Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What is cancer?
Cancer is a common name for diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth of
abnormal cells.
How does cancer start?
The specific reasons cancer starts vary greatly from individual to individual as well as between the different types of cancers. However, scientific studies have proven that several factors are known to trigger or accelerate cancer such as extensive use of tabacco or alcohol, inappropriate exposure to radiation or to toxic substances such as asbestos, and even certain viruses.
Is is possible to prevent cancer?
While there is no certain way to prevent cancer, studies have proven that people with healthy diets and lifestlyles are less likely to get cancer than those do not.
Is cancer a contagious disease?
Studies have not shown cancer to be contagious although certain cancers to seem to run in families such as breast cancer
What are the early signs of cancer?
Cancer often masks itself with many different symptoms which are common of much lesser ailments. Unfortunately, sometimes cancer shows no obvious symptoms at all. Tehse warning signs should be checked out by a doctor:
- a sore or ulcer that doesn't heal
- unusual bleeding
- an unusual thickening or lump
- change in awart of mole
- any persistent pain, fever, of physcial limitation
Key Terminology
- benign
- not cancerous
- biopsy
- a small sample of tissue
- cancer
- a disease where cells grow abnormally
- carcinogenesis
- the process of normal cells becomming malignent cells
- cure
- the disapearance of disease
- malignment
- cancerous cells
- metastasis
- spread of cancer cells from primary area to distant site
- oncology
- study of cancer