |
| - There are usually 10 or more years time | | | | were cancer-free and some were still undergoing |
| between exposure to external factors and | | | | treatment |
| detectable cancer. | | | | - About 1,437,180 new cancer cases are |
| - Cancer is treated with surgery, radiation, | | | | expected to be diagnosed in 2008. |
| chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological | | | | - About 565,650 Americans are expected to die |
| therapy, and targeted therapy. | | | | of cancer, more than 1,500 people a day. |
| Can Cancer Be Prevented? | | | | - Cancer is the second most common cause of |
| - Cancers that are the results of smoking | | | | death in the US next to heart disease |
| cigarette and heavy drinking of alcohol could be | | | | - Cancer accounts for 1 of every 4 deaths in |
| surely prevented. About 170,000 Americans are | | | | America. |
| expected to die in 2008 due to tobacco use. | | | | - The 5-year survival rate of all cancer patients |
| - Total cancer deaths expected to occur in 2008 | | | | diagnosed from 1996 to 2003 is 66%. |
| is about 565,650. About 188,000 of those are | | | | - There are usually four stages of cancer. Stage I |
| related to overweight or obesity, physical | | | | being the earliest and stage IV being advanced. |
| inactivity, mal-nutrition and could be prevented. | | | | - If cancer cells are present only in the layer of |
| - Many of the more than 1 million skin cancer | | | | cells where they developed and have not spread, |
| cases could have been prevented if proper sun | | | | the stage is in situ. If cancer cells have spread |
| protections was used and avoiding indoor tanning | | | | beyond the original layer of tissue, the cancer is |
| - Cancers that are related to infectious agents, | | | | invasive. |
| such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), human | | | | Prevention, early detection and treatment can |
| immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and many others, | | | | save life! |