What is Cancer?

Cancer has plagued humans for centuries, as noted on Emory University's CancerQuest website. The Ancient Egyptians documented cancer in 3000 B.C. which may be the earliest accounting of cancer and cancer treatment. Termed a disease cancer actually has a hundred or more cancer disease types. All cancers begin in one abnormal cell that proliferates in an out of control manner. Cancer in the primary cell results from damaged DNA. With damaged DNA, the cell control panel, wrong directions fouls the cell’s mission. One of two things happens; dividing speeds up and fills the particular tissue with abnormal cells causing a cancer or the damaged cells dies.

Experts agree death of abnormal cells probably goes on in everybody constantly. Safe cell controls interrupted by damaged DNA may be compromised and unable to ward off the affects of too much sun, radiation, free radicals, pesticides, and many other cancer causing toxins. Inheritance from parents or the gene pool is another source for damaged DNA. From research, inherited DNA damage is small compared to harm incurred during mitosis (cell division). The catalyst for injury could be the mechanics of the division or perhaps from some environmental contaminate.

Evidence of a cancer often occurs in a regionalized cell group that reveals visual or physiological changes, like a tumor. Good examples are skin cancer where changes in a mole may indicate a potential skin cancer or a smoker with incessant coughing. Both conditions warrant a doctor visit for an immediate diagnosis. Through the lymph-system and blood stream, cancer cells may relocate (metastasis) to other parts in the body. Transient cells can take hold and destroy normal tissue. A positive note is all cancers aren't malignant. Benign cancers may be of troublesome but do not invade healthy tissue or metastasize.