FAQs
Cancer is a common name for a group of diseases characterised by uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells. Cell division is the mainstay of human life. Human body is made up of several organs like brain, lung, liver, stomach etc. and each organ is made up of cells. Organs and tissues are constituted by cells characteristic of that organ. Cells divide for growth of an organ, for repairing tissue damage and to maintain functions of the organ. The divided cells are the exact replica of the parent cell. Sometimes due to some faulty mechanism or due to factors which are unknown yet, the divided cells are abnormal i.e., their structure is not the same as that of its parent cells. They cannot discharge the functions like the normal cells but requires the same food as the normal cells. These cells start dividing and a large number of abnormal cells are produced. As a result of the proliferation of abnormal cells the body organs do not function normally and the persons nutrition is impaired rapidly. These cells cluster to form lumps, swellings, and sometimes produce ulcers in the respective organs. However in the case of blood cancer — Leukaemia – the abnormal cells start circulating throughout the blood streams so, no visible lump or swellings are observed. (Cancer is known by its different types like sarcoma, lymphoma, leukaemia, myeloma, carcinoma etc.). The most important characterisitc of cancer is that the cancer cells breakaway from the tissue or organ of origin and starts spreading to other parts of the body through lymphatic channels or cavities or blood vessels. They then deposit themselves in other parts of the body where it grows again. This is known as the metastasis. Because of this unique characterisitc it becomes difficult to cure or to control cancer when it has spread.
The exact mechanism of transformation of normal cells to become cancerous is still not known. However, several factors are known to produce cancer-like tobacco in the form of smoking and chewing, alchohol, radiation, asbestos, certain chemicals, excessive fat consumption, viruses etc.
No. A lump can occur in any part of the body which may or may not contain cancer cells. Some of these lumps may grow to large sizes and produce ulcers. Because of this, they interfere with normal functions of nearby organs. However, they will not cause death and they can easily be removed by surgery and usually will not recur. They donot spread to other parts of the body. Such tumours are known as Benign tumours ie. harmless tumours. Cancer also can occur asa lump or tumour. A cancer is known as a malignant tumour. It is characterised specially by its potential to spread to other sites and to infiltrate the organ.
Cancer affects different body organs due to a variety of factors and in India there are variations in the occurence and pattern of cancer. However, in our men, the majority of all cancers are found in mouth and throat, lung, stomach, gullet etc. and in women, they are found in large numbers in uterus[cervix], breast, mouth and throat.
In all Western countries where accurate statistics are available, cancer is seen to increase during the past 40 to 50 years. In our country also this should be true. As more people live up to old ages and with control of other diseases, more people would get cancer. Further, changes to Western life style and environmental pollution due to industrialisation etc. are also likely to contribute to an increase in cancer.
The occurrence of cancer is measured, in absolute terms, by the incidence rate. This is a population based measure and indicates the number of new cancer cases that occur every year in 100,000 populations. In India, such population based rates are not available for the entire country. However, they are available for the some large city’s populations. According to these annually around 70 new cancer cases will develop per 100, 000 population. This may appear to be a low rate but we consider 80 years as a life span, almost 16% of population will develop cancer if they all live upton this age. Based on these, it is estimated that almost 5 lakhs of persons will develop cancer every year in the country and in any given year there will be almost 15 lakhs cancer patients. As the population increases, this number also will increase. In order to study the cancer occurences in our country, and to monitor its trends, cancer registries have been started in several places by the Indian Council of Medical Research. These registries study not only the occurences and pattern of cancer in the community but also the factors that are associated with the disease. Such information are used for formulating and implementing the National Cancer Control plan of India.
The occurrence of cancer is measured, in absolute terms, by the incidence rate. This is a population based measure and indicates the number of new cancer cases that occur every year in 100,000 populations. In India, such population based rates are not available for the entire country. However, they are available for the some large city’s populations. According to these annually around 70 new cancer cases will develop per 100, 000 population. This may appear to be a low rate but we consider 80 years as a life span, almost 16% of population will develop cancer if they all live upton this age. Based on these, it is estimated that almost 5 lakhs of persons will develop cancer every year in the country and in any given year there will be almost 15 lakhs cancer patients. As the population increases, this number also will increase. In order to study the cancer occurences in our country, and to monitor its trends, cancer registries have been started in several places by the Indian Council of Medical Research. These registries study not only the occurences and pattern of cancer in the community but also the factors that are associated with the disease. Such information are used for formulating and implementing the National Cancer Control plan of India.
No there are great variations in the occurence and pattern of cancer in different parts of the world. In India, the occurence of mouth and throat cancer is highest when compared to other regions of the world. Stomach cancers occur with high frequency in Japan and some East European countries. Liver cancer is the frequent cancer in Africa. The predominant cancer in certain areas of China is oesophageal cancer, in other places it is Nasopharynx or Liver cancer. Lung, colon and breast cancers predominate in the United States of America.
There is no scientific proof yet that cancer is a contagious disease.
There is no scientific proof yet that cancer is a contagious disease.
Certain cancers are seen to occur in families. This does not mean that the disease has been transmitted from parent to children through genetic material. The same life style usually run in families and this could as well be the reason.Scientists believe that if there is a hereditary component, its effect is indeed very little.
There is good evidence to suspect that viruses may cause cancer in humans – leukaemia, nasopharyngeal cancer, liver and cervix cancer are considered now as being caused by viruses.
Radiation is widely used to diagnose many diseases. Radiation is also a very successful method to treat cancer. These are absolutely proper and safe uses. However Radiation is extremely dangerous and can cause cancer when not properly handled. Over exposure to X-rays, or byproducts of atomic radiation can contribute to the development of cancer especially leukaemia.
Tobacco chewers develop cancer of cheek, tongue, gums etc. They are chronic chewers, often starting the habit at a young age of 15 or 18 years. They keep the tobacco quid [pan] in the mouth for a long time and often keep the quid even while asleep. Smoking cigarettes is the cause of 75% of all lung cancers and 25% of all cancers in the Western countries. Smokers are also likely to develop cancer of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus [Gullet] pancreas and urinary bladder. In our country, almost 50% of all cancer in men are caused by heavy tobacco chewing and smoking; rather it is worse. The bidi contains more toxic harmful chemicals than in cigarette which produces cancer.
Tobacco smoking is also the major cause of heart disease, gastric ulcers, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and often the smoker dies young.
Due to the husband’s smoking habits, his wife [passive smoking] is also at a high risk for developing cancer of various organs. In closed environments like bus, theatre, office, train and meeting halls smoking is dangerous to non smokers also.
Tobacco smoking is also the major cause of heart disease, gastric ulcers, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and often the smoker dies young.
Due to the husband’s smoking habits, his wife [passive smoking] is also at a high risk for developing cancer of various organs. In closed environments like bus, theatre, office, train and meeting halls smoking is dangerous to non smokers also.
Heavy alchohol consumption especially in the presence of smoking increases the risk of certain cancers like cancer of tongue, throat, gullet, stomach and liver.
The diagnosis of cancer can be made only after a careful clinical examination and several laboratory tests ate required to accurately know the primary site of origin of cancer, type of cancer and to learn the extent of spread of the disease.These are necessary for planning effective treatment. Identifying cancer cells with the help of a microscope in an aspirate of body issue or scrapings of fluids aspirated by a needle and syringe is called cytology. The examination of a piece of body tissue after processing is called biopsy and histopathology examination. Endoscopes passed in to the body are used to diagnose cancer of deep seated internal organs like oesophagus, stomach, intestines, thoracic and abdominal cavities. For diagnosing leukamia, blood examination is essential. Plain X-ray pictures are used to diagnose cancers of bone. Some times special X-rays like Barium X-rays, angiograms etc. are taken. Ultrasound scanning, CT scanning, NMR scanning and scanning by radio isotopes are also used depending the site of cancer. Certain biochemical tests are undertaken to diagnose mulriple myeloma. Generally, the doctor will do two or three tests for a suspected cancer.
One should know the warning signals of cancer. These need not always be due to cancer, but when a symptom is noted, promptly undergo a through medical examination by a competent physician or cancer specialist. Secondly, self examination methods and periodic self examination of mouth and breast can detect many cancers in early or precancerous stages. In case of ulterine cervix a simple cervical smear test high early detection.
When cancer has not spread beyond its site of origin a complete cure is often possible. When a cervix cancer is localised, almost 100% cure is possible but when it has spread to nearby bladder or rectum, not even 20% will live upto 5 years. Similarly, an early breast cancer when treated adequately, would have a more than 85% chance of surviving more than 5 years whereas when it is spread to lungs less than 10% would survive 5 years. Thus early diagnosis ensure a better cure rate.
No pain is not a symptom of early cancer, it is a symptom of advanced cancer.
No pain is not a symptom of early cancer, it is a symptom of advanced cancer.
Right Treatment at every stage
