Treatment for Cancer Explained
Are you looking for a treatment for cancer? You are at the right place then. In this article, we will discuss the detail of the treatment for cancer and its diagnosis.
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The disease known as cancer, which is named after the Latin word for crab, leads to death in about one in two people diagnosed with it. Cancer has been called the "Big C," a name that makes it sound like the biggest threat people face. But there are resources and things you can do to reduce your chances of getting cancer or dying from it. Most require a simple change in your routine or environment, but you can also find some more extreme measures to save your life. As long as you follow the right steps and eat nutrient-rich food, you can reduce your cancer risk.
If you have cancer, you're not alone. Cancer is a debilitating disease that affects many people and often leaves them with no other option than to succumb to the treatment. However, there is help.
History of Cancer:
It was named "cancer" by the Greek physician Hippocrates (460-370 BC). He used this term to describe tumors thought to be inoperable and to have a crab-like appearance with "pincers" that grasped onto nearby organs and tissues.
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in the body or abnormal cell proliferation. Some types of cancer are relatively benign, and even if they are diagnosed at an early stage (and treated) will not cause too many problems in your body. We have already discussed benign and malignant tumors in a previous article. If you want to read it, the link is given below:
Thousands of cancer cases are diagnosed daily, making it one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
source: Wikipedia
Types of Cancer:
Cancers are classified by the type of cell that the tumor cells resemble and are presumed to be derived from. These types include:
Carcinoma
Sarcoma
Melanoma
Lymphoma
Leukemia
Cancers can also be categorized by their location within the body (for example, head and neck cancers) or by their presumed origin within the body (breast cancer).
Stages of Cancer:
There are different stages of cancer and different treatments for each stage.
- First stage is when a small tumor has been detected in one area and has not spread to other body parts.
- Second stage is when the tumor has grown larger but has not yet spread to other body parts.
- Third stage is when the tumor has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
- Fourth stage is when cancer has spread to distant lymph nodes or organs such as lungs, liver, brain, etc., but has not yet invaded other tissues such as bones or muscles.
Diagnosis of Cancer:
Cancer is a deadly disease, and it is important to diagnose cancer as soon as possible. Here are some ways to diagnose cancer:
Blood test:
Blood tests are used to find cancer cells in the blood. A blood test isn't likely to be helpful if you don't have any signs or symptoms. If your doctor suspects you may have cancer, they will order one or more blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC), which measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Blood tests can also measure levels of certain substances released into the bloodstream by organs and tissues in the body. Blood tests may also reveal genetic changes that indicate the presence of cancer.
Imaging tests:
Imaging tests provide images of the inside of your body using x-rays, magnetic fields, sound waves, or radioactive substances. Your doctor can use these images to look for early signs of cancer, such as an abnormal mass or a swollen lymph node. Imaging tests can also help doctors determine whether treatment is working and whether there's evidence that cancer has returned after treatment. Common imaging tests include X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Biopsy:
It involves taking a sample of tissue to be examined under a microscope. If you have had a biopsy, the results will often show whether you have cancer and if the cells are benign or malignant (cancerous).
Treatment for Cancer:
There are many methods for treating cancer, depending on the type and stage of the illness. While some types of cancer are incurable, there are still methods for managing or slowing down the progression of the disease.
Chemotherapy (a common treatment for cancer)
The most common treatment for cancer is chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill off cancer cells or stop their growth.
Radiation Therapy (Best treatment for cancer)
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells or keep them from multiplying.
Immunotherapy (Treatment for Cancer)
Other treatments include immunotherapy and targeted drug therapy, which both work to boost the immune system to help it fight cancer cells, and hormone therapy, which lowers hormone levels to inhibit the growth of certain types of cancer that rely on hormones for growth.
Surgery (Common treatment for cancer)
Surgery is another common treatment method where a surgeon removes the tumor; however, only certain types of tumors can be removed surgically, which is not effective for all cancers. Finally, stem cell transplants are performed when chemotherapy or radiation therapy has destroyed healthy blood cells and the cancerous ones; stem cell transplants use stem cells from bone marrow to restore these healthy blood cells.
Conclusion:
It is clear that our knowledge of cancer has advanced tremendously, and the tools we have gained over the past 100 years prove their worth in research labs around the world. We even find ourselves able to detect cancer from a patient's DNA without ever touching their tissue. I think it is fair to say that the future of treating cancer will bring a lot of smiles and not just frowns.