What Is Cancer?
Cancer
is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without
control and can invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other
parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. Cancer is not
just one disease, but many diseases. There are more than 100 kinds of
cancer.How Can Cancer Be Prevented?
The
number of new cancer cases can be reduced and many cancer deaths can be
prevented. Vaccines (shots) also help lower cancer risk.
- The
goal of primary prevention is to keep cancer from developing. This
includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding exposure to known
cancer-causing substances.
- The
goal of secondary cancer prevention is to detect and treat precancerous
conditions (that is, conditions that may become cancer) or early,
asymptomatic cancer.
A person’s cancer risk can be reduced with healthy choices like
- Avoiding tobacco
- Limiting alcohol use
- Protecting your skin from the sun
- Avoiding indoor tanning
- Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
- Keeping a healthy weight
- Being physically active.
Some facts about few cancers:
Breast cancer:
Getting mammograms regularly can lower the risk of dying from breast
cancer. Talk to your doctor about when to start and how often to get a
screening mammogram.
Cervical cancer
is highly preventable because screening tests and a vaccine to prevent
human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, which cause most cervical
cancers, are available.
Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon and rectum): If you are 50 years old or older, get screened now.
Liver cancer: Get vaccinated against Hepatitis B, get tested for Hepatitis C, and avoid drinking too much alcohol.
Lung cancer
is the leading cause of cancer death and the second most common cancer
among both men and women. The most important thing you can do to lower
your lung cancer risk is to quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
Ovarian cancer
causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive
system. But when ovarian cancer is found in its early stages, treatment
works best.
Prostate cancer:
Most prostate cancers grow slowly, and don’t cause any health problems
in men who have them. Learn more and talk to your doctor before you
decide to get tested or treated for prostate cancer.
Skin cancer:
Most cases of melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, are caused
by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. To lower your skin cancer risk,
protect your skin from the sun and avoid indoor tanning.
Research
shows that screening for cervical and colorectal cancers as recommended
helps prevent these diseases by finding precancerous lesions so they
can be treated before they become cancerous. Screening for cervical,
colorectal, and breast cancers also helps find these diseases at an
early stage, when treatment works best.
|
