Types of Cancers- Risk Factors and Treatment

There are almost 100 types of cancers from cancer of the brain to cancer of the colon.
All cancers have two main characteristics. In each case:

There is uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells forming tumors.
They have the ability to invade other cells by migrating from their original site.

There are two types of tumors, benign and malignant. Benign tumors are non cancerous; malignant tumors are called cancers. Each year over 1 million Americans are diagnosed with one of these cancers. About 1:4 deaths in the USA is a result of cancer, this is second only to heart disease. It is estimated that about 7.6 million die annually. Cancer affects all ages, races and gender.

Types of Cancers
Carcinomas: Cancer of the epithelial cells, covering the body and lining the internal organs and glands. There are two types: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Ninety percent of cancers are carcinomas.
Melanomas: Cancer of the melanocytes, the pigment of the skin
Lymphomas: Cancer of the lymph glands
Sarcomas: Cancer of the bones, muscles and blood vessels
Leukemia: Cancer of the blood

The commonest cancers are lung, colon, breast, prostate, skin, stomach and pancreatic. They account for almost 400,000 deaths in the USA annually.

Causes of Cancer
Researchers believe that the most common causes involve an interaction between the person’s genes and the environment. The small changes that occur bring about changes in the proteins that maintain and regulate body function. The common environmental factors are tobacco, radiation and asbestos.

Lifestyle choices such as diet, drugs and alcohol may also trigger changes in the cells DNA. Some cancers appear to run in the same family.

Diagnosis
A diagnosis of cancer is made by taking a medical history and doing a thorough physical examination. The type of investigations will depend on the site of the tumor. If cancer is suspected, a definite diagnosis can be made by obtaining a sample of the cancer cells for microscopic examination. This is called a biopsy. When cancer is diagnosed, there will be further investigations to determine how far the cancer has spread. The type of procedure will depend again on the location of the tumor. Investigations to detect metastases in other parts of the body may include:Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Risk Factors Associated ith Cancer

• Poor Diet
• Excessive use of alcohol, as in liver cancer
• Tobacco use
• Exposure to radiation and ultra violet rays as in skin cancer
• Second hand smoke
• Exposure to asbestos
  
• Sexual behavior as in cervical cancer
• Hormone replacement therapy

In about 1/3 of cases poor diet appeared to be a factor. Physical inactivity along with obesity and a high fat diet increases the risks. Alcohol with tobacco use increases the risk of certain cancers such as cancer of the mouth, larynx and oesophagus.

Prevention
Since the exact cause of cancer is not known, prevention lies in reducing or eliminating risk factors. In many cases this would involve lifestyle changes and self help health. There is a lot of evidence to support a healthy eating pattern, physical activity and keeping weight within limits as important.

• A diet with lots of vegetables and fruit
• A diet low in saturated fats
• Regular physical activity, about 30 minutes a day
  
• Regular screening for cancer such as breast, prostate, cervical and colon
  
• Weight control to maintain weight within limits
• Avoid tobacco use and second hand smoke
• Protect you skin from ozone depletion
• Control alcohol consumption

Treatment- Treatment will depend on the type of cancer, location, patient’s health, the stage and whether there is metastasis.

Surgery- This is the removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue. In many cases the organ or gland is removed. If the tumor has spread, surgery will include removal of the new cancerous tissue and lymph nodes. Surgery is the treatment of choice in stage1 and 2 cancers only.

Radiation therapy- This is the use of high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and to shrink tumors. Radiation may be used before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to remove remaining cancer cells. It may also be used in the advanced stage of certain cancers to relieve symptoms. There are unpleasant side effects such as tiredness, loss of appetite and skin reactions.

Chemotherapy-This is the use of anti cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. The drugs are either given orally or into the veins. They may be administered instead of other treatments or along with other treatments. They may be given before surgery and radiation, or following surgery to kill remaining cancer cells. There are side effects such as hair loss, nausea, vomiting and menstrual changes. Other forms of treatments include:

• Hormone therapy
• Alternative medicine
• Immune therapy