Cancers - An Overview

Almost 25 per cent of all deaths due to non-infectious and non-accidental causes occur due to cancer. Next to heart attacks, this is the biggest killer of mankind. It is usually a disease of middle age and beyond, though some childhood cancers do occur. The treatment is generally surgical which may be combined with chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy. Successful outcome depends on early detection and diagnosis. Once it has spread beyond the confines of the original tumor, radical cure becomes less likely, though palliative treatment is still possible.

What is Cancer?


Cancer consists of cells which have turned malignant. They start growing and multiplying at the cost of normal tissues, destroying the latter in the process. While innocent or benign tumors may show little growth over months or years, cancers have the property of enormously rapid growth.
In a matter of a few months, they may enlarge substantially. They also have the property of invading and spreading into the nearby lymph glands and to distant organs as secondary growths which are as malignant as the original tumor. An innocent tumor does not possess these lethal characteristics unless a malignant change occurs in it.

The ultimate diagnosis of malignancy /cancer or, innocence of the tumor depends in biopsy. Biopsy consists of taking out a piece of the suspected tissue which is then examined by a pathologist under the microscope.


Where can Cancer Appear?



A typical feature of cancer is its lack of pain and inflammation at early stages. It is important to recognize the fact that in early stages the swelling or mass, despite of its size and rapid growth is painless. No pain is produced even on pressure. No sign of inflammation like heat, or redness is found. On should not ignore any swelling if it is painless.

Tumors, including cancers, may appear on the visible surfaces like the skin, breast or penis, where they are open to inspection.

They may arise from one of the internal organs like the lung, kidney, prostate, ovary, brain, liver, etc.When arising from internal organs, cancer cannot be seen or felt but can be suspected from the symptoms it produces.

Warning Signals of cancers:


• Unusual bleeding or discharge from any internal or external body site.
• A lump or thickening in any area but especially the breast.
• A sore that does not heal.
• A change in bowel or bladder habits.
• Hoarseness of voice.
• Persistent cough.
• Indigestion and difficulty in swallowing.
• Change in the appearance, shape or size of a wart or mole.
• Unexplained loss of appetite.
• Unexplained fever.
• Unexplained loss of weight.

Am I having cancer?


• Successful outcome of treatment solely depends on one single factor—the earliest possible detection and diagnosis. Anyone with any of these following symptoms should visit the doctor immediately for check up.

• A mass on the visible surface like skin, breast, penis, etc. Or, a sore which is not healing.

• The mass is growing in size but painless.

• Any mass or masses (glands) in the neck, armpits, groins or elsewhere.

• Low grade fever, without obvious cause and which shows no sign of remitting.

• Unaccounted loss of weight and general weakness, i.e. without dieting or poor intake of food.

• Cough or breathlessness or cyanosis (blue tongue) without obvious cause.

• Persistent headache with vomiting without previous history of migraine or cluster headaches.

• Spitting of blood.

• Loss of appetite, not caused by such factors as drugs / medicines .

• Black tar-like stools or red blood from anus, not due to piles.

• Blood in urine.

• Irregular vaginal bleeding, at or after menopause.



Investigations done to diagnose cancer:



Clinical examination by the surgeon.

Laboratory investigations, like X-rays, barium meal test, endoscopy, intravenous pyelogram, ultrasonography, CAT scan, etc., are selected according to the site of the suspected growth.

Assay of different tumor markers

Ultimate test is biopsy without which it may not be possible to say if the growth is malignant or innocent.

It is comparatively easy to obtain a specimen from accessible sites such as the breast, but in the case of internal organs FNAC ( fine needle aspiration cytology) gives the idea about the nature the tumor. If suspected the patient is operated upon to remove the mass or, to have a proper biopsy from the site.



Prevention of cancers:


• All sources of chronic irritation, e.g. broken stumps of teeth, should be removed.
• Avoid application of chemicals to the skin.
• No smoking.
• Eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits; they are rich sources of anti-oxidants which prevent cancers and many other diseases of degeneration.
• Regular self examination of the breast.
• Women should have regular PAP smear of the cervix after the age of 35 at least once in 2 years.
• Gardasyl a vaccine has been launched recently to protect the women from cervical cancers.

This article is published in India Study Channel