What is cancer? What causes it? What does it do to you? How can you prevent it?
Human life begins as a single cell. That single cell divides into two cells. Those two cells divide into four cells. Those cells divide, and so on. Cells are the building blocks of life. As cells divide, the body grows. Cancer is a disease in which cells develop abnormally, divide uncontrollably, and can destroy normal tissue.
Cells contain DNA, made of encoded sequences of nucleotides. Nucleotides are molecules (which are groups of atoms bonded together) consisting of a nitrogen-containing base, a phosphate group, and a sugar. DNA is made of many nucleotides connected together like beads in a necklace. The encoded sequences of nucleotides are called genes. Genes contain instructions telling cells what functions to perform and how to grow.
The nucleotides are supposed to occur in a very specific order, much like the 1’s and 0’s of a computer program. The sequences eventually become instructions that tell cells how to grow and what to do. Cells can develop abnormally because of DNA mutations, such as accidental insertions or deletions of nucleotides or base-pair substitutions. Most mutations are normal and harmless, but some have drastic effects.
Cancer is caused by mutations to a cell’s DNA. DNA is packaged into many individual genes, which contain instructions telling the cells what functions to perform and how to grow. Errors in the instructions can cause the cells to stop their normal functions and become cancerous. Some mutations can be inherited from parents, but most are caused by forces such as smoking, viruses, chemicals, obesity, and lack of exercise. Metastasis occurs when cancer cells break away from their location and spread into other parts of the body.
Common Types of Cancer
- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Basal cell cancer
- Melanoma
- Colon cancer
- Lung cancer
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
Associated Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Lump under the skin
- Unintended weight change
- Skin yellowing, darkening, or redness
- Sores that will not heal
- Changes to moles
- Persistent cough or trouble breathing
- Difficulty Swallowing
- Hoarseness
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
- Persistent muscle or joint pain
- Persistent fevers or night sweats
- Persistent indigestion
Early detection can save lives
Oral cancer, which includes cancers of the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses, and pharynx (throat), can be life threatening if not diagnosed and treated early. Dentists know how to detect it. Visit your dentist regularly.
Women over age 45 should get mammograms every year. Women should also know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast changes to a health care provider right away.
Screening for colon and rectal cancer and polyps should start at age 45. This can be done either with a sensitive test that looks for signs of cancer in a person’s stool or with a visual exam that looks at the colon and rectum (colonoscopy). Women over age 24 should have annual cervical cancer screening.
Cancer Prevention
We know that there are certain factors that can contribute to cancer. There are several small changes you can make to lower your risk:
- Be a healthy weight
- Stay away from all forms of tobacco
- Be physically active, go for walks, take the stairs
- Eat more vegetables, fruit, beans, and whole grains
- Limit consumption of fast foods
- Reduce consumption of red meat and processed meat
- Drink fewer sugar-sweetened drinks
- Use sunscreen
- Do not take cancer-prevention supplements
- Moms: Breastfeed your babies
- Eat less salt
- Drink less alcohol