The term cancer is a collective term for all diseases characterized by abnormal cell proliferation. These cancer cells, multiplying, can form a malignant tumor or spread throughout the body.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases.
The cancer can be hereditary. Pollution, smoking, radiation, excessive exposure to sunlight, certain infections are all possible causes of cancer. In many cases, the cause is unknown.
Cancer is diagnosed with certainty by analyzing microscopic samples taken by biopsy.
The evolution of cancer differs from one to another. Certain types of cancer, developing mostly locally, are more likely to achieve remission after treatment. Periodic reviews will monitor recurrence.
The treatment may be limited to ablation. It may require chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Chemotherapy is the absorption of drugs attacking the cancer. The chemotherapy drugs have unpleasant side effects. Radiation therapy is to burn the tumor with radiation.
Cancer is wrongly associated with certain death. In Canada, 70,400 people die from cancer over a number of 153 100 new cases. So less than 46% of cancer cases will be fatal.
24 avril 2010
| The text above is for information purposes only. Only a doctor can diagnose a disease. No treatment (medication or scheme) should be undertaken without consulting a health professional. |