Cancer-a fatal killer

The cancer of the mouth is termed as Oral cancer. As the name indicates, it is the cancer of any part of the mouth such as the tongue, lips, gums and tonsils. Salivary glands may also be affected. Disease originated as oral cell carcinoma in one part start spreading to other parts rapidly. The risk probability is twice high in men than in women. As like other cancers, oral cancer is also the one that is barely detectable in early stages. Smoking, alcohol consumption, tobacco chewing are the well known risk factors that causes mouth cancer. A sore feel in the lips, tongue or any other mouth area indicates the disease. Lumps or mouth ulcers that gets worsen with time is a strong indication of oral cancers. Speech and swallowing difficulties also accompany the disease. The disease may be diagnosed and confirmed by doing biopsy for the gums and the tongue. Surgery is done in case of small tumors. For big tumors, surgery along with radiation and chemo therapies is advisable.

In women, breast cancer is the most fatal type causing higher deaths next to lung cancer. It occurs mostly in women who are above fifties and the risk increases with age. However, it is also reported in men. Family history plays a major role in passing the disease to future generations. Recent studies show that, in the last ten years, usage of oral contraceptives increased the risk of breast cancer. Breast feeding considerably reduces its occurrence. Medically this cancer is termed as ‘malignant breast neoplasm’. Cancer cells arise from the tissues of the breast or the mammary glands especially in the lining of the ducts and the lobules. When the cancer cells are found in ducts, it is termed as ‘ductal carcinoma’ and if found in lobules, it is ‘lobular carcinoma’. If the lymph nodes become cancerous, there is a greater chance of the disease to spread to other body parts through the bloodstream. The initial signs of the disease are often undetectable. But to find out the early signs, a screening technique called mammogram is performed in the patients

Recent studies show that Cancer is the most fatal killer. This disease is the result of unregulated growth of cells in the body thus making the body functions irregular. Any part of the body can become the target for cancer cells. The exceptions are hair, nails and teeth. There are nearly hundred different types of cancer. Most common cancer types are skin, breast, bowel and lung cancers. Breast cancer is the most prevalent type in women whereas in men, cancer of prostate gland is the commonest type. Lung cancer is mostly diagnosed in both sexes and the death rate is very high in patients with this type of cancer. When the blood is affected, the condition is called ‘leukemia’. Every type of cancer has different stages and generally treatments are based upon the location of the cancer, age, general health, and the intensity of the disease. Two types of cancer vaccines are available. They are preventive vaccines and treatment vaccines.

Cancer is the result of the formation of new cells in the body even when the body does not need them. It is also a condition where the old dead cells remain in the body without being replaced by the new ones. These cells group them together to form a mass called ‘tumor’. These tumors alter the body functions by their hormone release. Medically, all tumors are not cancerous. If they are cancerous, they are termed as ‘Malignant tumors’. These types of tumors are dangerous. The non-cancerous tumors are ‘Benign’. They do not spread generally but stay in one part of the body. Most of the benign tumors are harmless. Nevertheless, it is also the fact that they may become malignant in later stages. Malignant tumors affect other healthy tissues of the body thus spreading the disease to other parts. This is made possible via bloodstream or lymph systems. This process of spreading is called ‘metastasis’ and it has various degrees in it.

Cancer, the most dreadful disease of this era has affected almost 31% of the total world population. Every living organism is made up of cells. They are the basic structural and functional unit of the body and the ‘building blocks of life’. When these cells grow abnormally and in an uncontrolled manner, it is termed as ‘Cancer’. It is also the growth of cells that do not have any physiological function in the body. The term ‘Cancer’ was derived from the Greek word ‘karkinos’. ‘Neoplasia’ is also another term used to refer cancer in which ‘neo’ means ‘new’ and ‘plasia’ means ‘tissue or cell’. Right from children to senior citizens, anyone can become a victim to this disease. Cancer can affect any part of the body organs or tissues. Usually, most of the cancers are named after the organ that is affected by this disease. For example, if the lungs are affected, it is termed as ‘lung cancer’ and in case of liver it is ‘liver cancer’ and so on.