Cancer is a pandemic issue that has gained global attention over the years due to its nearly impossibility in total elimination though some can be cured through expertize procedure. Cancer can be prevented in so many ways.
For us to delve deeper, we have to have a background knowledge of what cancer is all about, this can help us understand better its type and the precautionary method taken to avoid it. Cancer is defined as the haphazard, irregular growth and division of abnormal cells growing continually. It is also referred to as uncontrollable cell proliferation- division and growth- which is majorly as a result of the mutations of the genetic material DNA. These mutations - some kind of alteration or change of the DNA- can make a cell become cancerous. Cancer is seen to be caused by pathogens as retroviruses(RNA tumor inducing virus), carcinogens as chemicals and substances containing Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons and genetics( heritable alleles that predispose one to cancer). It is a global truth that the major causes of cancer amongst 80% of the world populace that are sufferers is caused by Tobacco-first hand and second hand smokers(those that inhale the smoke indirectly)- and diet(food taken containing carcinogens or grown in an environmentally unfriendly place). Cancer begins from tumors- mass of cells- which may be benign tumors-not cancerous- or malignant tumors- cancerous. When these malignant tumors spread from a place to other parts of the surrounding organs, it is said to be metastatic. For instance; a cancer that begins from the breast and enters other surrounding tissues like bone, it is referred to as metastatic breast cancer to bone. Mind you, metastatic cancers are treated differently from particular cancer itself. A specialist in the treatment of cancer is called an Oncologist, he studies oncology- maybe Medical oncology etc.
The various types of cancer are: Myeloma (originating from plasma cells) lymphoma (originating from immune system), leukemia (originating from the blood), CNS cancer( originating from the Central nervous system) and Carcinoma (originating from the skin). Let us drive home the causes of these cancers: Heavy consumption of alcohol and tobacco, red meat, overly roasted food stuffs due to the smoke from the material used to roast them example barbequed meat, exposure to certain chemicals as vinyl chloride, asbestos and exposure to ionizing radiation as Xrays, gamma, alpha, beta and hot sunlight that exceeds 250--280 nanometer. Many more causes are added as researches go by continuously.
The genetics of cancer is studied using Sir Knudson two hit mutational model of cancer which states that two events are necessary for cancer to develop, one in each allele of the cancer causing genes. Moreover there are three set of genes that are responsible for cancer: Proto oncogenes(their products regulate abnormal cell proliferation), tumor suppressor gene p53(their products inhibit cell proliferation) and mutant genes(when mutant causes other cells to be cancerous). However, some types of familial cancer(heritable cancer) can be treated but the gene is still passed on to offspring as in the cases of retinoblastoma (a form of eye tumor) which can be treated by an early exposure of the defected part to an optimized temperature of gamma rays. It is worthy to note that there are two types of cancer sporadic( not inherited, caused by carcinogens) and familial(inherited through genes).
The general symptoms include strong pain in the defected organ, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, in some cases of brain cancer seizures, memory loss, some form of aneurysm( breaking of the arteries) and many more. Cancer is estimated to cause over 70% of deaths by 2030 due to daily mutations as the world over battle with global warming and so many forms of pollution and radiation as a result of technological advancements. Let us help in any way possible we can to prevent the spread of cancer, a healthy lifestyle, enlightenment and donations can help reduce the risk of cancer in any little way possible.
Written by: Achi Godspower Nuel, a student of Genetics and Biotechnology in the university of Calabar, Nigeria.
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