1. Ailments
Cancer is a condition where cells divide uncontrollably and develop into tumors, causing damage and sometimes death. Cancerous cells often invade surrounding normal body cells and spread throughout the body via the blood stream.
Symptoms may include persistent unexplained pain, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, weight loss, fatigue, changes in bowel habits, coughing, fever, or skin rashes.
These symptoms can be caused by many different types of cancer, including: breast cancer, lymphoma, lung cancer, colon cancer, leukemia, prostate cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, head and neck cancers, melanomas, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, bone cancer, brain cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, thyroid cancer, and testicular cancer.
2. Treatment
Treatment options vary depending on the type of cancer diagnosed. Depending on the location of the tumor, surgery (removal) followed by radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these treatments may be necessary.
If no cure exists, palliative care is often offered. Palliative care focuses on alleviating suffering and providing patients with the best quality of life possible.
3. Living with cancer
If you have been affected by cancer, you need to learn how to live with it. To do this, you should talk to others who have survived cancer.
You can find out about local support groups, online communities, self-help books and websites, and cancer centers that offer treatment information, counseling services, and emotional support.
4. Prevention
Being aware of potential risk factors helps prevent a diagnosis of cancer later in life. Risk factors include:
poor diet, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol use, high stress levels, lack of exercise, exposure to harmful substances such as asbestos, radon gas, benzene, or lead, genetics, and certain medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.