A cancer diagnosis is a devastating, overwhelming event but it might help you to know exactly what this illness is and how it can be treated. Cancer occurs when mutated cells begin to multiply rapidly, forming masses and tumors. The type of cancer you have depends on where the cancer cells originally developed. However, cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body via the bloodstream or through lymph nodes.
Cancer is a genetic disease that is usually inherited from one’s parents or caused by DNA damage due to environmental factors such as exposure to ionizing radiation, smoking, sun exposure, or toxic chemicals. There are over 100 types of cancer that are largely grouped under the following categories. Carcinomas start in the epithelial cells or the cells that line the interior or exterior surfaces of our organs. Leukemia starts in the blood. Lymphomas originate in the lymphatic system. Sarcomas involve cancer cells that start in soft connective tissues while melanomas begin in the cells that form pigment in the skin.
Your doctor will likely form a treatment plan that takes your age and pre-existing health conditions into account. Treatment also depends on what stage of cancer you are in when you are diagnosed. Battling cancer can take a physical and emotional toll, so your comfort will play a part in your treatment. Talk to your doctor about your options and ask her to clarify questions and doubts. This will arm you with what you need to know and also give you a sense of control. Doctors sometimes suggest a combination of treatments to effectively kill cancer cells.
If the cancer cells are closely packed together and haven’t spread, surgery is an efficient treatment. Chemotherapy involves anti-cancer drugs administered orally or intravenously and is usually used when cancer cells have metastasized or spread. Radiation exposes cancer cells to high energy beams. Some methods even inject radioactive particles into the bloodstream. Cancers that are influenced by hormones can be treated with hormones or hormone-blocking medication. Since Cancer research is evolving continuously, there are a few treatments that are not as popular but are worth exploring. One such treatment involves controlling the enzymes that cause the growth of cancer cells by genetic engineering.