Cancer: An Overview🎗️(Part 2)

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24 Jul 2023

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👋Hello and welcome to the second part of our article on Cancer, the most prevalent life-threatening disease in the world. In this part, we will explore some of the causes, types, and treatments of cancer, as well as some of the latest research and breakthroughs in this field. If you haven’t read the first part yet, I highly recommend you to do so here, where I explained what cancer is, how it develops, the symptoms of cancer, how it is diagnosed, and many more interesting things about cancer.

📢1st part: `Cancer: An Overview 🎗️` ️

Photo Cancer cells | By-Link

What Causes Cancer? 🤔

📛Cancer is caused by changes or mutations in the DNA of our cells, which can affect how they grow and divide. Some of these mutations are inherited from our parents, while others are acquired during our lifetime due to exposure to various factors such as:

Carcinogens: These are substances or agents that can damage our DNA and increase the risk of cancer. Some examples are tobacco, asbestos, radiation, chemicals, viruses, etc.
Lifestyle: Our habits and choices can also influence our chances of developing cancer. Some lifestyle factors that can increase the risk are smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet, etc.
Age: As we get older, our cells accumulate more mutations and become less able to repair themselves. This makes us more vulnerable to cancer. In fact, most cancers occur in people over 50 years old.

😒However, not all mutations lead to cancer, and not all cancers are caused by mutations. Sometimes, cancer can develop without a clear cause or trigger. This is why it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer and seek medical attention if you notice any changes in your body.

What Are The Types Of Cancer? 🌈

🥸There are more than 100 types of cancer, each with its own characteristics and behaviors. However, they can be broadly classified into five main categories based on the type of cell they originate from:

Carcinomas: These are cancers that arise from epithelial cells, which line the surfaces and cavities of our organs and tissues. They account for about 80% of all cancers and include common types such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, etc.
Sarcomas: These are cancers that develop from mesenchymal cells, which form the connective tissues of our body such as bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, etc. They account for about 1% of all cancers and include rare types such as osteosarcoma (bone cancer), leiomyosarcoma (smooth muscle cancer), liposarcoma (fat cell cancer), etc.
Leukemias: These are cancers that originate from blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. They cause an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the blood and interfere with their normal function. They account for about 3% of all cancers and include types such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), etc.
Lymphomas: These are cancers that arise from lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell that fight infections. They affect the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels and nodes that carry fluid and immune cells throughout the body. They account for about 5% of all cancers and include types such as Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Brain And Spinal Cord Tumors: These are cancers that develop from cells in the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of the brain and spinal cord. They can be either primary (originating in the CNS) or secondary (spreading from another part of the body). They account for about 2% of all cancers and include types such as glioma (brain tumor), meningioma (tumor of the meninges), schwannoma (tumor of the nerve sheath), etc.

How Is Cancer Treated? 💊

🧪The treatment of cancer depends on many factors such as the type, stage, location, grade, genetic profile, and general health of the patient. The main goals of treatment are to cure the cancer or control its growth and spread; to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life, and to prevent recurrence or metastasis.

📌The main types of treatment are:

Surgery: This involves removing the tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue to ensure that no cancer cells are left behind. Surgery can be used to cure or reduce the size of the cancer or to prevent or relieve complications such as bleeding, pain, obstruction, etc. Surgery can be performed using different techniques such as open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgery, etc.

Radiation Therapy: This involves using high-energy rays or particles to kill cancer cells or damage their DNA. Radiation therapy can be delivered externally (from a machine outside the body) or internally (from a radioactive source inside the body). Radiation therapy can be used to cure or shrink cancer or to prevent or relieve symptoms such as pain, bleeding, etc.

Chemotherapy: This involves using drugs that kill cancer cells or stop them from dividing. Chemotherapy can be given orally (by mouth), intravenously (by injection into a vein), intramuscularly (by injection into a muscle), subcutaneously (by injection under the skin), intrathecally (by injection into the spinal fluid), etc. Chemotherapy can be used to cure or shrink the cancer or to prevent or delay its recurrence or spread.

Immunotherapy: This involves using substances that stimulate or enhance the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. Immunotherapy can be given in different ways such as vaccines, antibodies, cytokines, checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cells, etc. Immunotherapy can be used to cure or shrink the cancer or to prevent or delay its recurrence or spread.

Targeted Therapy: This involves using drugs that target specific molecules or pathways that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells. Targeted therapy can be given orally (by mouth), intravenously (by injection into a vein), subcutaneously (by injection under the skin), etc. Targeted therapy can be used to cure or shrink the cancer, or to prevent or delay its recurrence or spread.

Hormone Therapy: This involves using drugs that block or interfere with the production or action of hormones that stimulate some types of cancer. Hormone therapy can be given orally (by mouth), intravenously (by injection into a vein), subcutaneously (by injection under the skin), intramuscularly (by injection into a muscle), etc. Hormone therapy can be used to cure or shrink the cancer or to prevent or delay its recurrence or spread.

The Latest Research And Breakthroughs In Cancer 🚀

📛Cancer is a complex and dynamic disease that requires constant research and innovation to find new and better ways of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care. Some of the recent and promising developments in this field are:

Liquid Biopsy: This is a non-invasive technique that uses blood samples to detect and analyze circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) or circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that are shed by tumors into the bloodstream. Liquid biopsy can be used to diagnose cancer early, monitor its response to treatment, detect its recurrence or progression, and identify new targets for therapy.
CRISPR-Cas9: This is a gene-editing tool that uses a bacterial enzyme (Cas9) and a guide RNA (gRNA) to cut and modify specific sequences of DNA in living cells. CRISPR-Cas9 can be used to correct mutations that cause cancer, activate genes that suppress cancer, disable genes that promote cancer, and engineer immune cells to fight cancer.
Nanomedicine: This is an interdisciplinary field that uses nanotechnology (the manipulation of matter at the molecular level) to create novel materials and devices for medical applications. Nanomedicine can be used to deliver drugs more efficiently and selectively to tumors, enhance imaging and diagnosis of cancer, monitor and control tumor microenvironment, and stimulate an immune response against cancer.

Conclusion 🙌

🙂Dear readers,
Thank you for joining us on this journey of exploring cancer and its various aspects. I hope you found the second part informative and enlightening.

📢I have exciting news for you! In the upcoming third part of our article series on cancer, I will be delving into a crucial topic: the side effects of different cancer treatments. As important as it is to understand the various treatment options available, it's equally essential to be aware of the potential side effects and challenges that patients may face during their cancer journey.

❇️So, stay tuned for the next installment, where I'll discuss how different treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and others, may impact patients and what steps can be taken to manage these side effects effectively. I believe that being informed about this aspect of cancer treatment is vital for patients, caregivers, and anyone interested in learning more about this disease.

🥸I look forward to having you with us for the next part, and as always, your feedback and participation are highly valued. Let's continue our mission to spread awareness and knowledge about cancer as we strive to support those affected by this challenging condition.
See you in the next part!

😒Question for the reader- "Have you or someone you know been affected by cancer, either directly or indirectly? If so, what has been your experience, and what aspects of cancer treatment and research are you most interested in learning more about?"

`📌Feel free to share your personal experiences or thoughts on this important topic. Your input can help raise awareness and foster meaningful discussion about cancer and its impact on individuals and communities.`

📚 Sources:

(1) (PDF) Cancer: an overview - ResearchGate | Find and share research.
(2) The growing burden of cancer in India: epidemiology and social context. Link -pdf
(3) Cancer Research Paper - Research Paper Examples - iResearchNet.
(4) Research Papers About Cancer | WOWESSAYS.
(5) Cancer Research | American Association for Cancer Research.

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