Cancer

Understanding Cancer
"Cancer," wrote Dr Vincent De vita, in 1980,
"is one of the most curable chronic diseases."
This statement may be seen surprising. If any disease has the reputation of being incurable, it is cancer. The very word has had the force of an epitaph, a synonym for death. For centuries- and in some places, even today- victims were not told the name of their disease. Families refused to acknowledge the presence of cancer in their midst, even after fathers, mothers or children had succumbed, and newspaper obituary writers sidestepped the dreaded word with a common euphemism: death" after a long illness." These aversion and fear are becoming meaningless The triumphs of treatment are only a part of the story. It is now possible not only cure a wide variety of cancers, but to prevent many of the types that are difficult to cure. Many of the cancers are easy to prevent- and not getting it in the first place is better that any cure.

Lung cancer can be prevented. Heavy smokers are 20 times more likely to develop lung cancers than nonsmokers. Smoking is only one of the many avoidable causes of cancer. Alcohol is another; so are certain foods, and certain substances added to foods to preserve or flavor them. Most insidious and diverse of all are the cancer- causing chemicals encountered in factories, mines, and almost every other area in which materials are processed or chemically changed. The war is far from over. Cancer remains a major killer. On many fronts, campaigns against the disease falter or do not move at all. How cancer begins Cancer had been such a dark and fearful mystery because it takes so many forms. It can strike any organ, tissue, or anywhere in the body. But despite this diversity, all cancers share certain characteristics. They are all diseases of individual cells, the basic building blocks of plants and animals. In all of these living things, a cancer starts when something goes awry inside a cell. An error is somehow introduced into the genetic code, the complex pattern of molecules that normally ensures the reproduction of a new cell perfectly fitted to its function in the body. The genetic error may be caused by a chemical; by radiation, such as that of the sun or of X-rays; or by the tiny agents of disease called viruses. In addition, many genetic disruptions are simply random slippages of the cell's machinery, with no discernible cause. The result is the same; a new- born freak cell called a mutant.

Cause
Although cancer is usually thought of as one disease, it is in fact more than 200 different diseases. For many of these cancers, no definite cause is known. In fact, cancer remains something of a mystery. But new clues and solid research are greatly increasing our understanding.

INITIATORS: Tobacco and tobacco smoke carcinogens. Lung cancer was a rare disease before cigarette smoking became widespread.
X-rays: It is well known that there is an increased incidence of leukemia among atomic bomb survivors. This same increase has been noted in radiologists, the doctors who specialize in the use of x-rays. Certain hormones and drugs, such as DES, some estrogen (female hormones) and some immunosuppressive drugs. Excessive exposure to sunlight. Industrial agents or toxic substances in the environment, such as asbestos, coal tar products, benzene, cadmium, uranium and nickel. Excesses of deficiencies in diet, particularly high-fat and low-fiber diets. Obesity.

Sexual practices, including the age of a woman when she first had intercourse and first becomes pregnant. Certain sexually transmitted viruses can cause cancers, and the risk of catching one of these viruses increases with unprotected sexual contact and with the number of sexual partners. This is particularly true for AIDS - related cancers such as Kaposi's sarcoma.

Promoters
Alcohol, which is a factor in 4% of cancers, mainly in cancers of the head and neck and the liver. Stress, which may weaken the immune system. Stress is also relieved all too often with cigarettes, alcohol, rich food and drugs.

Miscellaneous Factors
Heredity. Weaknesses of the immune systems. Now that so many factors in our daily lives that affect the risk of getting cancer can be identified, cancer risk assessment has become increasingly vital to our continued good health. Risk assessment screening of apparently healthy people is now used in many cancers.