12 Facts You Should Know About Tumors and Cancer
Tumors and Cancer can simply be explained as: A solid mass of tissue that forms when abnormal cells group together is called a tumour. Not all tumors are malignant tumors. while Cancer occurs as a result of the uncontrollable growth of some body cells which spread to other parts of the body.
Tumors can affect your bones, skin, tissue, organs and glands. Many tumors are not cancerous (they’re benign).
They can cause serious trouble within the bowel by obstructing the lumen of a tube. Fairly large nonmalignant tumors may develop within that stomach, causing a chronic loss of blood.
Although not malignant, these can be serious. Abnormal growth of tissue projecting from a mucous membrane (Polyps) or small growths in the colon are also common and are often responsible for blood in the stools.
More than half of those who have polyps in the colon may end up developing cancer as well.
For this reason, all polyps should be removed, either through the sigmoidoscope, if they are located low down, or by surgical removal of the involved portion of the colon.
Before this is done, the patient should have a thorough medical examination, and also x-rays of the large and small bowel.
This is particularly important in all cases of rectal bleeding or unexplained loss of blood from the stomach or bowel.
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In view of the above facts about tumors and cancer here are some vital facts you need to know about tumor and cancer:
- Do you know that abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply when they shouldn’t? These cells may form tumors, which are lumps of tissue. Tumors can be cancerous or not cancerous.
- Do you know that benign tumors do not spread into, or invade, nearby tissues? When removed, benign tumors usually don’t grow back, whereas cancerous tumors sometimes do.
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- Do you know that benign tumors can sometimes be quite large? Some can cause serious symptoms or be life-threatening, such as benign tumors in the brain.
- Do you know that cancer is a genetic disease caused by changes to your genes that control the way your cells function, especially how they grow and divide?
- Do you know that a cancer that has spread from the place where it first formed to another place in the body is called metastatic cancer? The process by which cancer cells spread to other parts of the body is called metastasis.
- Do you know that your body is constantly making new cells to replace old or damaged ones that die off?
- Do you know that when new cells grow and multiply faster than they should? The cells start to pile up, resulting in the formation of a tumor.
- Do you that tumors and cancer affect people of all ages, including even children?
- Do you know that the following major risk factors predispose one to getting cancer these include:
- Although cancer can be diagnosed at any age those age 60 and above are more predisposed to getting certain cancers than other age groups.
- A personal or family history of cancer. breast or prostate cancer
- Smoking tobacco including exposure to secondhand smoke.
- being overweight or obese
- Alcohol abuse
- Some types of viral infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and the hepatitis virus
- Exposure to some specific chemicals. benzene or asbestos etc.
- Excessive exposure to radiation, including ultraviolet radiation from the sun
- Do you know that recently, other risk factors have been added to the list of items that may increase cancer risk? Specifically, red meat (such as beef, lamb, and pork) was classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a high-risk agent for potentially causing cancers; in addition, processed meats (salted, smoked, preserved, and/or cured meats) were placed on the carcinogenic list.
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- Do you know that cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide? It accounted for 8.2 million deaths (around 22% of all deaths not related to communicable diseases; most recent data from WHO).
- Do you know that stomach cancer is often found in Japan, while it is rarely found in the U.S.
- Do you know that the three most common cancers in men, women, and children in the U.S. are: for men Prostate, lung, and colorectal while for women breast, lung, and colorectal and children Leukemia, brain tumors, and lymphoma