Cancer

There are so many different kinds/types of this disease it is hard to focus on just one.

With that in mind I have listed (a short list, I assure you) some here to give an idea.

Please visit the American Cancer Society Home Page for descriptions/explanations of these and other ailments.

adrenal cortical cancer

brain: cns tumors in children and adults

breast: several types

childhood non-hodgkin's lymphoma

ewing's family of tumors

gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors

gastrointestinal stromal tumors

gestational trophoblastic disease

leukemia: several types

malignant mesothelioma

myelodysplastic syndrome

nasopharyngeal cancer

waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Quite simply, the definiton of cancer is:

Abnormal cells in a part of the body that begin to grow out of control.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Cancer is a complex group of over 100 diseases. Cancer diseases share the common feature of uncontrolled spreading of malignant (harmful) cells in the human body.

Under normal conditions, the cells in the human body divide and grow in an orderly, controlled manner. Cancer occurs when cells grow in an uncontrolled manner, forming a mass of tissue. This mass of tissue is called either a tumor or a lesion.

A cancerous tumor is called a malignant tumor. Malignant tumors can spread to surrounding tissue. Cells from malignant tumors also can break away from the tumor, usually by way of the bloodstream. These cells can travel to other parts of the body, where new tumors may form. This is how cancer spreads. The term for this spreading is metastasis. A tumor which forms this way always consists of cells identical to those of the original tumor.

Not all tumors are cancerous. When a tumor is not cancerous, it is called a benign tumor. Benign tumors often can be removed with surgery and usually do not come back. The cells in benign tumors do not invade other tissues or spread to other parts of the body. In other words, these tumors do not spread, or metastasize.

In most cases, the cause of a cancer is unknown. However, we do know that for some types of cancer, certain risk factors seem to make some people more likely to develop them. Many questions remain unanswered as to why other people can have the same risk factors and never get cancer.

There is no typical way to feel when you are told that you have cancer. Everyone feels and responds differently. Some people experience several emotions at once, ranging from fear, sadness—even anger—to motivation and determination.

There is, however, one feeling that seems consistent for many people who are diagnosed with cancer—and that is a loss of control. One way to regain a sense of control in your life is to learn as much as you can about your disease and treatment options, so you can discuss them openly with your healthcare team.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

by The National Cancer Institute

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(education and advocacy organization located in San Francisco, California)

Cancer Center: Treatment Hospitals

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Don't worry, there are more links coming.


	Back to Health Issues Page Cancer There are so many different kinds/types of this disease it is hard to focus on just one. With that in mind I have listed (a short list, I assure you) some here to give an idea. Please visit the American Cancer Society Home Page for descriptions/explanations of these and other ailments. adrenal cortical cancer aplastic anemia bile duct cancer bladder cancer bone metastasis brain: cns tumors in children and adults breast: several types castleman disease cervical cancer childhood non-hodgkin's lymphoma endometrial cancer esophagus cancer ewing's family of tumors gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors gastrointestinal stromal tumors gestational trophoblastic disease HIV/AIDS hodgkin disease kaposi's sarcoma leukemia: several types malignant mesothelioma multiple myeloma myelodysplastic syndrome nasopharyngeal cancer neuroblastoma osteosarcoma penile cancer pituitary tumor retinoblastoma rhabdomyosarcoma waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia wilms tumor +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Quite simply, the definiton of cancer is: Abnormal cells in a part of the body that begin to grow out of control. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Cancer is a complex group of over 100 diseases. Cancer diseases share the common feature of uncontrolled spreading of malignant (harmful) cells in the human body. Under normal conditions, the cells in the human body divide and grow in an orderly, controlled manner. Cancer occurs when cells grow in an uncontrolled manner, forming a mass of tissue. This mass of tissue is called either a tumor or a lesion. A cancerous tumor is called a malignant tumor. Malignant tumors can spread to surrounding tissue. Cells from malignant tumors also can break away from the tumor, usually by way of the bloodstream. These cells can travel to other parts of the body, where new tumors may form. This is how cancer spreads. The term for this spreading is metastasis. A tumor which forms this way always consists of cells identical to those of the original tumor. Not all tumors are cancerous. When a tumor is not cancerous, it is called a benign tumor. Benign tumors often can be removed with surgery and usually do not come back. The cells in benign tumors do not invade other tissues or spread to other parts of the body. In other words, these tumors do not spread, or metastasize. In most cases, the cause of a cancer is unknown. However, we do know that for some types of cancer, certain risk factors seem to make some people more likely to develop them. Many questions remain unanswered as to why other people can have the same risk factors and never get cancer. There is no typical way to feel when you are told that you have cancer. Everyone feels and responds differently. Some people experience several emotions at once, ranging from fear, sadness—even anger—to motivation and determination. There is, however, one feeling that seems consistent for many people who are diagnosed with cancer—and that is a loss of control. One way to regain a sense of control in your life is to learn as much as you can about your disease and treatment options, so you can discuss them openly with your healthcare team. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dictionary of Cancer Terms by The National Cancer Institute +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HELPFUL LINKS ACS National Cancer Institute Cancer Care Cancer Research in the UK American Association for Cancer Research Canadian Cancer Society The Breast Cancer Site CancerBACUP: Europe's leading cancer information service Cancernews.com American Institute for Cancer Research MacMillian Cancer Relief NCCN - National Comprehensive Cancer Network Homepage CureSearch: Childhood Cancer IARC-International Agency for Reseach on Cancer NBCC-National Breast Cancer Coalition The Skin Cancer Foundation The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Lung Cancer Online Cancerfacts.com Colon Cancer Alliance Prostate Cancer Foundation Breast Cancer Action: (education and advocacy organization located in San Francisco, California) Cancer Center: Treatment Hospitals Candlelighters.org The Cancer Council of Australia Breast Cancer Info. and Support The Oral Cancer Foundation Cancer Prevention Coalition The National Children's Cancer Society: St. Louis, Missouri The Eye Cancer Network Women's Cancer Network Pancreatica.org Cancerlinks Power lines and Cancer Texas Cancer Data Center NCCS - National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Mesothelioma Resource Online Cancer Society of New Zealand GCF - Gynecologic Cancer Foundation Intercultural Cancer Council Irish Cancer Society Japanese Cancer Association ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association The John Wayne Cancer Institute +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Don't worry, there are more links coming. Back to Top