FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CANCER

  FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CANCER

Cancer is the name given to a collection of related diseases. In all types of cancer, some of the body’s cells begin to divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues.

Cancer can start almost anywhere in the human body, which is made up of trillions of cells. Normally, human cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old or become damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.

When cancer develops, however, this orderly process breaks down. As cells become more and more abnormal, old or damaged cells survive when they should die, and new cells form when they are not needed. These extra cells can divide without stopping and may form growths called tumors.

Many cancers form solid tumors, which are masses of tissue. Cancers of the blood, such as leukemias, generally do not form solid tumors.

Cancerous tumors are malignant, which means they can spread into, or invade, nearby tissues. In addition, as these tumors grow, some cancer cells can break off and travel to distant places in the body through the blood or the lymph system and form new tumors far from the original tumor.

Unlike malignant tumors, benign tumors do not spread into, or invade, nearby tissues. Benign tumors can sometimes be quite large, however. When removed, they usually don’t grow back, whereas malignant tumors sometimes do. Unlike most benign tumors elsewhere in the body, benign brain tumors can be life threatening.

Fast Facts on Cancer

Here are some key points about cancer. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.

v  More than 575,000 people die of cancer, and more than 1.5 million people are diagnosed with cancer per year in the US.

v  The financial costs of cancer in the US per year are an estimated $263.8 billion in medical costs and lost productivity.

v  Cancer is considered to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

v  African Americans are more likely to die of cancer than people of any other race or ethnicity.

v  It is believed that cancer risk can be reduced by avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol intake, limiting UV ray exposure from the sun and tanning beds and maintaining a healthy diet, level of fitness and seeking regular medical care.

v  Screening can locate cervical cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer at an early, treatable stage.

v  Vaccines such as the humanpapillomavirus (HPV) vaccine assists in preventing some cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and oral cancers. A vaccine for hepatitis B can reduce liver cancer risk.

v  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the numbers of nnew cancer cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next 20 years.

v  The most common sites of cancer among men are lung, prostate, colon, rectum, stomach and liver.

v  The most common sites of cancer among women are breast, colon,   rectum, lung, cervix and stomach.

Lifestyle Tips for Cancer Prevention

The following are ways to cut risk of developing risk of developing cancer    through diet and lifestyle activity

ü Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.

ü Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.

ü Avoid sugary drinks, and limit consumption of high-calorie foods, especially those low in fiber and rich in fat or added sugar.

ü Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes (such as beans).

ü Limit consumption of red meats (including beef, pork, and lamb) and avoid processed meats.

ü If you drink alcohol, limit your daily intake to two drinks for men and   one drink for women.

Limit consumption of salty foods and food processed with salt (sodium).

• Don't use supplements to try to protect against cancer.

• It's best for mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for up to six months and then add other liquids and foods.

• After treatment, cancer survivors should follow the recommendations for cancer prevention.