Sabtu, 07 Mei 2016
About Cancer : Causes - Prevention - Staging
What 'cancer?
Definition: A generic term that includes more than 100 diseases characterized by abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells that live longer in their average lifespan and continue to divide and reproduce escaping the control of the organism.The cells of a malignant tumor can break off and be located in other parts of the body, where they continue to grow. This diffusion process is called 'metastasis'.
Note that when the cancer spreads metastases, continues to be named according to the part of the body from which it originated. For example, if a breast cancer metastasizes to the lungs, it continues to be called breast cancer, not lung cancer.
What causes cancer?
The causes of most types of cancer can be divided into two categories: external factors and internal factors.The external factors include cigarette smoking, high consumption of exposure to radiation and chemicals. Internal factors include hormonal levels, genetic mutations, immunity conditions. Some types of cancer can be caused by viral infections. The best known example is the human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer. However, the causes of many types of cancer are still unknown.
Who is at risk of developing cancer?
All can be considered at risk, some more than others. The most significant factor is age. In Italy more than 50% of solid tumors (breast, prostate, lung, colon) it is diagnosed in patients aged over 65 years.Even hemolymphopoietic tumors exhibit this trend: 55.9% of people with these tumors is elderly.
All cancer patients suffer from chronic pain?
Two-thirds of patients suffering from such pain during the illness, a third of it is saved instead. In 9 out of 10 cases the pain can be completely eliminated or greatly alleviated thanks to a drug therapy. All cancer patients have the right to adequate care of pain. Grit your teeth and bear the pain does not make sense.
It can be prevented?
You can greatly reduce your risk by following healthy lifestyles: practice exercise regularly, follow adequate food (a few animal fat, lots of fruits and vegetables), stop smoking and alcohol, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
What options are available?
The cancer can be treated more successfully if it is detected or diagnosed in the early stages, before metastasis. Therefore it is important to regularly undergo such screening.
Currently you can make screening for cancer of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix, prostate, testis, skin and oral cavity. They are also evaluating screening for other types of cancer, for example cancer of the ovary. In some cases, such as cancer of the breast, testicular and skin, it is recommended self-examination. Who is at high risk of developing it should also consult your doctor to schedule a special cancer screening series.
How do you cure cancer?
For the treatment of cancer there are several approaches: surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, used individually or in combination.
The oncologist choose the most appropriate treatment plan depending on the stage at which the tumor is located. The surgery is used for the removal of the tumor mass. Radiation therapy is used to kill or damage cancer cells using high energy X-rays.
Chemotherapy is done by administering drugs intravenously or oral to destroy cancer cells by interfering with their growth and preventing its reproduction. In some cases it is using immunotherapy, to help the patient's immune system to fight disease.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
surgery
Side effects of surgery depend mainly on the size and location of the tumor and the extent of the intervention. Although patients may complain of discomfort in the first days of the postoperative period, the pain can be controlled with medication administration: the issue needs to be addressed with your doctor. It is also normal to feel tired or weak for a while 'time, following the operation. The duration of convalescence varies from patient to patient.
chemotherapy
The side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly on the drugs and the doses administered. It can cause hair loss and other problems such as poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, decreased white and red blood cells and platelets. Most of the side effects of chemotherapy disappear once the treatment, although some may persist after the end of treatment.
radiation therapy
The side effects of radiation therapy depend on the amount of irradiated dose and the area subjected to irradiation. The main consequences are fatigue, and alopecia in irradiated. In most cases they are temporary.
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