WHAT IS CANCER AND HOW CAN IT BE IDENTIFIED?

Cancer as we know is one of the most hazardous chronic disease. Cancer is responsible for the death of almost 15% of world population in a year. It is a situation in which a group of cells exhibit an uncontrolled growth. With the various methods of treatment and prevention steps under chronic disease management of cancer, it is no longer a threat to human life.

Following are the major symptoms of cancer:

1. Development of local swellings with pain and bleeding.

2. Enlargement of lymph nodes with frequent coughing and fracture of bones. This is a situation of spreading cancer.

3. Weight loss, poor appetite, heavy sweating etc.

 If these symptoms are shown by a patient he has to be subjected to diagnosis tests immediately. Detection of cancer in its early stages plays an important role in chronic disease management. Almost 805 of cancers can be treated if it is identified in its initial stages.

Factors that cause cancer:

Factors that trigger cancer can be genetic as well as environmental. Elimination of these factors should be given first priority in chronic disease management of cancer.

1. Chemical Carcinogens: The main reason for unwanted growth of cells is DNA mutations. Certain chemicals may enhance this DNA mutation. They are called carcinogens eg: tobacco, asbestos fibers, gases produced while plastic is burnt etc.

2. Infectious agents:  Certain cancers are produced by pathogenic infections. Vaccination can prevent these types of cancers.  

3. Hormonal Disorders: Presence of certain hormones can cause cancer as they stimulate excessive cell growth.

4. Hereditary: Certain genetically inherited mutations cause breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

5. Food: Acrylamide, artificial sweeteners, fluoridated water, heterocyclic amines etc present in food can cause cancer.

MEDICAL TREATMENT AND PREVENTION METHODS FOR CANCER:

There are many different types of cancer. Chronic disease management of cancer mainly focuses on prevention and treatment. Steps for prevention strategies and method of treatment vary from type to type.

Prevention steps to be followed:

1. Change of lifestyle avoiding all kinds of carcinogenic chemicals taken through smoking, drinking and through food.

2. Usage of chemical preventives on a daily basis at prescribed dosages can prevent cancer. Eg: tamoxifen for breast cancer.

3. Vaccination against pathogens.

How Cancer can be treated efficiently?

Medical therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation oncology, gene therapy, bone marrow transplants etc have proved to be very efficient in the treatment of cancer. Many other complementary medicines are also used for the treatment of cancer. With the on set of new technologies in medical science, cancer treatment is not a serious threat to human life unless it steps into its critical stages.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 12:19 pm and is filed under Cancer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.