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| Cr: alternative-cancer.net |
Cancer is the general term for the abnormal growth of
cells. Our body cells contain millions of genes, all carrying information on
how body should grow, function and behave. Normally our genes work properly and
send right messages, so our body remains healthy and working the right way as
it should. Since there are millions of genes carrying large number of messages,
some mistakes might occur during cell divisions or damage from external factors
which causes mutations that would alter the genes. Cancer results from the
genetic change or damage to a chromosome within a cell. This causes the altered
gene to send wrong messages, leading to the rapid growth of the particular
cell. It multiplies again and again until it forms a lump that is called a
malignant tumor, or cancer.
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| Cr : MedicaLook.net |
All cancers begins in cells, the basic unit of life in
our body. The abnormal cells are also known as cancer cells, maglinant cells
and tumour cells. Human, animals and other living organisms can get cancers.
When the cancer cells develop, they can break away from the original mass
of cells, travel through the blood and
finally lodge in other organs and then repeat the uncontrolled growth. Fast growing cancers may double over one to
four weeks; slower growing cancers may double over two to six months. After the
cancer has started to grow, there will a ‘silent period’ where there is no lump
or mass. After a few months or years, the doubling process has occurred thirty
times or so, the lump might have reach a size where it can be felt, seen on an
X-ray, or cause pressure symptoms such as pain or bleeding.
There are two types of tumors. The benign tumors can
appear in any part of the body, but they don’t cause any problems. They can be
removed or left alone. They do not destroy the surrounding cells. While for malignant
tumors, they have no clear-cut border, they put down roots and directly invade
the surrounding cells. Besides, they have the ability to spread to other parts
of body.
