Cancer
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Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these cells to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). Cancer may affect people at all ages, but risk tends to increase with age. It is one of the principal causes of death in developed countries. |
There are many types of cancer. Severity of
symptoms depends on the site and character of
the malignancy and whether there is metastasis.
A definitive diagnosis usually requires the
histologic examination of tissue by a
pathologist. This tissue is obtained by biopsy
or surgery. Most cancers can be treated and some
cured, depending on the specific type, location,
and stage. Once diagnosed, cancer is usually
treated with a combination of surgery,
chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As research
develops, treatments are becoming more specific
for the type of cancer pathology. Drugs that
target specific cancers already exist for
several cancers. If untreated, cancers may
eventually cause illness and death, though this
is not always the case.
The unregulated growth that characterizes cancer
is caused by damage to DNA, resulting in
mutations to genes that encode for proteins
controlling cell division. Many mutation events
may be required to transform a normal cell into
a malignant cell. These mutations can be caused
by radiation, chemicals or physical agents that
cause cancer, which are called carcinogens, or
by certain viruses that can insert their DNA
into the human genome. Mutations occur
spontaneously, and may be passed down from one
cell generation to the next as a result of
mutations within germ lines. However, some
carcinogens also appear to work through
non-mutagenic pathways that affect the level of
transcription of certain genes without causing
genetic mutation.
Many forms of cancer are associated with
exposure to environmental factors such as
tobacco smoke, radiation, alcohol, and certain
viruses. Some risk factors can be avoided or
reduced.
History of Cancer
Today, the Greek term
carcinoma is the medical term for a
malignant tumor derived from epithelial
cells. It is Celsus who translated carcinos
into the Latin cancer, also meaning crab.
Galen used "oncos" to describe all tumours,
the root for the modern word oncology.
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Nomenclature and
classification for Cancer
Causes and
pathophysiology
Cancer epidemiology
Diagnosing cancer
Treatment of cancer
Cancer can be treated
by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy,
immunotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy
or other methods. The choice of therapy
depends upon the location and grade of the
tumor and the stage of the disease, as well
as the general state of the patient
(performance status). A number of
experimental cancer treatments are also
under development.
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Complementary
&
alternative medicine
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