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Cancer

Cancer is a group of many related diseases. All forms of cancer involve out-of-control growth and spread of abnormal cells.

Cancer is classified by the part of the body in which it began, and by its appearance under a microscope. Different types of cancer vary in their rates of growth, patterns of spread, and responses to different types of treatment. That’s why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their specific form of the disease.

What is Cancer?

Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. During the early years of a person’s life, normal cells divide more rapidly until the person becomes an adult. After that, normal cells of most tissues divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells and to repair injuries.

Cancer cells, however, continue to grow and divide, and can spread to other parts of the body. These cells accumulate and form tumors (lumps) that may compress, invade, and destroy normal tissue. If cells break away from such a tumor, they can travel through the bloodstream, or the lymph system to other areas of the body. There, they may settle and form "colony" tumors. In their new location, the cancer cells continue growing. The spread of a tumor to a new site is called metastasis. When cancer spreads, though, it is still named after the part of the body where it started. For example, if prostate cancer spreads to the bones, it is still prostate cancer, and if breast cancer spreads to the lungs it is still called breast cancer.

Leukemia, a form of cancer, does not usually form a tumor. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood-forming organs (bone marrow, lymphatic system, and spleen), and circulate through other tissues where they can accumulate.

It is important to realize that not all tumors are cancerous. Benign (noncancerous) tumors do not metastasize and, with very rare exceptions, are not life-threatening.


Reprinted with permission from Cancer Resource Center (ACS).

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Incidence & Prevention

In America, half of all men and one-third of all women will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have been cured of the disease. The risk of developing most types of cancer can be reduced by changes in a person’s lifestyle, for example, by quitting smoking or eating a better diet. The sooner a cancer is found, and the sooner treatment begins, the better a patient’s chances are of a cure.

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Detection

• A fecal occult blood test every year and a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years.*
• A colonoscopy every 10 years.*
• A double-contrast barium enema every five to 10 years.*
  
  * A digital rectal exam should be done at the same time as sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or double-contrast barium enema. People who are at moderate or high risk for colorectal cancer should talk with a doctor about a different testing schedule.

Prostate

The ACS recommends that both the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal examination be offered annually, beginning at age 50, to men who have a life expectancy of at least 10 years and to younger men who are at high risk. Men in high risk groups, such as those with a strong familial predisposition (i.e., two or more affected first-degree relatives), or African Americans may begin at a younger age (i.e., 45 years).

Uterus & Cervix

All women who are or have been sexually active or who are 18 and older should have an annual Pap test and pelvic examination. After three or more consecutive satisfactory examinations with normal findings, the Pap test may be performed less frequently. Discuss the matter with your physician.

Endometrium

Women at high risk for cancer of the uterus should have a sample of endometrial tissue examined when menopause begins.


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Reprinted with permission from Cancer Resource Center (ACS).