The most common types of Cancer and how to prevent each one

The most common types of Cancer and how to prevent each one

Cancer has been considered a tragic and unfair fact of life since the beginning of time. The oldest documented case of cancer is found in an ancient Egyptian papyrus book about surgery dating back to 3000 BC. Of course, the word “cancer” appears nowhere in this form, but certainly tissues with the disease have been found in humans and other animals long before the advent of writing.

In the 5,000 years since cancer was first described, the origins and causes of the disease have been at the forefront of medical study. Even now, in the 21st century, there is still no sign of a surefire cure in sight. It is precisely for this reason that disease prevention remains an eternally important practice.

With no cure available and treatments increasingly expensive, knowing what to do and what not to do to reduce the chances of developing cancer is essential. So, click on the gallery to learn more about cancer prevention.

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Knowledge is power

As with any act of conscious prevention, the basis of cancer prevention is knowing what the person is facing, what the causes of the disease are and what we can do to better prevent it. With that in mind, let’s start with some basics.

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What exactly is cancer?

It’s no secret that cancer is dangerous and deadly, but what exactly is it? Cancer begins as a tumor, an abnormal growth that can appear anywhere on the body, inside or on the surface. If left untreated, cancer cells can escape the tumor and begin attacking the rest of the body.

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Different types of tumors

All types of cancer except leukemia start with a tumor, but there are different types of tumors. Tumors are not that uncommon and, fortunately, many of them turn out to be benign or non-cancerous. The cells that make up benign tumors are generally no different from other normal, healthy cells.

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Malignant and premalignant

Dangerous tumors are those considered malignant or pre-malignant. Malignant tumors are made up of cancer cells, are capable of growing at an accelerated rate, and will eventually spread throughout the body if left unchecked. Premalignant tumors are those that are detected early enough to be removed or treated, but which have the potential to become cancerous and spread.

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Carcinoma and sarcoma

The type of cancer that develops from a tumor depends on where in the body it originates. Carcinoma, the most common type of cancer, begins in the cell lining of organs such as the lungs or stomach. Sarcoma is cancer that originates in tissues such as bone or fat.

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Lymphoma and myeloma

Lymphoma and myeloma are two forms of cancer that begin in the body’s immune system. Lymphoma starts in the lymphatic system, which runs throughout the body, while myeloma starts in the white blood cells in the plasma, whose job in the immune system is to fight infection.

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Leukemia

Leukemia, a cancer that begins in the bone marrow and white blood cells, is the only cancer that does not accumulate into tumors. This makes it particularly dangerous as it is extremely difficult to detect at an early stage.

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Central nervous system cancers

“Central nervous system cancers” is an umbrella term that refers to cancers that begin in the brain or along the spinal cord. Many tumors of the nervous system prove to be benign, but malignant tumors that affect the nervous system can be particularly painful and deadly.

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Is cancer equally prominent around the world?

Cancer may seem like a tragic fact that affects the entire world equally, but this is far from the truth. Factors such as access to affordable healthcare, pollution, and safe working conditions tilt global cancer rates in the same direction as financial security. In fact, 70% of the 10 million annual global cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries and areas.

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What are the most common causes of cancer?

Smoking is responsible for a third of cancer deaths worldwide. Other primary causes are morbid obesity, poor diet and excessive alcohol consumption.

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How expensive is cancer?

For many people around the world, the first and most immediate danger of cancer is the cost. For some, prevention is the only weapon at their disposal against cancer. In some places, like the United States, the cost of cancer treatment is rarely less than $51,000. This staggering cost can make treatment an impossibility for the world’s most vulnerable.

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Cancer survival in numbers

Statistics taken from the United States in 2021 show that 67% of cancer patients who receive treatment survive for at least five years after diagnosis. This percentage drops to 18% for those who live for another 20 years after diagnosis. It is estimated that only one in every 100,000 people diagnosed with cancer will survive if they cannot get treatment or choose not to receive it.

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Working for a cure

Despite the best efforts of scientists and medical professionals around the world, a surefire cure for cancer continues to elude us.

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The power of prevention

With what we know about the cost of cancer treatment and the uncertainty of available treatment, the old adage of “prevention is better than cure” begins to ring true. Prevention is, without a doubt, the most viable and effective protection against cancer.

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Vaccines against HPV and hepatitis B

Making sure you’re up to date with your vaccinations could be your ticket to a cancer-free life. In particular, HPV and hepatitis B vaccines prevent tens of thousands of cancer diagnoses every year. The human papillomavirus, or HPV, causes 90% of all cervical cancers, while hepatitis B is the leading cause of liver cancer worldwide.

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What to avoid

Prevention is synonymous with avoidance. Everything we know that can increase the chances of cancer should be controlled and avoided appropriately.

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Modifiable risk factors

There are many risk factors that can lead to cancer, but they are mainly divided into two categories. The first category consists of modifiable risk factors, that is, they are the causes of cancer that are within the individual’s own control. It is estimated that 40% of global cancer deaths have the potential for prevention as they are caused by modifiable risk factors.

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Modifiable risk factors

Examples of modifiable risk factors include alcohol and tobacco consumption, diet, body weight to a reasonable extent, having safe intimate relationships, and protecting oneself from potentially harmful sun rays.

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Non-modifiable risk factors

Risk factors that are intertwined with an individual’s life or body are known as non-modifiable risk factors. Age, for example, is uncontrollable and is directly correlated with cancer risk.

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Gene problems

Genetics is also considered a non-modifiable risk factor. A history of cancer in an individual’s family does not mean they are doomed to a cancer-related death, but it does mean they are at an increased risk of developing cancerous tumors.

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Screening that saves lives

Having regular cancer screening exams is the best way to make sure the cancer is found in time for it to be removed through surgery. Screenings are available for most types of cancer and are increasingly recommended as we progress through life.

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When should you be examined?

Breast cancer screenings are recommended for women over 40, but the chances of developing this type of disease drop after age 74. Cervical screening is recommended between the ages of 21 and 65, while lung cancer screenings are advisable for smokers (both those who still smoke and those who have smoked and quit) between the ages of 50 and 80.

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Early signs of cancer

While screening is the best and most reliable way to detect cancer early, there are other empirically observable signs you can keep an eye out for.

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What to watch out for

Any serious or unexplained changes in your physiology should be treated seriously. Unexplained blood in coughs or stools, fatigue, pain, and strange new lumps on the body are just a few phenomena to watch out for.

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Cancer stages

Talking about cancer is difficult, but it’s important to know the nomenclature just in case. Cancer is usually described by the TNM staging technique. T, for tumor, relates to the dimensions of the primary tumor; N, for the ganglia (nodes, in English), indicates whether or not the cancer cells reached the patient’s lymph nodes; M, for metastasis, which signals whether the cancer has spread from its initial area to another part of the body.

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Why are lymph nodes so important?

Lymph nodes are so central to conversations about the spread of cancer because they act as filters and gateways to the rest of the body through the lymphatic system. Once cancer has reached the lymph nodes, the chances of it spreading to other parts of the body are much greater.

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Metastasis

To reach lymph nodes and other parts of the body, cancer cells must go through a process called metastasis. Through metastasis, these cells become able to separate from the primary tumor, travel and reattach themselves to another place in the body. These new cancer masses are known as metastases.

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Managing cancer

Individuals diagnosed with cancer still have a wealth of tools at their disposal to combat and, hopefully, beat their disease. In addition to essential treatment, maintaining cancer prevention techniques can also help make recovery more likely.

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The power of the mind?

Unfortunately, it is a myth that positive thinking can have a physical effect on cancer cells. However, appropriate therapy, support groups, and productive conversations about cancer and its myriad side effects can have a truly life-changing impact on a patient’s life, as well as help reduce the risk of developing serious mood disorders such as depression or anxiety.

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Surviving cancer

People who have survived cancer can have an incredible impact on raising awareness and preventing the disease. Navigating survival can be difficult and confusing after we face our own mortality, but it can also become a catalyst for energy to help others do their best to avoid the same pain.

Sources: (Union for International Cancer Control) (World Health Organization) (Cancer.Net)

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Cancer

Cancer prevention

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