Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in any part of the human body. It can be caused by anything that tends to cause a normal body cell to develop and behave abnormally. Most of the time it is cancer causative agents. The causative agents could be chemically toxic compounds, ionizing radiations, pathogens, etc. Sometimes, cancer can also be caused because of genetic history.
Symptoms of Cancer
Signs and symptoms may differ depending on the part of the body that is affected.
Some generic signs and symptoms associated with cancer are:
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
- Lump formation or thickening of the affected site
- Changes in skin color such as yellowing or darkening
- Sores that don’t heal
- Persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained muscle or joint pain
- Hoarseness
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
- The important thing to note here is that these signs are not just specific to cancer.
Diagnosis of Cancer
Cancer is often determined by the process of biopsy, in which a sample of tissue is collected from the affected site and then carefully examined to identify presence and type of cancer. Stage of cancer is determined by imaging modalities, like CT scan/PET scan.
Treatments of Cancer
There are many types of cancer treatment. The type of treatment that one will receive depends on the type and the advancement of cancer. Some people with cancer might need only one treatment while others may need a combination of various modalities, namely surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy.
Some of the cancer treatments are:
1. Chemotherapy: It is a type of cancer treatment that uses medicines or drugs to kill cancerous cells. Though it is an effective way of treating cancer, it carries a risk of side effects and the effects could differ from mild to severe.
2. Hormone Therapy:It is a type of cancer treatment that slows down or stops the growth of cancers that depends on hormones to grow, like breast cancer & prostate cancer. It does not produce chemotheray like side effects.
3. Immunotherapy: It is a type of cancer treatment that boosts your immune system to fight better against the disease of cancer. The immune system consists of white blood cells, special organs, and chemicals that fight infections and other diseases that your body encounters.
4. Targeted therapy: It is a type of treatment that uses drugs and other substances to precisely identify and attack certain types of cancerous cells. It is used alone or sometimes with the combination of other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy.
5. Radiation Therapy: It is a type of cancer treatment that uses external beams of high intense energy to kill cancerous cells. It often uses X-rays but protons or other energies can also be used.
It damages cancerous cells by destroying the genetic material that controls the functioning of cells like how they grow and divide. But sometimes healthy cells also get damaged while targeting the cancerous cells.
6. Surgery: Cancer surgery is an operational procedure in which a cancerous tumor is removed possibly with nearby tissue to restrict the spread of cancerous cells. It is a traditional way of treating cancer and is very effective against almost every type of cancer.
7. Stem Cell Transplant: It is a procedure that restores the blood-forming stem cells. It is performed in cancer patients who have destroyed their stem cells while having high doses of radiation or chemotherapy.
The formation of stem cells is imperative as they grow into different types of blood cells. These cells are:
- White blood cells (WBC) – They are part of your immune system and help the body fight against infections.
- Red blood cells (RBC) – RBCs carry oxygen throughout the body.
- Platelets – It helps in blood clotting.
At Apollo CBCC Cancer Care, Ahmedabad, we have a specialised team for treating cancers. If you are experiencing any problem, consult with our experts today.