Everything about cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with a potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. There are over a hundred types of cancer that affect humans. In2015, bout 90.5 million people had cancer. About 14.1million new cases occur every year causing 8.8 million deaths. The not common types of cancer in males are lung cancer, prostrate cancer and stomach cancer whereas in females, the most common types are breast cancer, lungs cancer and cervical cancer. In children, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors are most common.

Possible symptoms of cancer include a lump ( a compact mass of a substance without a definite shape), abnormal bleeding, prolonged cough, unexplained weight loss, etc. These symptoms may differ according to the type of cancer.

Causes of cancer:

1. Environmental Factors:
   1. Tobacco: Tobacco in various forms of its usage (smoking, chewing) is the major environmental cause of cancer of lungs, pancreas and kidney.
   2. Alcohol: Excessive intake of alcohol is associated with oesophagal and liver cancer. It is estimated that 3% of all cancer deaths are caused by alcohol.
2. Dietary factors: These factors are depended on our food consumption. For example, smoked fish is related to stomach cancer, dietary fiber is related to intestinal cancer and high fat is related to breast cancer.
3. Occupational exposure to chemicals: Exposure to a wide variety of chemicals such as asbestos, arsenic, benzene, chromium, cadmium, etc, through work environment also causes cancer.
4. Other factors such as unlught, radiation, water pollution and exposure to pesticides are also some causes of cancer.

Prevention of cancer:

1. Primary prevention:
   1. Control of tobacco and alcohol consumption.
   2. Improving personal hygiene.
   3. Reducing the exposure to radiation.
   4. Protection from occupational exposure to chemicals.
   5. Immunization
   6. Consumption of healthy food
   7. Medical treatment
   8. Education and awareness
2. Secondary Prevention:
   1. Camcer registration
   2. Early detection of cases
   3. Proper healthcare facility and treatment.

“Freedon from cancer” is now considered as the right of cancer patients.