In 1971, President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act, committing federal resources to finding a cure for cancer. More than 25 years later, cancer is still the second leading cause of death in the United States. Nevertheless there is good news to report. The rate of cancer-related deaths has been significantly reduced, according to the National Cancer Institute. And new treatments are being introduced all the time.
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth or spread of abnormal cells. The abnormal cells can form a mass, or a tumor. Tumors can either be "benign" (not harmful) or "malignant" (cancerous). If the cells grow out of control but are not able to invade other tissues, the tumor is benign. Cells that grow out of control and that can also invade other tissues and spread to other parts of the body represent malignant tumors (cancer). Malignant tumors can spread to other parts of the body by shedding cells into the blood or lymph system.
Cancers are classified according to their origin and the type of tissue involved. Types of cancers include:
The cause of cancer is not clearly known. However, at its most basic level, cancer is a disease of the genes. Genes are the blueprints for our growth and development. Every cell in our body contains our genes, or genetic material. These genes program the cell to divide at a certain rate. When changes to the gene occur, it is called a genetic mutation. These mutations lead to inappropriate growth and division of the cell, which can sometimes cause cancer.
Genetic mutations, or faulty genes, can be inherited or the result of an exposure to carcinogens, substances that can cause genetic mutations. Carcinogens may include:
The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 8.9 million Americans have cancer or a history of cancer. One-half of American men and one-third of American women will develop cancer during their lifetimes. More than 1.3 million cancers will be diagnosed this year.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. with more than 500,000 deaths annually-more than 1,500 people a day. Cancer causes one in four deaths in this country. Cancer rates are approximately 16 percent higher among African-American men than Caucasian men. After steadily increasing for 17 years, the incidence and death rates for all cancers declined between 1990 and 1995. Across the board, incidence rates dropped an average of 0.7 percent each year and overall death rates declined by approximately 0.5 percent per year.
Risk factors are characteristics that increase your chance for developing a condition. Exposure to certain substances in the environment may increase the risk of cancer. In fact, many cancers can be prevented by:
One-third of all cancer deaths are attributed to smoking. The Surgeon General and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that smoking accounts for about 400,000 deaths per year. While smoking is most often associated with lung cancer, it is also a cause of cancers of the:
Other risk factors that cannot be controlled include increasing age and family history. For example, women with a mother, sister, or daughter who has had breast cancer are twice as likely to get the disease. Prostate cancer also appears to have a hereditary link.
Symptoms vary greatly with the location and type of cancer. If you notice one of the early warning signs, consult your doctor immediately. Many cancers can be cured if caught early.
Some of the early warning signs in adults include:
Fortunately, screening tests can detect more than one-half of all new cancers. These include cancers that affect the:
Early detection means early treatment, and early treatment means increased survival rates. For example, 97 percent of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer at an early stage are alive five years after remission. If breast cancer is detected after it has spread, the rate decreases to 21 percent.
If all Americans participated in regular detection programs, the survival rate of many cancers could reach 95 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.
Once you are diagnosed with cancer, your doctor will use a staging system to determine how advanced the cancer is at the time of diagnosis. He/She will measure the cancer's development through a course of treatment. Staging systems can differ according to the type of cancer.
One type of staging involves a "TNM" rating:
Another staging system uses the Roman numerals I to IV. Stage I cancers are usually small and curable and stage IV cancers are the most advanced and most difficult to successfully treat.
Treatment may provide a cure, relieve discomfort, or serve as a preventive measure against recurring tumors. There are three types of treatments most commonly used for cancer. Sometimes these treatments are used individually and other times they are used in combination.
Your doctor will recommend the best option for you depending on the following:
Researchers are currently studying more than 300 new drugs for treating or preventing cancer. In addition to new drugs, the following therapies are under study: