WHAT IS CANCER?

Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth.

Cancer is considered to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

The most common sites of cancer among men are lung, prostate, colon, rectum, stomach and
liver.

The most common sites of cancer among women are breast, colon, rectum, lung, cervix and
stomach.

Cancer harms the body when altered cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of
tissue called tumors.

Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, and they
can release hormones that alter body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate
limited growth are generally considered to be benign.

When a tumor successfully spreads to other parts of the body and grows, invading and
destroying other healthy tissues, it is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called
metastasis, and the result is a serious condition that is very difficult to treat.

CAUSES OF CANCER IN THE BODY

- Cancer is ultimately the result of cells that uncontrollably grow and do not die. Normal
cells in the body follow an orderly path of growth, division, and death. Programmed cell death is
called apoptosis, and when this process breaks down, cancer begins to form. Unlike regular
cells, cancer cells do not experience programmatic death and instead continue to grow and
divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grows out of control.

1. Tobacco smoking: The leaves of the tobacco plant, is through burning it and smoking it from a
cigarette or hookah pipe into the mouth and then releasing it.

2. A tanning bed: a device that emits ultraviolet radiation for a cosmetic tan, can give humans
overexposure to UV radiation, which can cause skin cancer, cataracts, and premature skin
ageing.

3. Alcoholic beverages: Alcoholic beverage consumption is a cause of breast, colorectal, larynx,

liver, esophagus, oral cavity and pharynx cancers, and as a probable cause of pancreatic
cancer.
 4. Diesel exhaust: There is a cancer risk from inhaling exhaust fumes produced by a diesel
internal combustion engine.

5. Processed meat: Meat that is cured or treated in some way, either for preservation or taste.
Examples include ham, bacon and sausages.

EFFECTS OF CANCER IN THE BODY

1. Hair loss- Hair is lost when chemotherapy drugs damage hair follicles, making hair fall out. If
hair loss is going to happen, it most often starts within 2 weeks of treatment and gets worse 1 to
2 months after starting therapy.

2. Fatigue- s a persistent feeling of physical, emotional, or mental tiredness or exhaustion related

to cancer and/or its treatment. This type of fatigue is different than tiredness from not getting
enough rest. Cancer-related fatigue:

Causes problems with a persons usual functioning

Does not reflect their level of activity

Does not improve with rest

3. Swelling of the face, arms, or legs- Lymphedema is the abnormal buildup of fluid in soft tissue
due to a blockage in the lymphatic system. Most often, lymphedema affects the arms and legs.
And it particularly arises in people who have received treatment for breast cancer or cancers
that affect the urinary tract, bladder, kidneys, prostate, testicles, and penis.

4. Pain- Most cancer pain is caused by the tumor pressing on bones, nerves or other organs in
your body. People can experience pain from cancer and its treatment.

5. Loss of a body part- t. an operation to repair or remove part of your body to

diagnose or treat cancer remains the foundation of cancer
treatment.

6. Weight loss- Weight loss and muscle wasting also often come with fatigue, weakness, loss of
energy, and an inability to perform everyday tasks. This maybe be the cause of loss appetite.