KINDS OF CANCERS
What is Leukaemia ?
Leukaemia is cancer that starts in the tissue
that forms blood. In a person with leukaemia,
the bone marrow produces a very high level a
very high level of white blood cells, referred
as the leukaemia cells. Unlike normal blood
cells, leukaemia cells do not die when they
should. They may crowd out normal white
blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, thus
preventing normal blood cells to do their
work.
What is the Colon Cancer ?
Almost all colon cancers start in glands in
the lining of the colon and rectum, often
referred to as colorectal cancer. There is
no single cause of colon cancer. Nearly all
colon cancers begin as noncancerous
(benign) polyps, which are fleshy growths
that occur on the inside (the lining) of the
colon. Polyps in the colon are extremely
common, and their incidence increase as
individuals get older. However the
noncancerous polyps slowly develop into
cancer.
What is
lung cancer ?
Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of
abnormal cells in the lung. Normal lung
tissue is made up of cells that are
programmed by nature to create lungs of a
certain shape and function. Sometimes the
instructions to a cell go wrong which makes
the cell and its offspring reproduce wildly,
without regard for the shape and
functioning of lung. That wild reproduction
can form tumours that block the lung and
make it stop functioning as it should. Because
of the large size of the lungs, cancer may
grow for many years, undetected
CANCER
What is Prostate Cancer?
Only men have a prostate gland. The prostate
is usually the size and shape of a walnut and
grows bigger as you get older. It sits
underneath the bladder and surrounds the
urethra the tube men urinate (pee) and
ejaculate through.
What is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of
abnormal skin cells. It occurs when
unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most
often caused by ultraviolet radiation from
sunshine or tanning beds) triggers
mutations, or genetic defects, that lead the
skin cells to multiply rapidly and form
malignant tumors.
 What is
cancer ?
Cancer arises from the abnormal and
uncontrolled division of cells, known as cancer
cells that invade and destroy the surrounding
tissues. Growth of cancer cells leads generally to
the formation of a nodule or tumor. One of the
biggest problems with cancer is that it spreads
in different parts of the body. This is called
metastasis.
Cancer types can be grouped into broader
categories. The main categories of cancer include:
Carcinoma - cancer that begins in the skin or
in tissues that line or c over internal organs.
There are a number of subtypes of carcinoma,
including adenocarcinoma, basal cell carcinoma,
squamous cell carcinoma, and transitional cell
carcinoma.
Sarcoma - cancer that begins in bone, cartilage,
fat muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or
supportive tissue.
Leukemia - cancer that starts in blood-forming
tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large
numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced
and enter the blood.
Lymphoma and myeloma - cancers that
begin in the cells of the immune system.
Central nervous system cancers - cancers
that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal
cord.
Origins of Cancer
All cancers begin in cells, the body's basic unit of
life. To understand cancer, it's helpful to know
what happens when normal cells become cancer
cells.
The body is made up of many types of cells. These
cells grow and divide in a controlled way to
produce more cells as they are needed to keep the
body healthy. When cells become old or damaged,
they die and are replaced with new cells.
However, sometimes this orderly process goes
wrong. The genetic material (DNA) of a cell can
become damaged or changed, producing
mutations that affect normal cell growth and
division. When this happens, cells do not die when
they should and new cells form when the body
does not need them. The extra cells may form a
mass of tissue called a tumor.
CANCER
SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms caused by cancer will vary
depending on what part of the body is affected.
Some general signs and symptoms associated
with, but not specific to, cancer include:
Fatigue
Lump or thickening that can be felt under the
skin
Weight changes, including unintended loss or
gain
Skin changes, such as yellowing, darkening or
redness of the skin, sores that won't heal, or
changes to existing moles
Changes in bowel or bladder habits
Persistent cough
Difficulty swallowing
Hoarseness
Persistent indigestion or discomfort after
eating
Persistent, unexplained muscle or joint pain
Unexplained and persistent fevers or night
sweats