ARTICLES

About The Most Fatal Disease Of The Modern Era - Cancer

Cancer is undoubtedly one of the most fatal diseases of the modern era. It is very important to understand that for most types of cancer there is no cure. On the other hand if cancer is detected early then the chances of survivial and full recovery are higher.

What exactly is cancer? Cancer is formed when cells in the human body grow erratically. These erratically grown cells form into a mass and soon turn into a tumor. This tumor is either benign or malignant. Malignant tumors or cells are cancerous; whereas benign tumors are non-cancerous, but when they are left untreated they may turn into malignant ones and become cancerous. Cancer cells do not stay put in one place. They enter into the bloodstream and travel to distant parts of the body forming a secondary cancer, which is called metastasis. Extrernal factors like environment, smoking and other substances which are called carcinogens also cause cancer. Some people are genetically predisposed to cancer because they inherit damaged genes from their parents during birth. There are nearly 200 types of cancer that affect human beings.

What are the causes of cancer?

1. Tobacco chewing or smoking
2. Passive smoking
3. Alcohol
4. Food
5. Dietary habits
6. High fat Diets
7. Obesity
8. Stress
9. Viruses
10. Ionizing radiation
11. Ultraviolet radiation
12. Exposure to chemicals, metals, pesticides
13. Exposure to industrial chemicals
14. Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
15. Hormones and Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
16. Family history of cancer
17. Heredity factors
18. Genetical predisposition to cancer

The above causes are for cancer in general. As mentioned earlier in the article there are almost 200 different types of cancer.