Hi there!
Welcome to our blog post about cancer. In here, we will explain everything you need to know about cancer.
First, we will explain what does cancer means.
Then, we will explain the risk factors, causes, signs and syptoms, treatment, preventions and we will give you a bit of advice concerning cancer.
Sounds great? Let's dive in...
{getToc} $title={Table of Contents} $count={Boolean}
Overview
Imagine being told that you have cancer. We suspect you may have faced this to yourself or a loved one.
Over 20 years, Oncologists have had to share this news with the patients and their relatives countless times, and it doesn't get easier, nor should it.
Every cancer is different, but our reaction to cancer is usually the same: fear. In fact, we're so afraid of it that we sometimes can't even say it, and we call it the C word.
Why wouldn't it be fearful? Cancer is scary, and we live in a popular culture that perpetuates this fear. Think of all the tear-jerking movies where cancer is the ultimate enemy. We use the kind of military metaphors with cancer that you rarely see with other illnesses: the war on cancer, the cancer battle, he's a cancer fighter, or she lost her battle with cancer.
Who's affected by cancer?
Sometimes our reaction to fear may be denial. So, you may be thinking that cancer won't happen to me, but we tell you, currently the odds are each and every one of us can expect to come face to face with the words you have cancer; told either to ourselves or a close loved one.
Current cancer statistics estimate that almost one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer over their lifetime.
And according to the World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source, cancer accounted for almost 1 in 6 deaths in 2020.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Experts are working hard to test out new cancer treatments every day.
What is cancer?
In simple words...
Cancer is a large group of diseases in which some of the body's cells grow uncontrollably and can even invade nearby tissues or other organs.
Normally, cells in the body divide and multiply to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced by new cells. However, sometimes this process goes wrong and some cells do not die when they should or start to grow and divide faster than normal.
These abnormal cells can form a mass called a tumor which appears like a lump of tissue. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body and are usually not life-threatening, while malignant tumors can break away from their original site and travel through the blood or lymphatic system to form new tumors in other organs. This process is called metastasis and is a major cause of death from cancer.
Many cancers develop as solid tumors, but blood cancers like leukemia typically do not form tumors.
The most common types of cancer
The following are the most common types of cancer.
Breast cancer: A cancer that forms in the cells of the breast.
Prostate cancer: A cancer in a man's prostate, a small walnut sized gland that produces seminal fluid.
Basal cell cancer: A type of skin cancer that begins in the basal cells.
Melanoma: The most serious type of skin cancer.
Colon cancer: A cancer of the colon or rectum, located at the digestive tract's lower end.
Lung cancer: A cancer that begins in the lungs and most often occur in people who smoke.
Leukemia: A cancer of blood forming tissues hindering the body's ability to fight infections.
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A cancer of the lymphatic system.
Differences between Cancer Cells and Normal Cells
Cancer cells are different from normal cells in several ways. These are;
✍️ Cancer cells grow even without receiving signals that instruct them to do so, unlike normal cells, which only grow when they receive these specific signals.
✍️ Cancer cells invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body, unlike normal cells, which stop growing when they come into contact with other cells and typically remain in place.
✍️ Cancer cells disregard signals that typically instruct cells to cease dividing or to undergo cell death.
✍️ Cancer cells inform blood vessels to grow towards tumors. These blood vessels provide them with oxygen, nutrients, and removing waste products.
✍️ Cancer cells hide from the immune system, which usually works to remove damaged or abnormal cells.
✍️ Cancer cells deceive the immune system, allowing them to survive and grow. For example, certain cancer cells manipulate immune cells into defending the tumor rather than attacking it.
✍️ Cancer cells go through several changes in their chromosomes, like copying or losing parts of them. Some cancer cells even have twice the usual number of chromosomes.
✍️ Cancer cells use different nutrients than normal cells. They also produce energy in a different way, allowing them to grow faster than normal cells.
Causes of cancer: How does cancer develop?
Charlotte was 48 years old when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and one of the things she kept repeating as she sat across from an oncologist was why? It is not fair.
It's true that cancer isn't fair. Lifestyle choices and family history can influence our risk of cancer, but that doesn't tell the whole story.
In a Johns Hopkins study, researchers found that many cancers may occur from seemingly random mutations that may either turn on a cancer-promoting gene or turn off a cancer-suppressing gene.
So, the fault lies in our genes.
In a nutshell, Cancer is caused by changes in the DNA of cells famously known as mutations.
DNA is the molecule that contains the instructions for how cells should function and grow.
Mutations can occur for various reasons, such as:
Inherited from parents: Some people are born with genetic mutations that increase their risk of developing certain types of cancer. These mutations are called germline mutations and are present in every cell of the body. Examples of inherited cancers include breast, ovarian, colorectal, and prostate cancers.
Acquired during life: Most mutations that cause cancer are acquired during a person's lifetime due to exposure to environmental factors, such as tobacco smoke, radiation, chemicals, viruses, or chronic inflammation. These mutations are called somatic mutations and occur only in the affected cells. Examples of acquired cancers include lung, skin, cervical, and liver cancers.
Mutations can affect different types of genes that control various aspects of cell behavior, such as:
Oncogenes (cancer stimulating genes): These are genes that normally stimulate cell growth and division. Mutations that activate oncogenes can cause cells to grow and divide faster than normal.
Cancer suppressor genes: These are genes that normally limit cell growth and division. Mutations that inactivate tumor suppressor genes can cause cells to lose their ability to stop the cells from growing or to cause cells to die when they should.
DNA repair genes: These are genes that normally fix errors in the DNA that occur during cell division. Mutations that impair DNA repair genes can cause cells to accumulate more mutations over time.
In his Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Emperor of All Maladies, Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee writes "cancer is a flaw in our growth, but this flaw is deeply entrenched in ourselves." Cancer isn't a foreign enemy; it comes from us, from our DNA.
So let's accept then that we likely will come face-to-face with the C word and our reaction will include fear, and that's understandable. Though that's the hard news.
Types of cancer
There are over 100 types of cancer, usually named after the part of the body where they start. For example, lung cancer starts in the lungs, and brain cancer starts in the brain. Some cancers are also named after the type of cell they originate from, like epithelial cells or squamous cells.
You can find information on specific types of cancer, either by the location in the body or by using the A to Z List of Cancers. There's also information available on childhood cancers and cancers in teenagers and young adults.
Here are some main categories of cancer based on the type of cells they start in:
Carcinoma
Carcinomas are the most common type of cancer. They start in epithelial cells, which are the cells that cover the surfaces of the body, both inside and out. There are several types of epithelial cells:
Adenocarcinoma: This cancer starts in cells that produce fluids or mucus, often called glandular tissues. Common examples include breast, colon, and prostate cancers.
Basal cell carcinoma: This type begins in the lower layer of the skin’s outer surface.
Squamous cell carcinoma: This cancer forms in squamous cells, which are flat cells just under the outer skin surface and in various organs like the lungs and bladder.
Transitional cell carcinoma: This starts in a type of epithelial tissue called transitional epithelium, found in the lining of the bladder, ureters, and part of the kidneys.
Sarcomas
Sarcomas are the cancers that start in bones and soft tissues, such as muscles, fat, blood vessels, and fibrous tissues like tendons. Examples include osteosarcoma, which affects the bones, and various types of soft tissue sarcomas like liposarcoma and Kaposi sarcoma.
Leukemia
Leukemia is a cancer that begins in the blood-forming tissue of the bone marrow and doesn't form solid tumors. Instead, it leads to an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells, which can crowd out normal blood cells and affect the body’s ability to function properly. There are four main types of leukemia, categorized by how fast they grow and the type of blood cell they start in.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that help fight infections.
There are two main types:
Hodgkin lymphoma: Features abnormal lymphocytes called Reed-Sternberg cells, usually forming from B cells.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A large group of cancers that start in lymphocytes, either B cells or T cells.
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins in plasma cells, another type of immune cell. These cells accumulate in the bone marrow, forming tumors in various bones. This condition is also known as plasma cell myeloma.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a cancer that starts in melanocytes, the cells that produce the pigment melanin, which gives skin its color. While most melanomas appear on the skin, they can also occur in other pigmented tissues like the eye.
Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
These tumors start in different types of cells within the brain or spinal cord and are named based on the cell type and location in the central nervous system. For instance, astrocytic tumors start in star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes.
Other Tumor Types
Germ Cell Tumors: These start in the cells that produce sperm or eggs and can occur almost anywhere in the body. They can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Neuroendocrine Tumors: These form from cells that release hormones into the blood and may cause a variety of symptoms. They can be benign or malignant.
Carcinoid Tumors: A type of slow-growing neuroendocrine tumor usually found in the gastrointestinal system, which can spread and cause symptoms related to hormone production.
You can explore our website for more detailed information on each type of cancer and tumor.
What are the risk factors for Cancer?
It is usually not easily understood to know exactly why one person develops cancer and others don't. But researches have shown that certain things may increase a person’s chances of developing cancer. These things are what we call risk factors.
There are also factors that are linked to a lower risk of cancer. These are sometimes called protective risk factors, or just protective factors.
Cancer risk factors include exposure to chemicals or other substances, as well as certain behaviors. They also include things people cannot control, like age and family history. A family history of certain cancers can be a sign of developing that cancer at a certain time in life. Let's explore some of them;
Age: As we get older, our bodies go through a lot of changes, just like how a car or machine gets worn out after many years of use. When we're young, our bodies are strong and can repair damage easily. But as we age, our body’s ability to fix itself slows down.
Over time, tiny mistakes can happen in our cells, like when you make a typo while writing. These mistakes might not cause problems right away, but as we get older, they can add up. If enough of these mistakes happen, they can turn into cancer.
So, getting older means our bodies have had more time to collect these mistakes, which is why age is a risk factor for cancer. It doesn’t mean everyone will get cancer as they age, but it does make it more likely compared to when we were younger.
Alcohol: When you drink alcohol, it turns into a chemical in your body that can damage your cells. Think of it like this: every time you drink alcohol, it's like giving your body a tiny scratch. Over time, if you keep drinking a lot, those tiny scratches can add up and cause serious damage to your cells. Damaged cells can start to grow out of control, which is how cancer can begin.
Consuming alcohol can raise your risk of developing cancer in areas like the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx (voice box), liver, and breast. The more you drink, the greater the risk becomes. This risk is significantly higher for individuals who both drink alcohol and use tobacco.
Stress: Stress is when you feel really worried or upset for a long time. When you're stressed, your body gets tired and weak because it’s always on high alert, like a car engine running all the time. This can make it harder for your body to fight off things that could cause cancer. Also, when people are stressed, they might pick up bad habits like smoking, eating unhealthy food, or not exercising, which can also increase the chances of getting cancer.
Cancer causing substances: Some things we come into contact with, like certain chemicals or materials, are known as cancer-causing substances. These substances are dangerous because they can damage our body's cells. Imagine your cells are like tiny building blocks. When these substances touch your cells, they can mess them up, kind of like breaking or bending those blocks. Over time, if too many cells get damaged, it can lead to cancer. So, being around these harmful substances increases the chance of getting cancer.
Some cancer-causing exposures, like tobacco smoke and sunlight, can be avoided. However, others are more difficult to steer clear of, especially when they are present in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we consume, or the materials we handle at work. Scientists are researching which exposures might lead to or contribute to cancer. Knowing which exposures are harmful and where they are found can help people avoid them.
Chronic inflammation: When you get a cut or an infection, your body responds by getting red, swollen, and maybe even a little sore. This is called inflammation, and it’s your body’s way of fighting off something bad and helping you heal. But sometimes, inflammation doesn’t go away and sticks around for a long time, even when there’s no infection or injury. This is called chronic inflammation.
Imagine if you kept scratching the same spot on your skin every day. Eventually, that spot would get damaged and might not heal properly. Chronic inflammation works similarly inside your body. It keeps irritating and damaging your cells. Over time, this constant damage can cause your cells to change in ways they shouldn’t, and these changes can lead to cancer.
Common cancer myth and Misconception: Believing in false ideas about cancer is like walking in the dark without a flashlight. If you believe wrong information, you might not do the right things to protect yourself from cancer. For example, some people think that only smokers get cancer or that you don’t need to go to the doctor if you feel fine.
These wrong beliefs can stop people from taking care of their health, getting regular check-ups, or changing bad habits. This means cancer can grow and spread without being noticed until it’s too late to treat it properly. So, not knowing the truth about cancer can actually put you at a higher risk of getting it.
Diet: The food you eat is like fuel for your body, just like how a car needs the right fuel to run well. When you eat healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, you're giving your body the good fuel it needs to stay strong and healthy.
But if you eat a lot of unhealthy foods—like too much junk food, processed meats (like sausages and hot dogs), sugary snacks, and drinks—you're putting bad fuel into your body. This bad fuel can cause damage over time. For example, eating too much red meat and processed foods can increase your chances of getting cancer in parts of your body, like your stomach or intestines.
Also, if you don't get enough fruits and vegetables, your body might not get the vitamins and nutrients it needs to fight off diseases like cancer. Some foods even have chemicals that protect your body from damage, and without these, your body is more vulnerable to cancer.
Hormones: Hormones can be a risk factor for cancer because they help control many of our body's functions, and sometimes they can make cells grow too much or act abnormally.
Hormones are like messengers in your body that tell your cells what to do. Sometimes, if you have too many of certain hormones or if they are not balanced right, they can make cells grow too quickly. This extra growth can sometimes lead to cancer. For example, in cancers like breast cancer, certain hormones can make the cancer cells grow faster. It's like if a factory gets too many orders and starts producing too much, it can lead to problems.
Immunosuppression: Immunosuppression is when your immune system, which protect your body from diseases, doesn’t work as well as it should.
Your immune system is like your body's defense team, always on guard to fight off germs and harmful things. When your immune system is weak or not working properly, it’s like having a weak defense team that can't protect you as well. This means harmful things, like cancer cells, can grow and spread more easily because your body isn't strong enough to fight them off.
People with HIV/AIDS or those who have received organ transplant are mostly immunosuppressed and therefore are prone to cancer.
Infectious Agents: Infectious agents, like certain viruses and bacteria, can increase the risk of cancer.
Some germs, like certain viruses or bacteria, can stay in your body and cause damage over time. For example, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) can cause changes in the cells of your body that might lead to cancer, especially in places like the cervix. Another example is Hepatitis B and C viruses, which can damage the liver and increase the risk of liver cancer.
Obesity: Obesity, or being very overweight, can increase the risk of cancer because it puts extra strain on your body. Imagine your body as a machine that's working too hard. When you’re obese, your body has to work harder to process all the extra fat. This can lead to changes in your cells and how they grow, which might make it easier for cancer to start.
Additionally, extra fat can cause inflammation and release substances that might encourage cancer growth. So, staying at a healthy weight helps your body work better and reduces the risk of cancer.
Sunlight: Sunlight can be a risk factor for cancer because it contains ultraviolet (UV) rays that can harm your skin.
When you stay out in the sun for too long without protection, the UV rays from the sunlight can burn your skin. Over time, these burns can damage your skin cells. This damage can cause changes in the cells that might lead to skin cancer. So, it’s important to protect your skin by wearing sunscreen, hats, or staying in the shade to reduce the risk of getting skin cancer from the sun.
Tobacco: Tobacco, like in cigarettes, contains harmful chemicals. When you smoke or use tobacco, these chemicals go into your body and can damage your cells. Over time, this damage can make your cells grow in a way that’s not normal, which can lead to cancer. It’s like if you keep putting dirty water into a clean tank; eventually, the tank gets ruined and stops working properly. Similarly, the chemicals from tobacco can ruin your body’s cells and lead to cancer.
Tobacco use causes many types of cancer, including cancer of the lung, larynx (voice box), mouth, esophagus, throat, bladder, kidney, liver, stomach, pancreas, colon and rectum, and cervix, as well as acute myeloid leukemia. People who use smokeless tobacco (snuff or chewing tobacco) have increased risks of cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and pancreas.
How to Prevent Cancer?
Now we would like to share with you some hopeful news. We believe that we, as individuals, each and every one of us, have the power to exercise our agency and change our narrative of cancer. Has the ability to prevent cancer and win it early. Let's flip the script on this C word. Our prescription for you today is to leverage three other C words that will shift your thinking on cancer. These Three C's are control, curiosity and courage.
C for Control
Yes and we mean it, let's take control of what's in our control. We know that early detection is our best chance of curing cancer, yet many times action isn't taken until it's too late.
When Doctors see a patient for the first time, there are things they can say to them and some things they can't. One of the things they say in their head sometimes is that they wish they had seen the patient earlier. They can't say it because they can't turn back time.
The reality is that for many cancers, if we wait until we have obvious symptoms, it may be too late. Fortunately, for many cancers, we have the ability to detect them early through cancer screening, but we need to take control and get screened. Take colorectal cancer, for example. It's the third most common cancer, and many studies have shown that screening can detect cancer early and save lives, yet only about 60 percent of people eligible for screening are getting screened.
Why? Why are almost half of us not doing this? Sure, it can be understood that collecting your stool or getting a colonoscopy may not be your idea of a fun time, it's true, but usually that's not the real reason. Often, it's because, at some level, we believe, we hope cancer won't happen to us. Maybe if you don't look, it won't be there.
Dr. Gill's parents were already well into their 60s before she could convince them to get a colonoscopy, and when nothing else worked, she had to invoke the embarrassment that it would cause their daughter, the cancer specialist. If they were ever diagnosed with cancer and someone found out they'd never been screened, the guilt worked, but it shouldn't come to that. We all can take greater personal control, which includes adopting strategies that can reduce our risk of cancer, enjoying a healthy diet, not smoking, being sun-smart, getting as much exercise as you can, and yes, talking to your doctor and getting screened.
C for Curiosity
Be curious. What does that mean? Well, if the fault lies in our genes, then let's understand our genes. Do you know your family history? If not, find out if there's an inherited risk of cancer and share that with your doctor. If you or a loved one is facing a diagnosis of cancer, try not to agonize over why. Trust me, it's not a productive use of your valuable time.
We need to focus our energy on what lies ahead. Be curious. Ask lots of questions. Learn what you can about your cancer and the treatments that may be available, and be an active part of your cancer team if it can't be, find someone in your circle of trust to be that advocate for you. Doctors believe that an informed patient is an empowered patient.
C for Courage
Sir Winston Churchill once famously said that fear is a reaction, courage is a decision. Courage also means strength, often in the face of uncertainty and pain, and courage means trust in science.
Researchers can tell you that the global cancer community is making advances at an unprecedented pace. They're interrogating cancers at a molecular level, down to their DNA, and using that information to apply treatments with greater precision.
For some cancers, they can even harness the power of our own immunity with immunotherapeutic medicines that can unmask the cancer and make it vulnerable to our army of immune cells. We know it's very exciting. We have a long way to go, but we have great hope for what lies ahead. Trust in science.
At the same time, have the courage to differentiate science from pseudoscience. If it sounds too good to be true, take a gut check and please think again.
Acting with courage also means asking the difficult questions such as: What are the goals of my treatment, and what if this treatment doesn't work?
A Story to learn
Eric had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. His treatments included surgery, radiation, many rounds of chemotherapy, and he even participated in an experimental trial. Eric surpassed Dr. Gill's initial guarded expectations and went on to live with his cancer for over six years, but his cancer was now inevitably progressing. He came in to see her with his usual expectant look of okay, what's next?
Knowing the oncologists' options were limited, they began talking about a treatment that had many possible side effects but only a small chance of benefit. Eric was quiet. Dr. Gill asked him what he was hoping for. He put time with family first, and then he said, "Dr. Gill, I love to karaoke. Okay, she was not quite expecting that. He went on to say, "I want to be able to enjoy that with my family for as long as I have; I don't want to risk that for a treatment that's going to make me feel pretty sick and may not even help.
Dr. Gill and Eric talked some more and together decided to transition to a plan that focused on managing symptoms and palliative care, and they talked about dying, which took great courage.
Dr. Gill had a video call with Eric a few weeks before he died, and he said it was really hard to accept that he was coming to the end of his journey, but he was grateful to be able to choose how his story ended.
Cancer is hard, but we need to shed this outdated baggage and stigma. Now's the time to flip the script on that C word. Let's shift our thinking from denial to realization, from why me to what I can do, and from fear to empowerment. How can you do that? Take control, be curious, have courage.
When Does Cancer Spread?
Cancer spreads when cancer cells break away from the original tumor and move to other parts of the body. This process is known as metastasis
Cancer starts in one part of the body, forming a primary tumor. As the tumor grows, some cancer cells might start to invade nearby tissues. These cancer cells can break away from the original tumor and invade surrounding tissues. For example, if the primary tumor is in the breast, the cells might spread to nearby tissues such as the chest wall or lymph nodes under the arm.
Once cancer cells invade nearby tissues, they can enter the bloodstream or the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels that help fight infections. The bloodstream and lymphatic system act as highways, allowing cancer cells to travel to other parts of the body.
Cancer cells use the bloodstream or lymphatic system to travel to distant organs, such as the lungs, liver, bones, or brain.
After traveling through the body, cancer cells may settle in a new location and start to grow, forming a secondary tumor, known as a metastasis. Even though the new tumor forms in a different part of the body, it’s still made up of the same type of cancer cells as the original tumor. Therefore, this Metastatic cancer retains the name and characteristics of the original (or primary) cancer. For instance, if breast cancer spreads to the lungs, the new tumor in the lungs is still called metastatic breast cancer, not lung cancer.
Under a microscope, the cells in metastatic cancer look similar to the cells from the original cancer. They also share some of the same molecular features, like specific changes in chromosomes.
Cancer can spread at different stages of its development, depending on factors like how aggressive the cancer cells are and the body's response to the cancer. Some cancers may spread early, while others take longer.
In some cases, treatments can help extend the lives of people with metastatic cancer, while in other cases, the focus of treatment is on controlling the cancer's growth or easing symptoms. Unfortunately, metastatic cancer can severely disrupt how the body functions, and it is often the cause of death in people with cancer.
Signs and Symptoms of cancer
Cancer is a complex disease. Sometimes, you can have it for years without noticing any signs. Other times, symptoms might appear and get worse quickly. Many cancer symptoms can look like other, less serious health issues.
Spotting cancer early can save lives, so if something in your body feels abnormal, don't hesitate—tell your doctor. You don’t need to memorize every sign or symptom; just pay attention to your body. Most unusual changes aren’t cancer, but if they are, early detection is crucial.
There are over 100 types of cancer, each with its own set of signs and symptoms. Some affect specific areas like the stomach or skin, while others are more general, like unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or pain.
Common symptoms, like lumps, are well-known, but they're not necessarily more important. Any unusual symptom should be checked out by a doctor.
Cancer can manifest differently in everyone, and some people may have no symptoms at all. Therefore, it's key to know what's normal for you and to consult a doctor about any persistent changes. Early detection makes treatment more effective.
Early symptoms of cancer
✍️ Unexplained Weight Loss: You might notice that you're losing weight without trying, even though you're not dieting or exercising more than usual. Your clothes may feel looser, and people might comment that you look thinner.
This is because cancer cells use a lot of energy, which can cause your body to burn more calories than usual. This leads to weight loss, even if you’re not trying to lose weight. Some cancers also affect your metabolism, making it harder for your body to maintain its normal weight.
✍️Chronic Tiredness: You may feel exhausted all the time, even after getting enough sleep. Simple tasks that used to be easy, like walking up stairs or carrying groceries, might feel unusually hard. You might also find it difficult to stay awake or concentrate during the day.
This is because cancer can cause fatigue by disrupting how your body produces energy. The body may use more energy to fight the disease, leaving you feeling constantly tired. Additionally, cancer can cause anemia (a lack of red blood cells), which reduces oxygen supply to the body’s tissues, leading to exhaustion.
✍️ Persistent Pain: You could experience pain that doesn’t go away, even with rest or over-the-counter painkillers. This pain might be dull or sharp, and it could be in one specific area or all over your body. The pain may interfere with your daily activities and may not have an obvious cause.
This is because as tumors grow, they can press on nerves, bones, or organs, causing pain. Cancer that spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body can also cause chronic pain. In some cases, the cancer itself releases chemicals that can cause pain.
✍️ Fever that Occurs Mostly at Night: You might notice that you’re getting fevers in the evening or at night, often making you feel hot and sweaty. These fevers might come and go, and you may wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat.
This is because some cancers affect the body's immune system, making you more prone to infections that can cause fever. Additionally, certain cancers release substances that raise your body temperature, leading to fevers, especially at night.
✍️ Skin Changes (Moles): You might see that a mole you’ve had for a while is getting bigger, changing color, or becoming uneven in shape. You might also notice new moles appearing on your skin. These changes could be accompanied by itching, bleeding, or discomfort.
Skin cancers, like melanoma, can cause changes in moles or the appearance of new ones. Cancer cells can alter the DNA in skin cells, leading to abnormal growth. This can make moles change in shape, size, or color. If you notice any new moles or changes in existing ones, it’s important to have them checked by a healthcare provider.
Late Symptoms of cancer
✍️ Bruising or Bleeding More Easily: You might notice that you’re getting bruises from minor bumps or that your skin bruises without any clear reason. You could also find that small cuts or injuries take longer to stop bleeding, or that you bleed more than usual from your gums when brushing your teeth. This happens because cancer can affect your blood’s ability to clot properly, which is often due to a low platelet count or other blood disorders related to cancer.
✍️ Lumps or Bumps Under Your Skin That Don’t Go Away: You might feel a lump or bump under your skin, which could be painless or tender to the touch. These lumps often appear in areas like the neck, armpits, or groin, but they can occur anywhere. They usually don’t go away over time and may gradually grow larger. These lumps can be swollen lymph nodes or tumors that form as a result of cancer.
✍️ Difficulty Breathing: You may notice that you’re short of breath more often, even when doing simple activities like walking or climbing stairs. This might feel like you’re not getting enough air, or you could find it harder to take deep breaths. Difficulty breathing can be due to cancer affecting the lungs, blocking airways, or causing fluid to build up around the lungs.
✍️ Difficulty Swallowing: You might feel like food or liquids are getting stuck in your throat or chest when you try to swallow. It could be painful or uncomfortable, and you might find yourself needing to chew food more thoroughly or take smaller bites. This symptom can occur if cancer is affecting the esophagus or nearby areas, making it harder for food to pass through smoothly.
Tests and Diagnosis
How Do Healthcare Providers Diagnose Cancer?
When diagnosing cancer, healthcare providers start with a thorough physical examination and will ask you about your symptoms and family medical history. They might also perform the following tests:
Blood Tests:
Complete Blood Count (CBC): Measures and counts different types of blood cells.
Tumor Markers: Identifies substances released by cancer cells or by your body in response to cancer.
Blood Protein Tests: Detects specific proteins that your immune system may release in response to certain cancers.
Circulating Tumor Cell Tests: Monitors cancer by tracking cells that cancerous tumors may shed into your bloodstream.
Imaging Tests:
CT Scan: Uses radiations to provides detailed images to locate tumors and check their impact on organs and bones.
X-rays: Uses radiation to create detailed images of your bones and soft tissues.
PET Scan: Shows how your organs and tissues are functioning and can detect early signs of cancer.
Ultrasound: Uses sound waves to create images of the inside of your body.
MRI: Creates detailed images using a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer.
MIGB: A special scan used to detect certain types of cancer, like neuroblastoma.
Biopsies:
A biopsy involves taking a small sample of cells, tissue, or fluid from your body to look at under a microscope. There are different types of biopsies:
Needle Biopsy: A thin needle is used to take a sample from a suspicious lump, often used for breast or thyroid cancer.
Skin Biopsy: A small piece of skin is removed to test for skin cancer.
Bone Marrow Biopsy: A sample of bone marrow is taken to check for cancer in the bone marrow.
Endoscopic/Laparoscopic Biopsy: A camera is inserted through a small cut to see inside your body and take a sample.
Excisional/Incisional Biopsy: A surgeon removes all or part of a tumor to test it.
Perioperative Biopsy: A quick biopsy done during surgery, with results available right away to guide treatment.
Genetic Testing:
Cancer can develop due to changes (mutations) in certain genes. Over 400 genes have been linked to cancer. If you inherit these genes from your parents, you might have a higher risk of getting cancer. Genetic testing can help identify these risks and guide treatment by targeting specific cancer genes.
How is Cancer Staging Determined?
Healthcare providers use a system to figure out the stage of cancer, which helps them plan treatment and predict the outcome. The most common system is called TNM.
T (Tumor): The size and extent of the primary tumor.
N (Nodes): Whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
M (Metastasis): Whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
What Are the Four Stages of Cancer?
Most cancers are categorized into four stages based on factors like the size of the tumor and where it’s located.
Stage 0: Early cancer, localized, and usually easily treatable.
Stage I: Cancer is small and hasn’t spread.
Stage II: Cancer has grown but hasn’t spread far.
Stage III: Cancer is larger and may have spread to lymph nodes or nearby tissues.
Stage IV: Cancer has spread to other organs or distant parts of the body, known as advanced or metastatic cancer.
Management and Treatment
How do doctors treat cancer?
Doctors use different treatments to fight cancer, often combining them based on the specific situation. Here are some common treatments:
Chemotherapy: This is one of the most common ways to treat cancer. It uses strong medicines to kill cancer cells. You might take these medicines as pills or get them through a needle into a vein. Sometimes, doctors can direct the medicine to a specific area of the body.
Radiation therapy: This treatment uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells. Doctors might combine radiation with chemotherapy for better results.
Surgery: If the cancer hasn’t spread, doctors might be able to remove the tumor through surgery. Sometimes, they combine surgery with chemotherapy or radiation to shrink the tumor before surgery or to kill any remaining cancer cells afterward.
Hormone therapy: Some cancers grow because of certain hormones. In these cases, doctors may prescribe medicines that block those hormones. For example, men with prostate cancer might take medicine to lower testosterone levels, as this hormone can contribute to the growth of prostate cancer.
Biological response modifier therapy: This treatment boosts your immune system so it can fight cancer more effectively by changing the way your body naturally works.
Immunotherapy: This is a treatment that helps your immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. It’s also known as biological therapy.
Targeted therapy: This treatment targets specific genetic changes or mutations that cause healthy cells to become cancerous.
Bone marrow transplant: Also known as stem cell transplantation, this treatment replaces damaged stem cells with healthy ones. If your own healthy stem cells are used, it’s called autologous transplantation. If stem cells from a donor are used, it’s called allogeneic transplantation.
What are the side effects of cancer treatment?
Doctors try to find a balance in cancer treatment to kill the cancer without causing too many side effects. However, all cancer treatments can have side effects, some of which can last for years after treatment ends. Many people benefit from palliative care, which helps relieve symptoms and side effects. The most common side effects of cancer treatment include:
Anemia: Low red blood cell count, which can make you feel weak or tired.
Nausea and vomiting: Feeling sick to your stomach and possibly throwing up.
Fatigue: Feeling very tired, even when you haven’t done much.
Pain: Discomfort in different parts of the body.
Hair loss: Chemotherapy and radiation can cause hair to fall out.
Skin changes: You might notice dryness, itching, or redness.
Appetite changes: You may not feel like eating or might lose weight.
Mouth sores: Painful spots or sores can develop in the mouth.
Diarrhea or constipation: Changes in bowel habits are common.
Sleep problems: Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep.
These side effects can vary depending on the type of treatment and how your body reacts to it. Your healthcare team will work with you to manage these side effects and help you feel as comfortable as possible during treatment.
Outlook / Prognosis
What is the outlook for cancer?
These days, more people are either being cured of cancer or living longer with it. Generally, if cancer is found and treated early before it spreads, the chances of recovery are good.
However, every person's situation is different, and so is their cancer outlook. Your doctors will consider several factors to predict how you might do, such as:
✍️ Your overall health.
✍️ The type of cancer you have.
✍️ The stage of your cancer (how advanced it is).
✍️ How well you might respond to treatment.
All these factors together help shape your prognosis. The best person to talk to about your specific outlook is your healthcare provider because they understand your situation and know you well.
What are cancer survival rates?
Survival rates give an estimate based on the experiences of large groups of people with different types of cancer. These rates vary depending on the type of cancer, its stage, and how it's treated. According to recent data from the National Cancer Institute, 68% of people with any type of cancer were still alive five years after their diagnosis.
Living with Cancer
How can I manage living with cancer?
Taking care of yourself is a big part of living with cancer. Here are some tips:
Eat well and stay active: Developing healthy eating and exercise habits is important. You can ask a nutritionist for meal ideas that are good for your health.
Listen to your body: Feeling tired is a common side effect of cancer and its treatment. Make sure to rest whenever you feel the need, not just when you find the time.
Coping with a long-term illness: Living with cancer might be something you face for a long time. This can be challenging, so talking to a mental health professional or joining a support group might help you deal with these difficulties.
What is cancer survivorship?
If you have cancer, you're considered a cancer survivor. This journey starts the day you’re diagnosed and continues throughout your life. As a survivor, you might face several challenges:
Cancer returning: Sometimes, treatments don't get rid of all the cancer cells, and those remaining cells can grow into new tumors. When cancer comes back, it's called recurrent cancer. It can return in the same place, nearby, or even spread to other parts of the body.
Second cancer: This refers to a new type of cancer that develops after the first one. It could be in the same area as the original cancer or somewhere else in the body. Second cancers are becoming more common as more people live longer after their initial cancer diagnosis.
Cancer fatigue: Many people experience extreme tiredness that doesn’t go away, even after rest. For some, this fatigue can continue even after treatment ends.
Cancer pain: Certain cancer treatments can cause lasting pain. For example, some people develop a condition called peripheral neuropathy, which is ongoing pain due to nerve damage from treatment.
Chemotherapy brain fog: This refers to difficulties with memory, concentration, and completing tasks that some people experience during or after cancer treatment. About 75% of people receiving treatment report issues like these to their doctors.
When should I contact my healthcare provider?
During cancer treatment, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns. Reach out to your oncology team right away if you notice any of the following:
✍️ A fever of 101°F (38.33°C) or higher
✍️ Severe headaches
✍️ Chills
✍️ Persistent coughing
✍️ Difficulty breathing
✍️ Sores on your lips or in your mouth
✍️ Sudden weight loss of more than five pounds
✍️ Excessive vomiting (three times an hour for three or more hours)
✍️ Blood in your urine or stool
✍️ Unusual bleeding or bruising
What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?
Being informed about your condition can help you make better decisions. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, consider asking your healthcare provider the following questions:
✍️ What type of cancer do I have?
✍️ Is my cancer linked to my genes?
✍️ What is my outlook for survival?
✍️ Which treatments do you recommend for me?
✍️ What are the potential risks and benefits of these treatments?
✍️ How long will my treatment last?
✍️ Can I continue working while undergoing treatment?
✍️ Will the treatment affect my ability to have children?
✍️ Will I need to stay in the hospital during my treatment?
✍️ Could a clinical trial be a suitable option for me?
Our Last Words
Hearing the words "You have cancer" can be one of the toughest moments in life. It’s normal to feel scared and overwhelmed when you get this news. Many people feel like they’ve lost control over their lives. Your healthcare providers understand these emotions. They know that being diagnosed with cancer changes everything, and that the treatment process can be incredibly stressful. Remember, if you have cancer, your healthcare team will support you every step of the way.
