Article on Cancer as a disease:
For as long as humans have existed, cancer has been a major cause of deaths
through diseases. It is a condition in which some of the cells in the body grow
uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer can start at almost
anywhere in the human body with the most common types being lung cancer,
prostate cancer and stomach cancer. Among women, breast cancer is particularly
important to discuss as it is the second leading cause of death through cancer
among the gender.
At start, cancer shows no symptoms. Signs start to appear when the cancerous
tumor starts to grow in mass and invades nearby tissues. The cancerous lump can
also travel to distant parts of the body and produce new tumors. Major
indications of cancer include heavy coughing, unexpected weight loss, abnormal
bleeding, skin changes and prolonged fatigue. There are over a 100 types of
cancers that can affect humans.
According to an estimate, every sixth death in the world is due to cancer. In 2018,
there were 18.1 million new cases and 9.5 million cancer-related deaths
worldwide. By 2040, the number of new cancer cases per year is expected to rise
to 29.5 million and the number of cancer-related deaths to 16.4 million. About 8090% of the cases are due to genetic mutations caused by the person’s
environment while 5-10% are the result of hereditary genetics.
Whether a person’s cancer can be cured or not depends upon its type, stage and
other factors but till date, there isn’t one cure for cancer. Treatments include
chemotherapy, radiation, laser treatment, immunotherapy alternative medicine. All
of these treatments help in overcoming or reducing the symptoms by killing the
cancerous tissues but none of them provide a definite cure.
The only way to avoid cancer is prevention. Greater than 30% of cancer deaths
could be prevented by avoiding risk factors including: tobacco, excess
weight/obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity, alcohol, and air pollution. There are
a number of dietary recommendations that can be taken in consideration to avoid
cancer. Furthermore vaccines have also been developed that can reduce the risks
of developing certain cancers.