Monday 13 November 2017

Cancer: Know About Its Causes, Types, Symptoms and Prevention

A human body is made of numerous cells and they together form tissues of the body. Cancer is a condition, when abnormal white blood cells grow uncontrollably in the blood stream and obstruct the growth of normal red blood cells. Cancer is fatal than most of the other diseases and the human body, in normal circumstances, cannot defend against the disease.  

What are The Causes of Cancer?

Cancer is majorly related to lifestyle and environmental factors. Moreover, it happens as a result of multiple causes and not one. Therefore, it is nearly impossible to diagnose the prime cause of cancer in a person.

However, the common factors that contribute to the development of cancer in the human body are consumption of tobacco and alcohol, lack of a healthy diet, physical activity and in some rare cases, exposure to radiations, carcinogenic substances, pollution, genetic factors, and obesity, can be the cause.

What are the Different Common Types of Cancer?

There are more than 200 types of cancer, and the five most common types among them are:
  • Breast cancer: It develops in breast tissues and is the most common cancer type in women.
  • Lung cancer: The cells grow uncontrollably, forming a lung tumor in the lungs. Most of the deaths occur due to lung cancer.
  • Colon cancer: Also known as Bowel cancer, it is developed in the rectum (part of the large intestine).
  • Stomach cancer: It  develops in the lining of the stomach and is also called gastric cancer. 
  • Liver cancer: Mostly, cancer is spread from other organs to the liver and is called liver metastasis.

What are Its Signs and Symptoms?

There are over 200 types of cancer, and the signs and symptoms of each type differ from one another. The symptoms of cancer are mostly visible on the affected body parts, but there are some generic cancer symptoms as well; such as tiredness, weight loss, vomiting, and others alike. The typical first signs of cancer are:
  • Abnormal bleeding
  • Cough and hoarseness
  • Rashes or appearance of unusual texture on the skin
  • Change in bowel habits and difficulty while urinating
  • Abdominal pain
It is recommended that if any person experiences any of the above mentioned first warning signs of cancers, he or she should consult a specialist immediately and must not overlook the signs.

Can Cancer Be Prevented?

The exact answer to how cancer can be prevented is still evolving. There are no guaranteed measures that can prevent cancer; they can only reduce the risks of development of cancer cells in the body. Taking the causes of cancer in account, little lifestyle and environmental changes can make a big difference and reduce the chances of developing any type of cancer in the body. After all, it is always better to live a healthy and disease-free life!

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