* CANCER Incurably Dangerous Diseases # 4 * ** *What is Cancer?* ** The term cancer covers more than a hundred diseases that share one trait: In all of the diseases, cells grow out of control and destroy healthy tissues. Cancer tissue, growing without limits, competes with normal tissue for nutrients, eventually killing normal cells by nutritional deprivation.
Cancerous tissue can also cause secondary effects, in which the expanding malignant growth puts pressure on surrounding tissue or organs or the cancer cells metastasize and invade other organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis. It is this ability for malignant tumors to spread to other vital organs, and disturb their functioning, that makes cancer dangerous. A few cancers, such as blood cancers (leukemia), do not form a tumor. Cancer is NOT contagious. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Cancer is the Latin word for crab. *Are you at risk for Cancer?* ** Your risk for cancer depends on a number of factors, including your family medical history, your environment, your lifestyle, and choices. The 1982 US Surgeon General's Report states, "Cigarette smoking is the major single cause of cancer mortality in the United States." This statement is as true today as it was in 1982. (Information taken from the American Cancer Society <http://www.cancer.org/>.) ** *Remission of Cancer?* Remission is a period of time when the cancer is responding to treatment or is under control. Remission can be partial or complete. When cancer is in complete remission, all the signs and symptoms of the disease disappear. Partial remission is when the cancer shrinks but does not completely disappear. Remissions can last anywhere from several weeks to many years. Complete remissions may continue for years and be considered cures. If the disease returns, another remission often can occur with further treatment. *Cancer Treatment * ** Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgical removal of the cancer cells are the most common treatments for cancer. Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Depending on the stage of the cancer, treatment with radiation may be given alone or with chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is local therapy; it affects cancer cells only in the treated area. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy usually consists of a combination of several drugs. It may be given alone or followed by radiation therapy. *Nutrition During Cancer Treatment* Eating well during cancer treatment means getting enough calories and protein to help prevent weight loss and regain strength. Good nutrition often helps people feel better and have more energy. Some people with cancer find it hard to eat a balanced diet because they may lose their appetite. In addition, common side effects of treatment, such as nausea, vomiting, or mouth sores, can make eating difficult. Often, foods may taste different. Sometimes, people being treated for cancer may not feel like eating when they are uncomfortable or tired. You might ask your physician to refer you to a dietitian, or nurse who is specialized in nutrition, who can work with you during your treatment and help adjust your diet should you experience side effects or weight changes. A healthy diet is very important. Malnutrition is a major cause of illness and death in cancer patients. Is cancer curable? Is someone ever really cured? The short answer to this is, yes. Many people are cured of their cancers - but unfortunately some are not. There are three important factors which affect the chance of having a cure: the type of cancer, how 'advanced' that cancer is when it is discovered, and how well the cancer responds to treatment. Cancer is not a single disease. There are hundreds of different types of cancer and each of these different types has different chances of cure. So, for example, cures are very common in conditions like breast cancer, bowel cancer, testicular cancer, skin cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma, but they are much less common in cancers of the lung, pancreas and stomach. For any one type of cancer, a tumour that is diagnosed when it is small and has not spread at all will always have a better chance of a cure than one that is only discovered when it is more advanced, and has grown to a large size and sent seedlings, called secondary cancers, to other parts of the body. So, for example, a bowel cancer that has not spread beyond the lining of the wall of the bowel is usually completely cured by an operation whereas a bowel cancer that is only found when it has already sent seedlings to the liver is only rarely curable. On the other hand, with cancers that are very sensitive to treatment, such as Hodgkin lymphoma or testicular cancer, most people can still be cured even when the cancer has developed widespread secondaries. It is important to mention that modern cancer treatments are also improving cure rates. Many kinds of cancer that were almost always incurable fifty years ago are now routinely cured by modern day therapies. *For more information you may visit* : www.cancerbackup.org.uk Call the freephone helpline on 0808 800 1234, -- --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Welcome To dimpill's gang! This is the Best Place to Hang around.We Give u the Best in Latest News, Jokes, Funny Pictures,Wallpapers,Latest Buzz and Much More! Connect your World with Us join Now http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dimpill_gang/join Affiliated group from dimpill_gang for Only Adult Mails http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fantazies/join Affiliated group from dimpill_gang for Only Health and Food Mails http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Health_and_Gourmet/join -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
