Premium Essay

Cancer and the Body

In:

Submitted By ncc1980
Words 1652
Pages 7
Cancer and the Body
Krystal Medley
Lincoln Technical Institute

Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world today. Studies show that one in three people will suffer from some form of cancer in their lifetime. There are many different kinds of cancer that effect different parts of the body. Cancer is treated in various different ways. Some forms of cancer are curable and some are not, but with the continued research we can hope to someday find a cure.

Cancer and the Body
Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. There are over one hundred different types of cancer, and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected. Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide non-stop to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors. Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous and circulatory systems. They can release hormones that alter bodily functions. Tumors that stay in one place and demonstrate limited growth are generally considered to be benign.
There are different diagnoses of cancer: oma, benign, malignant and metastasis. Metastasis is the process in which cancer spreads to distant sites of malignant cells called metastatic growths. The most common sites of metastasis are liver, brain, bone, and lungs. Once metastasis has occurred, cancer treatment is more difficult to treat and less likely to be curative.
Malignant transformation occurs when normal cells are exposed to substances called carcinogens that damage the cells’ DNA. The transformation occurs in four steps: initiation, promotion, progression and the latent period. Initiation is when DNA is exposed to a carcinogen that has irreversible changes in DNA, causing the cells to appear somewhat abnormal, but continue to function normally. Promotion, which is sufficient exposure to an agent, encourages or enhances cell

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Prostate Cancer

...Abstract Prostate cancer is one of the major health concerns of the public. Worldwide prostate cancer has affected a big portion of the population and has become an issue for many males all around the world. Prostate cancer refers to the malignant growth of glandular cells located in the prostate. At the age of 85, a man is said to have a 1 in 5 chances of developing prostate cancer sometime in their life. Unfortunately Prostate cancer is a disease that does not give any warning signs when it is growing and so the clinical features of prostate are often nonspecific. Patients with prostate cancer have different types of treatment in which they can accept, there can be various methods such as surgery and theraypy toptions. There are several factors that affect an individual’s prognosis (change of recover) given the fact that the natural history of prostate cancer is dependent on the type of cancer, age, and general health of the patient at the time of diagnosis Introduction The role of the prostate is to add vital nutrients and fluid to the sperm. In the male reproductive system, the prostate is the gland that sits just below the bladder. Its position is located in front of the rectum, surrounding itself around the urethra [1]. It is often described as a relatively small walnut size gland whose position is what can later be the cause of many urinary difficulties that may be experience by many males. The reason is that, when the prostate gland enlarges either...

Words: 4185 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Approach to Care

... 2014 Approach to Care “Cancer is the unrestrained development of unusual cells in the body. In the body, there are trillions of cells with many different purposes. These cells “grow and divide to help the body function properly. Cells die when they become old or damaged, and new cells replace them. Cancer develops when the body’s normal control mechanism stops working. Old cells do not die and cells grow out of control, forming new, abnormal cells” (National Cancer Institute, 2014, p. 1). The care of cancer is a multidisciplinary approach. Care of cancer means treating the whole person, treating the force of mind, body, and spirit to energize the process of healing. A whole spectrum of healing therapies are available and there is a wide range of specialists are available to help to make decisions about the diagnostic procedures, treatments available, and the support systems like medical, surgical, nutritional, physical, psychological, and spiritual There are two kinds of therapies available: the conventional and complimentary. The conventional therapies include: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, stem cell transplant and hormonal therapy. This paper will describe the diagnosis and staging of cancer as well as the complications, side effects and management.” ”(I2013) Diagnosis “Early and accurate diagnosis of cancer can help increase the chance for successful treatment. There is no single test that can accurately diagnose cancer. The complete evaluation of...

Words: 1024 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Cancer

...Definition of Cancer The Webster’s Dictionary defines cancer as an : uncontrolled, growing mass of cells that is capable of invading neighboring tissues and spreading via body fluids, especially the blood stream, to other parts of the body, also called a malignant tumor. Cancers Effect on Our Bodies Cancer is a disease that is caused by uncontrolled cell division leading to abnormal tissue growth. It is believed that cancer can arise from both genetic (e.g. DNA mutation and hereditarianism like breast or ovarian cancer) and environmental factors (e.g. working with and breathing in chemicals, benzene, asbestos, and not limiting one’s exposure to the sun, or eating a healthy diet, etc.), which can lead to abnormal growth of our bodies different cells. Cell multiplication otherwise known as proliferation, is a normal physical process that occurs in our bodies. These cells can be in charge of our immune systems response, replacing cells that have died or have been shed as a part of their lifecycle (e.g. such as our skin or mucous membranes in our digestive tract) and are responsible for allowing us to grow and age properly. Normally, the balance between proliferation and cell death otherwise known as apoptosis is a tightly regulated system that has been put in place to ensure the integrity of our body’s organs and tissues. The uncontrolled and often rapid proliferation of cells can lead to two different types of cancer, which are known as benign and malignant tumors. Benign...

Words: 1635 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Cancer

...Cancer Brian Street COM/172 12/01/2011 Don Glaze Cancer The definition of cancer can best be described as the uncontrolled growth cell in the human body. Cancer cells are also called malignant cells. Cancer grows out of normal cells in the body, which normal cells multiply when the body needs them, they die when the body doesn’t need them anymore. Cancer appears to occur when the growth of a cell in the body is out of control and the cell or cells divide too quickly. This can also occur when the cell forgets how to die. Cancer can acquire itself within any one of any age and at any time. It doesn’t matter whether it is a new born infant or if someone is in their teens or if someone is in their elderly stages of life. The approximate percentage of people diagnosed with cancer is about 1 in 3 people. This number is very staggering and very real and unfortunate. The U.S. alone back in 2008 was 0.47% about ½ of 1 percent. Now in the U.S. this number has increased dramatically. With everyday more and more people are being diagnosed with different types of cancer. There are so many types of cancer and causes of cancer. Some of the most common causes are: drinking excessively, too much exposure to the sun, obesity, and many types of viruses. Even though there are many causes of getting cancer so many remain unknown. One of the most commonly known cancer is Lung cancer and it has the highest death rate among the types of cancer. Different types of cancer occur in men than women...

Words: 1112 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Alternative Cancer Treatment

...Alternative Cancer Treatment by Tammy Willingham-Loomis Alternative Cancer Treatment A diagnosis of cancer affects the patient, family and friends. The individual may feel uncertain, scared, numb, confused or angry because of the cancer diagnosis. The person may mentally shut down, have difficulty listening, remembering and even understanding what the doctor said. Many people that have a cancer diagnosis may have 5 years left to live or even less (American Cancer Society, 2014). James "Rhio" O'Connor was no different when he was given no more than a year for survival after receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer. Rhio’s chosen path in fighting this deadly disease allowed him an additional six years with his family and friends (O’Connor, 2014). Treatment can be expensive, painful and make the individual feel sick. Feeling scared and trapped people often seek out anyone that may offer a cure for their cancer (American Cancer Society, 2014). Rhio was no different; creating a controversial treatment protocol that consisted of minerals, vitamins, fruits and vegetable components. Rhio’s lifestyle changed and a vegetarian diet was consumed with foods high in herbs, amino acids, necessary fatty acids, enzymes, and Rhio practice mind over body medicine (O’Connor, 2014). Many individual’s diagnosed with cancer travel to Mexico seeking natural holistic cancer treatments that are not FDA approved. Clinics and institutes in Mexico offer holistic cancer treatments. These...

Words: 1183 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Cancer

...Cancer Bianca Cain 1/26/2014 “Most people fear the word cancer and the diagnosis”. “Cancer is often thought of as untreatable and painful illness”. The earlier you can catch the cancer the faster you can eliminate it. The truth is there are so many different types of cancer in the world and they all carry different symptoms. “Cancer is a disease that may be curable and preventable”, but it should be taken very seriously. Understanding cancer and what it means, how we should prevent it and the different types of treatments for cancer is very important. Cancer is caused by an uncontrolled group of abnormal cells in the part of the body. When a person has cancer it’s a lot on their body because it can affect some of the organs. A cancer cell continues to grow their whole lives and accumulates in one place. Whether we know it or not we all have cancer in our bodies, but it doesn’t show unless it’s trigger. Our cells multiply and divide when our bodies need them too, if our body doesn’t need the cells to do this, it may cause tumors. There are two forms of tumors which are called benign and malignant. Benign is known to be a non-cancerous tumor while malignant is cancerous. Benign tumors are usually not life threating and it doesn’t spread, but they can be removed if possible. Malignant tumors have the ability to spread throughout cells and other tissues, which causes cancer to spread. “Cancerous cells can break free from the malignant tumors and get into the bloodstream,...

Words: 1523 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Cancer Conspiracy

...Charmaine Threat GS1140 10/11/2014 To understand the cancer conspiracy one most first understand cancer and what causes it and the business be hide it. Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If the spread is not controlled, it can result in death. . Cancer is caused by both external factors (tobacco, infectious organisms, chemicals, and radiation) and internal factors (inherited mutations, hormones, immune conditions, and mutations that occur from metabolism). What is important to understand is with the great balancing act that our body performs, because of our poor life styles, we wind up gradually storing large growing amount of waste products (acidic properties or toxins) throughout our body, slowly causing acidification and problems. Another important thing to understand is that acid coagulates blood, thus causing poor blood circulation around the places where acids are accumulated. This in turn causes the conditions of extra cellular fluids, especially the blood, becomes acidic, our physical condition will first manifest tiredness, proneness to catching colds, etc. When these fluids become more acidic, our condition then manifests pains and suffering such as headaches, chest pains, stomach aches, etc. The organs to act sluggish and we start to see the symptomatic signs of aging and disease. The cancer epidemic has many causative components; virtually all of them either actively promoted by or ignored...

Words: 1827 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Rectal Cancer

...Colon cancer develops in the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. Rectal cancer develops in the rectum, which makes up the last several inches of your intestinal tract. Together, they're referred to as colorectal cancers. Rectal cancer begins as small clumps of cells called polyps. Although most polyps are noncancerous (benign), some become cancerous over time. Regular screening to find and remove precancerous polyps can prevent rectal cancer from developing. Changes in your diet and lifestyle — such as healthy eating and increasing your physical activity — can help prevent polyps from forming, greatly reducing your risk of rectal cancer. Colon cancerEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version Colon, or colorectal, cancer is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). Other types of cancer can affect the colon. These include lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, melanoma, and sarcomas. These are rare. In this article, colon cancer refers to colon carcinoma only. Causes Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Early diagnosis, though, can often lead to a complete cure. Almost all colon cancers start in glands in the lining of the colon and rectum. When doctors talk about colorectal cancer, this is usually what they are talking about. There is no single cause of colon cancer. Nearly all colon...

Words: 5765 - Pages: 24

Premium Essay

Jane Dare

...Amanda Shaver | Anatomy & Physiology Course Project | January 24, 2015 Amanda Shaver | Anatomy & Physiology Course Project | January 24, 2015 Eitology of Lung Cancer Eitology of Lung Cancer Lung cancer: The leading cause if deaths in the United States.The estimated number of lung cancer cases worldwide has increased by 51% since 1985. Cancer of the lung and bronchus ranked 2nd in both men and women, with about 115,660 in men and 106,070 in women. Lung Cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the cause of most cancer related deaths among women. Lung cancer arises from the cells of the respiratory epithelium and can be divided into 2 categories. Small cell lung cancer or SCLC, which is a highly malignant tumor derived from cell exhibiting neuroendocrine traits and can account for 15% of the lung cancer cases that exist today. Malignant tumors can “Metastasize” or spread through a person’s body through the bloodstream. Lung cancer can metastasize early and it one of the most difficult forms of cancer to treat. SCLC often start in the chest near the bronchi, and tend to spread widely through the body fairly early in the course of the disease. The other is called Non-small cell lung cancer or also known as NSCLS, this type of cancer makes up the remaining 85% of the lung cancer cases. NSCLS is divided into 3 major subtypes: Adenocarcinoma, which are usually found in the outer parts of the lungs and tend to grow slower, and is more likely to be found...

Words: 691 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Life

...Introduction The skin is the largest organ in the body and it protects all of our internal structures such as other organs (e.g. the heart) and glands. The main function of the skin is to be a first line of defense for the body. It protects the body from harmful UV rays that are emitted from the sun and it also helps to regulate body temperature. For example, if it gets to hot outside the skin will cool the body by secreting perspiration. Plus it helps us to sense our surroundings through the many nerves located on its surface. Like all other organs the skin is susceptible to things that may harm it such as skin cancer, cannibalism, psoriasis, seborrhea, and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis . Skin cancer occurs when malignant tumors prosper on the skin and it is a very serious health issue. Diagram depicting the skin and its many layers What are the three types of skin cancer? The three types of skin cancers are melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Diagram of the three types of skin cancers • Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It forms when the cells that create skin pigment, melanocytes, are exposed to prolonged ultraviolet radiation and have unrepaired damage in their DNA. Whenever skin is exposed to UV radiation (sunlight/indoor tanning), DNA in the skin cells get damaged. This is normal, because the DNA can be repaired. But when in UV too long, the damage is either too much to repair or the repair isn't fast enough. Melanocytes...

Words: 2346 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Uterine Cancer Risk Factor: Obesity

...Abstract Uterine cancer accounts for 6% of all female cancers. The metastasis of cancer can be influenced by several different risk factors. Among these risk factors, obesity is prevalent in uterine cancer patients. Through research, it has been found that adipose tissue stores and releases hormones, more so after menopause. Excess estrogen, provided by excess adipose tissue, puts females at a much higher risk for uterine cancer. Statistically, the chance of developing uterine cancer doubles when obese. Obesity is a major risk factor to be taken into account when analyzing uterine cancer. Abnormally high contents of adipose tissue can be modified through lifestyle changes. The battle against cancer is an on-going effort that is constantly being improved and modified. Various types of medical research allow advancements in knowledge for cancer prevention. Through research, cancer risk factors are being identified; this provides health care professionals with beneficial information that can lead to cancer prevention or aid in cancer treatments. Different cancers have different risk factors; a risk factor is anything that raises or lowers your chance of getting a disease such as cancer (American Cancer Society, 2015). While there is no exact known cause for certain caners, such as uterine cancer, there are certain risk factors that are related to the prognosis of the disease. (Turkington, 2012). As stated by Chiang (2013), “uterine cancer is defined as any...

Words: 1689 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Swag

...Lung Cancer Cancer is one of the most feared diseases in the world; it is the number one cause of cancer deaths in both men and women worldwide. In Canada, approximately 75,500 people will die from cancer in the year 2014. Fortunately, scientists have developed a greater understanding of cancer by performing autopsies in 16th and 18th century on cancer patients. Scientists such as Galileo, Newton and Harvey led to an understanding of the circulation of blood through the heart and body which had been a mystery till then. In 1761, Giovanni Morgagni performed autopsies on patients to relate their illness to pathologic findings after death, later in the 17th century, Scottish Surgeon John Hunter found that some cancers might be able to be cured by surgery depending on whether or not the tumor had not invaded nearby tissue and was “moveable.” In the 19th century, Rudolf Virchow performed microscopic research on cancerous cells on tissue removed in surgery, this helped identify whether or not the surgery had completely removed the cancer from the patient. Lung cancer is cancer that forms in the lungs. It is formed when cancer cells grow out of control and take over normal cells and organs in the body. Cancer cells are formed when the DNA is damaged in a normal human cell and instead of repairing itself, the cells replicate themselves which the body cannot benefit from, these new cells all have the same abnormal DNA that the first cell has. People can inherit...

Words: 1235 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Lung Cancer

...Lung Cancer In general, cancer kills on average 7.9 million people worldwide every year, which is 13% of all deaths. Cancer is not just one disease but rather a group of diseases, all of which causes cells in the human body to change and grow out of control. Cancers are classified either according to the kind of fluid or tissue from which it originates. One of these types of cancer is Lung Cancer, more people die from lung cancer than any other cancer. With the advances of medicine and technology, options are available to people with lung cancer to help them live a longer life, thus giving suffers more time to spend with their loved ones. Lung Cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Most cases are directly linked to tobacco use. Around 220,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year (Lung Cancer, 2012). It starts in the lungs but can quickly spread to surrounding areas. Lung cancer occurs when the cells in the lung grow at an uncontrollable rate. It will form in the tissue of the lung, most often in the cells that line the air passages and damage the tissue that surrounds it and then interferes with normal functioning of the lung. It can then quickly spread to the lymph system. Lymph nodes are small organs that link lymph vessels and contain lymph which is a clear fluid that helps fight infection and travels through the body in vessels that are like veins. The cells can also quickly spread to other parts of the body through the blood. Even though the...

Words: 1208 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Pancreatic Cancer

...Imagine a disease that kills over 34,000 Americans a year— this disease is pancreatic cancer. Now, imagine that one of your family members or friends have this tragic disease. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world because it is one of the hardest to diagnose and cure. Tragically, by the time pancreatic cancer is diagnosed it is already too late to help the diagnosed patients before they pass. The pancreas is a vital organ in your body, and without it you will most definitely die. The pancreas is an organ found deep in the body, behind the stomach. It is about six inches long and about two inches wide. This organ spans the abdominal region. This organ is vital to human survival because it produces two very important excretions, pancreatic juices and insulin. Pancreatic juices break down the proteins and fats in the food that we eat so we can use the nutrients. Insulin is used to break the glucose in your food down into energy for your body which regulates the sugar levels in your bloodstream (www.cancer.org). Basically, the pancreas could be called one of the most useful organs in the body and if we didn’t have one we wouldn’t be able to break down food and regulate our blood sugar levels. Pancreatic cancer is caused by the out-of-control growth of cells in the pancreas. The overproduction of cells causes abnormal growths in the pancreas tissue which is classified as a tumor. Tumors interfere with the normal functions of the pancreas which...

Words: 1100 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Cancer and Obesity

...Breast Cancer and Obesity Melita Dodaj Felician College Abstract Breast cancer continues to be a major cause of cancer deaths in women. Based on recent studies the prevalence of overweight and obesity in almost every country has been increased. Estrogen is manly responsible for the elevated risk for breast cancer in obese women. Also the other tow mediators that are held responsible are adipokine leptin and insulin -like growth factor-I, IGF-I. Experiments demonstrated a mitogenic role of these three mediator an cell proliferation. The data in the article shows a stimulative effect of substances produce by the adipose tissue on the breast cancer. Body weight cell specific proliferation suggests that obesity related adipokines and mediators enhance cell proliferation and increase the risk for breast cancer. A couple guidelines and recommendations that help to prevent obesity are physical activity and diets. Obesity is associated with poorer survival in women with breast cancer, regardless of menopausal status. The purpose of this study was to determine if the associations of obesity with breast-cancer specific, all cause, and non-breast cancer mortality differ from between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women with breast cancer. Also some other recent studies have shown that elevated BMI may be associated with breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema. Introduction Cancer is a disease of the cells in the body, fundamentally genetic. Cancer is defined as ...

Words: 1708 - Pages: 7