Cancer is a group of diseases characterised by abnormal cell proliferation as well as the ability to invade and spread to other parts of the body. These are not the same as non-proliferating benign tumours. A lump, irregular bleeding, a persistent cough, unexplained weight loss, and a change in bowel movements are all signs and symptoms. These symptoms could be caused by cancer, but they could also be caused by something else. Humans are affected by the cancer 4 stages.
Tobacco use is responsible for roughly 22% of cancer deaths. Obesity, poor diet, inactivity, or excessive alcohol consumption account for another 10%. Some illnesses, as well as ionising radiation exposure and pollution, are also causes for concern.
Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis B and C, human papillomavirus infection, Epstein-Barr virus, and human immunodeficiency virus account for 15% of all cancers in the developing world (HIV).
These factors, at least in part, influence cell genes. Before cancer can develop, several genetic changes must occur.
Cancer is caused by inherited genetic abnormalities in 5-10% of cases. Certain signs and symptoms, as well as screening tests, can help with a cancer diagnosis. It is frequently followed by additional testing, such as medical imaging and biopsy confirmation.
The possibility of developing cancer
Smoking cessation, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, resistant starch consumption, vaccination against certain infectious diseases, limiting processed meat and red meat consumption, and limiting direct sunlight exposure are all ways to reduce your risk of developing certain cancers. Is it possible to identify cancer using blood testing and screening? Screening can help detect cervical and colorectal cancers early. The advantages of breast cancer screening are still debatable.
Radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy are commonly used to treat diseases. Pain and symptom management are critical components of therapy. Palliative care is particularly important for people nearing the end of their lives. Can cancer be detected by blood test, and how severe is the illness at the start of treatment? At the time of diagnosis, the average five-year survival rate for children under the age of 15 in the developed world is 80%. In the United States, cancer has a six-year survival rate of 66%.
In 2015, approximately 90.5 million people worldwide were diagnosed with cancer. In 2019, the annual cancer incidence increased by 23.6 million people, with 10 million deaths globally, representing 26% and 21% increases over the previous decade, respectively.
Symptoms and red flags
There are no symptoms when cancer first appears. As the tumour grows or ulcerates, signs and symptoms emerge. The type and location of the tumour influence the results. Only a few symptoms are apparent. Many occur often in people with additional medical issues. This disease is difficult to recognise since it is a “great imitator.”
Following a diagnosis, people may experience anxiety or depression. Suicide is roughly twice as likely among persons suffering from this condition.
Causes
The great majority of cancers are caused by genetic defects produced by environmental and lifestyle factors. Around 90% to 95% of the time. Genetic inheritance accounts for the remaining 5-10%.
Pollution is only one source of environmental concern; other factors to consider include non-inherited lifestyle, economic, and behavioural factors. Tobacco use (25-30%), diet and obesity (30-35%), infections (15-20%), radiation (both ionising and non-ionizing, up to 10%), sedentary lifestyle, and pollution are all common environmental factors associated with cancer mortality.
Psychological stress does not appear to be a risk factor for the onset of this disease, but it may have an impact on outcomes in people who already have cancer.
Because the various causes do not leave distinct fingerprints, it is generally difficult to determine what caused a single cancer. If a heavy smoker develops lung cancer, it is most likely the result of tobacco use; however, because everyone has a small chance of developing lung cancer as a result of air pollution or radiation, the cancer could have been caused by one of these factors.
With the exception of rare transmissions associated with pregnancies and infrequent organ donors, cancer is not a transmissible disease; however, factors that may have contributed to the development of cancer, such as oncoviruses such as hepatitis B, Epstein-Barr virus, and HIV, can be transmitted.
Prevention
Cancer prevention refers to actions taken to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.
Environmental risk factors are responsible for the vast majority of cancer cases. Many of these environmental influences are influenced by lifestyle choices. As a result, most people avoid this disease. Environmental factors cause 70% to 90% of common cancers, making them potentially preventable.
Tobacco use, obesity, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, alcohol, sexually transmitted infections, and air pollution could all lead to a 30% reduction in cancer fatalities. Poverty may also be considered an indirect risk factor for human cancers.
Personal action will not be able to eliminate all environmental causes, such as naturally occurring background radiation and cancers caused by congenital genetic abnormalities.
Smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity accounted for 44% of all cancer deaths in 2019 (4.5 million deaths or 105 million lost disability-adjusted life years), according to a GBD systematic analysis.
Medication Medication Medication can be used to prevent cancer in some cases. NSAIDs reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Although this illness is common in the general population, it causes overall harm when used as a prophylactic treatment due to cardiovascular and gastrointestinal side effects.
Aspirin has been shown to cut the risk of death from this illness by about 7%. COX-2 inhibitors may slow the growth of polyps in people with familial adenomatous polyposis, but they have the same side effects as NSAIDs. Tamoxifen or raloxifene, when used on a regular basis, reduces the risk of breast cancer in high-risk women.
The advantages and disadvantages of using a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor like finasteride are unknown.
Vitamin supplements do not appear to be effective in preventing this illness. While low vitamin D levels in the blood have been linked to an increased risk of disease, it is unclear whether this link is causal and whether vitamin D treatment is effective in disease prevention.
One 2014 study found that supplements had no discernible effect on the risk of this illness. Another 2014 study discovered that vitamin D3 may reduce the risk of cancer death (one fewer death in 150 patients treated over 5 years), though the data quality was questioned.
Beta-carotene supplementation raises the risk of lung cancer in people who are already at high risk. Folic acid supplementation is ineffective at preventing colon cancer and may increase the number of polyps in the colon. Supplementing with selenium has not been shown to reduce the risk of this condition.
Vaccination
Vaccines have been produced to protect against infection with specific oncogenic viruses. Human papillomavirus vaccines reduce the risk of cervical cancer (Gardasil and Cervarix). The hepatitis B vaccine reduces the risk of liver cancer by preventing infection with the hepatitis B virus. Human papillomavirus and hepatitis B vaccinations are recommended in regions where they are available.
