What is Cancer?
Cancer claimed the lives of nearly 10 million people in 2020, making it a prominent global cause of death, as reported by the World Health Organization. It is highly probable that either you or someone you know has been affected by this devastating disease. To enhance your understanding of cancer, here is some valuable information.
Cancer is not a singular ailment; rather, it encompasses a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of cells. Disregarding the body's signals to cease, malignant cells multiply and form tumors within organs and tissues. In the case of blood cancers, they overtake normal cells in the bloodstream and bone marrow. In a healthy body, cells grow and divide in a regulated and orderly manner to replace old or damaged cells, naturally dying through a process called apoptosis. Cancer arises when these natural processes become disrupted.
Cancer cells differ from normal cells in several ways:
They grow even in the absence of signals that typically trigger growth, whereas normal cells only grow upon receiving such signals.
They disregard signals that ordinarily prompt cells to stop dividing or undergo programmed cell death, known as apoptosis.
They manage to evade detection by the immune system, which normally eliminates damaged or abnormal cells.
Cancer can be broadly categorized into two main groups:
Hematologic (blood) cancers, which include leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, primarily affecting blood cells.
Solid tumor cancers, which affect various organs or tissues in the body. The most prevalent solid tumors include breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers.
Although these cancers share certain characteristics, they can differ in terms of growth patterns, spreading tendencies, and responses to treatment. While some cancers exhibit rapid growth and spread, others progress more slowly, and certain types are more likely to metastasize to other parts of the body, whereas others tend to remain localized.
The treatment approaches for cancer vary depending on the type. Surgery is often the preferred method for certain cancers, while others respond better to drugs like chemotherapy. In many cases, a combination of two or more treatments is employed to achieve optimal outcomes.
Dedicated scientists are diligently working to unravel the mysteries of cancer and explore innovative solutions to combat it. They are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, DNA sequencing, precision oncology, and other cutting-edge technologies to enhance both the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. These advancements have allowed us to set ambitious goals: reducing the mortality rate by at least 50 percent within the next 25 years and improving the overall experience of individuals and their families who are living with or surviving cancer. Through these endeavors and more, our aim is to ultimately eradicate cancer as we know it today.
