Markethealthbeauty.com | What is Cancer? Did you know that every year on February 4th, it is celebrated as World Cancer Day. Of course, this commemorative moment aims to raise global public awareness around the world against cancer, the number 2 killer in the world.
Known to date, every year about 9.6 million people die from cancer. Meanwhile, 3.7 million cases of cancer were saved by proper care and treatments that were exposed and early detection.
Therefore, conduct a regular screening or health checks, so that the cancer can be detected early. To prevent cancer, live a healthy lifestyle, namely by eating a balanced nutritious diet, exercising diligently, not smo**king, and not drinking alco**hol.
What is Cancer?
Cancer is a condition where abnormal and uncontrollable cell growth occurs and suppresses normal cells. This abnormal growth of cells can form lumps commonly known as tumors. Cancer can appear and grow in any part of the body. It can start from the lungs, breasts, intestines, even blood.
Basically, the human body consists of trillions of cells scattered in each organ and part. Later, these cells will continue to grow and develop into new cells. Since it is replaced, naturally unhealthy, malfunctioning and old cells will die.
While cancer cells will not die by itself. The cell will multiply to an amount that can no longer be controlled. This change that can trigger the appearance of cancer cells. The disease can appear on any part of the body because of its origin from cells in the human body.
This answers the question of why there are so many types of cancer. Based on reports and research, there are more than 200 different types of cancer.
What is Cancer Causes?
The main cause of cancer is genetic changes (mutations) in cells. Genetic mutations will make abnormal cells. In fact, the body has its own mechanism for destroying these abnormal cells. If the mechanism fails, abnormal cells will grow uncontrollably.
Factors that can trigger the growth of cancer cells vary depending on the type of cancer. Nonetheless, no specific type of cancer is triggered only by one factor.
Factors that are suspected to be at risk of causing genetic mutations in normal cells and the body’s failure to repair them include:
- Have a history of cancer in the family.
- Over 65 years old. However, some types of cancer are more common in children.
- Smo**ke.
- Exposure to radiation, chemicals (e.g. Asbestos or benzene), or sunlight.
- Infected with viruses, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HPV.
- Exposure to hormones in high or long-term levels.
- Obese.
- Less moving and less exercise regularly
- Suffer from diseases that cause chronic inflammation (long-term inflammation), for example ulcerative colitis.
- Decreased immune system, for example, due to HIV / AIDS.
What is Cancer Symptoms?
The signs of cancer depend heavily on the part of the affected organ. However, in general, cancer provides symptoms such as the following:
- There is bleeding or unnatural discharge. Such as continuous nosebleeds, the discharge of nipple fluid containing blood, vagi**nal fluid that bleeds outside the menstrual cycle or menopause, found blood in the stool when defecating, blood in the urine, to cough or vomit containing blood.
- Rapid weight loss due to lack of fat and protein.
- Lumps in the breast.
- Noticeable changes in moles or skin.
Specifically, cancer has a type based on the organ it attacks. The symptoms that occur have their own characteristics, but do not close the possibility that a combination of symptoms may also appear.
Brain Cancer
Headache, weak body, numbness in the arms and legs, changes in memory, difficulty walking, abnormal changes in vision significantly, difficulty speaking.
Oral Cancer
There are canker sores in the mouth, tongue, and gums that do not heal.
Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Bleeding through the nose is light to severe, or blockages in the nose, ear pain, ringing ears, discomfort, complaints to the eyes in the form of double vision, enlargement, or lumps in the neck.
Cervical Cancer
The most common symptom of cervical cancer is abnormal bleeding from the vagi**na, or the presence of watery yellowish spots followed by a fishy smell in the vagi**na.
This abnormal bleeding mainly occurs after se**xual intercourse, but it can also appear bleeding between the two menstrual cycles or after menopause. If the cancer has spread to the pelvis, then back pain can occur, followed by obstacles in urination and enlargement of the kidneys.
Ovarian Cancer
There are generally no early symptoms of this ovarian cancer, if there are usually vague. These symptoms include pelvic pain, bloating, fatigue, weight loss, constipation, and irregular menstrual bleeding. On physical examination, if there is a mass or lump in the pelvis is a sign that needs to be suspected.
Breast Cancer
The presence of lumps, thickening of the skin, changes in the shape of the breast, hives, redness, pain unrelated to breastfeeding or menstruation.
Gastrointestinal Cancer
The presence of blood in feces characterized by a bright red or black color, persistent discomfort in the abdomen, lumps in the abdomen, pain after eating, weight loss.
Colon Cancer
The symptoms of colon cancer are bleeding in the intestines, there is blood in the feces, changes in bowel movements (persistent diarrhea or difficulty defecation).
Bladder or Kidney Cancero
The symptoms of bladder cancer and kidney cancer are there is blood in urine, pain or soreness at the time of urination, frequent or difficulty urinating, pain in the bladder.
Pros**tate Cancer
Urination is not smooth, persistent pain in the back waist, pe**nis and upper thighs.
Blood Cancer (leukemia)
Paleness, chronic fatigue, weight loss, frequent infections, easily injured, pain in bones and joints, and nosebleeds.
Skin Cancer
The symptoms of skin cancer are the appearance of lumps on the skin that resemble warts (hardened like horns), infections that do not heal, the spots change color and size, pain in certain areas, discoloration of the skin in the form of patches.