October 30, 2006
What is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease that starts in our cells. Our bodies are made up of millions of cells, grouped together to form tissues or organs such as muscles and bones, the lungs, or the liver. Genes inside each cell order it to grow, work, reproduce and die.
Normally, our cells obey these orders and we remain healthy. Sometimes a cell’s instructions get mixed up and it behaves abnormally. After a while, groups of abnormal cells can form lumps or tumours, or can spread to through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
Tumours can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumour cells stay in one place in the body and are not usually life-threatening.
Malignant tumour cells are able to invade the tissues around them and spread to other parts of the body. Cancerous cells that spread to other parts of the body are called metastases. The first sign that a malignant tumour has spread is often swelling of nearby lymph nodes, but cancer can metastasize to almost any part of the body. It is important to find malignant tumours early and treat them.
Cancers are named after the part of the body where they start. For example, cancer that starts in the colon but spreads to the liver is called colon cancer with liver metastases.
Cancer is not a single disease. In fact, cancer is a family of more than 100 different diseases. These different kinds of cancer are usually named according to the part of the body where they first develop. Cancer develops when certain cells in your body begin to grow out of control. These abnormal cells sometimes form a mass or lump called a tumour. But not all tumours are cancer.
Benign tumours do not spread to other parts of the body and are not cancer.
Malignant tumours are cancer and can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer spreads when cells break away from the tumour and travel to other parts of your body.
In some types of cancer, such as leukemia, these cells start to grow in many places at the same time. When cancer cells spread, it is called metastasis(me-TA-sta-sis). It happens through the blood system or through the lymphatic system. Wherever cancer cells grow and spread, they can prevent healthy cells and organs from doing their job. As a result your body cannot work like it should, and you get sick.
Posted by Julie Andres at October 30, 2006 7:06 PM
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