as of November 7, 2009
Cancer Corner
OVERVIEW
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.
CAUSES/RISK FACTORS
Cells are the building blocks of living things. Cancer grows out of normal cells in the body. Normal cells multiply when the body needs them, and die when the body doesn't. Cancer appears to occur when the growth of cells in the body is out of control and cells divide too rapidly. It can also occur when cells “forget” how to die.
There are many different kinds of cancers. Cancer can develop in almost any organ or tissue, such as the lung, colon, breast, skin, bones, or nerve tissue.
There are multiple causes of cancers, including:
-Radiation
-Sunlight
-Tobacco
-Certain viruses
However, the cause of many cancers remains unknown.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of cancer depend on the type and location of the tumor. For example, lung cancer can cause coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain, while colon cancer often causes diarrhea, constipation, and blood in the stool.
Some cancers may not have any symptoms at all. In some cancers, such as gallbladder cancer, symptoms often are not present until the disease has reached an advanced stage.
However, the following symptoms are common with most cancers:
-Fever
-Chills
-Night sweats
-Weight loss
-Loss of appetite
-Fatigue
-Malaise
CARE/TREATMENT
Treatment also varies based on the type of cancer and its stage. The stage of a cancer refers to how much it has grown and whether the tumor has spread from its original location.
-If the cancer is confined to one location and has not spread, the goal for treatment would be surgery and cure. This is often the case with skin cancers.
-If the tumor has spread to local lymph nodes only, sometimes these can also be removed.
-If all of the cancer cannot be removed with surgery, the options for treatment include radiation, chemotherapy, or both. Some cancers require a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
PREVENTION
One of the best ways to prevent cancer is to not smoke or chew tobacco. Many cancers can be prevented by avoiding risk factors such as excessive exposure to sunlight and heavy drinking.
Cancer screenings, such as mammography and breast examination for breast cancer and colonoscopy for colon cancer, may help catch these cancers at their early, most treatable stages. Some people at high risk for developing certain cancers can take medication to reduce their risk
Real Stories, Expert Advice
Health Corner Videos: Cancer
Caregivers: Recognize, Respect & Respond
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In the News: Cancer
1930S Drug Slows Tumor Growth
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170197.php
Drugs sometimes have beneficial side effects. A glaucoma treatment causes luscious eyelashes. A blood pressure drug also aids those with a rare genetic disease. The newest surprise discovered by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is a gonorrhea medication that might help battle cancer. "Often times we are surprised that a drug known to do something else has another hidden property," says Jun Liu, Ph.D.
Insights Into The Molecular Basis Of Tumor Cell Behavior
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170157.php
A new study by a team of researchers led by Crislyn D'Souza-Schorey, associate professor of biological sciences at the University of Notre Dame, sheds light on the molecular basis by which tumor cells modulate their surroundings to favor cancer progression. The study elucidates mechanisms involved in the release of microvesicles - small membrane enclosed sacs - from tumor cells that facilitate creation of paths of least resistance allowing tumor cells to migrate.