Cancer Information

Carcinogenesis is a complex, multi stage process. This process involves many genetic changes and epigenetic factors like hormonal, co carcinogen and tumor promoter effects. These factors alone do not produce Cancer but may increase the genetic mutations that eventually result in Cancer. Continue reading →

Uncontrolled proliferation:
Some of the healthy cells like neurons have a little or no capacity of cell division and proliferation. Some other cells in the bone marrow and epithelium of the gastro intestinal tract divide rapidly and continuously. Some of the Cancer cells in the plasma cell tumors multiply slowly and those cells in the Burkitt’s lymphoma divide rapidly. Thus Cancer cells shows altered cell division and tissue growth. In this way they can be distinguished from the normal cells. Continue reading →

Cancer can be detected with the help of tumor cell markers, by visualization and biopsy.

Tumor Cell Markers:
Tumor cell markers are the substances produced by the tumor cells or present on the surface of the tumor cells.

Tumor cell markers may be used clinically for screening the presence of tumor cells in the body.

Drawbacks in using the Tumor Cell Markers:
Drawbacks to the use of tumor cell markers in the diagnosis of Cancer includes:-

• They are not specific for a certain type of Cancer.
• By the time the tumor cell markers are detected, the particular type of Cancer may be well progressed.
• Some of the non Cancerous conditions may also be associated with the appearance of some of these markers in the blood. Continue reading →

Cancers are classified on the basis of origin of tumor and the type of cell the tumor resembles. Cancers are thus classified into:

• Carcinoma: Carcinoma are the Cancers derived from the epithelial cells. Carcinoma includes many Cancers which are generally seen in geriatrics (elderly people). The carcinoma includes Cancers like breast, prostate, lung, colon and pancreas Cancers. Example: hepatocarcinoma is the Cancer of liver parenchyma, arising from the malignant epithelial cells.
• Sarcoma: Sarcoma are the Cancers derived from the connective tissues like bone, fat, cartilage and nerves. These are developed from the cells originating in mesenchymal cells outside the bone marrow. Example: Liposarcoma is the Cancer arising from the fat cells.
• Lymphoma: Lymphoma is the Cancer arising from the hematopoietic cells. These cells leave the bone marrow and mature in the lymph nodes.
• Leukemia: Leukemia also originates from the blood forming cells, which leave the bone marrow and mature in the blood.
• Germ Cell Tumor: Germ cell tumors are derived from the pluripotent cells, which are the germ cells. The germ cell tumor in the testicles is known as seminoma and of the ovary is known as dysgerminoma.
• Blastoma: Blastoma are the Cancers derived from the embryonic tissue or immature precursor cells. Blastoma is more common in children. Example: Hepatoblastoma is the Cancer arising from the primitive precursor cells of the liver.

The symptoms of Cancer can be classified into three groups like local symptoms, metastatic symptoms and systemic symptoms.

Local Symptoms:

• Lumps
• Swelling
• Hemorrhage from mouth, anus or skin
• Ulceration
• Pain Continue reading →

Cancer treatment can be multifaceted and includes

• Removal of tumors by surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Immune therapy
• Specific Hormonal treatment

These processes are performed to kill or arrest the growth of the rapidly growing cancerous cells.

Many immune-based treatments are currently under investigation and they can be used instead of toxic chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Treatment with specific hormones also inhibits the growth of certain type of Cancers. Continue reading →

Cancer comprises of several malignant diseases. There are several types of Cancer affecting different parts of the body. Each specific type of Cancer has its own symptoms, causes and treatment methods. Some of the common types of Cancer are listed below:
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Anti-Cancer drugs are classified into two types:

1. Drugs which act directly on the cells, also called as cytotoxic drugs.
2. Drugs which alter the hormonal milieu.
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Tumors are classified or staged on the basis of TNM system that includes the description of tumor size (T), involvement of the lymph nodes (N) and metastasis (M). The TNM system for tumor staging is given below:
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Cancers are mostly asymptomatic in the early stages. As the tumors continue to grow, they can affect the local tissues and finally spread all over the body. Continue reading →