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What is Cancer ?
Cancer is an
abnormal growth of a body cell or group of cells. If it is not destroyed
or removed, cancer can spread very rapidly, and eventually lead to
death.
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What is the difference between normal
and
cancerous growth?
There are billions of cells in the human body.
Normally, they grow in a well-regulated pattern. When cancer sets in a
group of cells suddenly starts multiplying haphazardly and forms a lump
or "tumor".
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How many kinds of tumors are there?
There
are two kinds of tumors. Malignant, and benign. A benign tumor is more
common, and is generally harmless. It doesn't grow beyond a
certain limit, and it doesn't spread to other parts of the body.
A
malignant tumor on the other hand, never stops growing and can spread
to other parts of the body.
Cancer is the name given to a malignant growth.
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Is
cancer contagious or infectious?
No.
Since cancer is not caused by a germ, it is not
"catching", and cannot be transmitted from one person to
another.
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Is
cancer a blood disease?
No,
though cancer cells may move through the blood stream to another part of
the body. Cancer can however develop in certain tissues which form the
blood cells.
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How does cancer spread?
In 3 ways:
- Cancer
cells grow through the
walls of blood vessels and are carried by the blood
stream to other
parts of the body.
- They
enter the lymphatic stream and are carried to lymph glands.
- They
grow directly from one tissue to another.
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How
fast does cancer grow?
There
is no definite rate of growth of cancer tissue, Some types will grow
more in a few weeks than other types
will, in several years.
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Is
cancer a single disease?
No.
the term "cancer" includes all forms of malignant growth. Very
many varieties are known. These have certain characteristics in
common though such as uncontrolled growth a tendency to spread widely in
the body and fatal termination if not treated early and
adequately. They differ in certain characteristics, such as location in
the body, microscopic appearance, and response to treatment. Their
histories of development may be quite dissimilar and it is
probable that the conditions which may precede them also differ
greatly.
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How
can you tell if you have cancer?
The
real tragedy about cancer is that it produces very minor symptoms at
first. So you could have cancer --- and not know it. The best way
to detect cancer is to have a regular yearly check-up.
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How does a doctor tell if growth
is cancerous?
By
performing a biopsy i.e. examining a small portion of the tissue under a
microscope. In advanced cases, physical examination alone may reveal the
diagnosis. But the chances of cure at this late stage, are very poor.
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Are cancer and leprosy related?
No.
Leprosy is caused by a germ. Both the symptoms and the treatment for the
two diseases are entirely different.
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Is cancer a
modern disease?
No.
Even as long ago as 3,000 B.C., Egyptian historians made
references to "tumors and ulcers". Mummies from the Gizeb
Pyramids were found to have cancer involving the bones.
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Are some people more prone to certain
types of cancer?
Yes.
Your life-style may make you more prone to some cancers. E.g. cancers of
the Colon, lungs and skin are common in Britain and U.S.A., while
cancers involving the head and neck region are more common in
India. In women, cancer of the breast and uterus are the commonest.
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What are your chances of getting cancer?
One
out of every 8 Indians gets cancer. In other words, there are about 15
to 18 lakh cancer patients in India alone. Though cancer can occur at
any age, the incidence is higher after the age of 40 to 45.
