What is Cancer
Cancer is a disease where cells divide without control, leading to uncontrolled cell growth. Cancer begins when abnormal cells develop in the body and can occur anywhere in the body. These cells continue to grow and multiply out of control, forming tumors. Tumors may remain localized or spread throughout the body via the blood stream.
The causes of cancer are not fully understood, however, some factors have been identified. These include genetics, age, diet, environmental influences, lifestyle, and viral infections (e.g., HPV).
There are two types of cancers: primary and metastatic. Primary cancers begin in the body’s normal cells and then move to nearby cells. Metastatic cancers originate in distant parts of the body and spread to localize in the same area.
Different types of cancer include breast, colon, prostate, lung, bladder, liver, kidney, skin, brain, ovary, cervix, uterus, testicles, thyroid gland, pancreas, head/neck, stomach, bone marrow, lymph nodes, leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, blood, and others.
Cancers can be treated using surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and stem cell transplants. There are many different forms of treatment, depending on the type of cancer being treated.
Cancer Therapy
Cancer therapy is the medical treatment of cancers using chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, targeted therapy, etc. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs or chemicals to treat cancer. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or gamma rays to kill cancer cells. Surgery removes tumors and surrounding normal tissue. Hormone therapy uses hormones to control tumor growth. Immunotherapy stimulates the body’s immune system to fight off cancer. Targeted therapy targets specific molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer. Gene therapy alters genes to treat disease.
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Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs (also known as cytotoxic agents) to destroy malignant cells. Most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents act by damaging DNA inside cancer cells, preventing their reproduction or inducing apoptosis. Agents commonly used in chemotherapy include alkylating agents, antimetabolites, anthracyclines, topoisomerase inhibitors, and platinum compounds. These drugs work by interfering with various cellular processes, including DNA replication, RNA transcription, protein synthesis, and chromosome segregation.
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Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells. Ionizing radiation works by breaking chemical bonds in the DNA molecule, causing mutations that may lead to cancer. X-ray therapy kills cancer cells by damaging the DNA in rapidly dividing cells. Gamma knife radiosurgery uses focused beams of radiation to target the tumor while sparing nearby healthy brain tissue. Radiotherapy is often combined with chemotherapy. The cost of radiation therapy in India is depend on the various factor.
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Surgery
Surgery involves removing the entire tumor along with some adjacent normal tissue. If the tumor is small enough, it may be removed without any need for further treatment. Otherwise, additional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation may be necessary after surgery. A wide variety of surgical procedures exist, depending on the type of cancer being treated. Surgical removal of the primary tumor is always recommended if possible. In many cases, however, metastatic cancer cells have already spread throughout the body, making complete removal impossible. Even when complete removal is possible, the risk of recurrence remains significant.
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Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is the use of hormones to control cancer growth. Estrogens and progestogens are examples of hormones that are used to suppress estrogen production in breast cancer patients. Tamoxifen is a drug used to treat breast cancer that blocks the effects of estrogen on breast cancer cells. Progestogens are synthetic versions of the sex hormones progesterone and testosterone. These hormones are sometimes prescribed to women who have had hysterectomies and cannot produce natural levels of these hormones.
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Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a method of treating cancer by stimulating the patient’s own immune system. There are two major forms of immunotherapy: passive immunotherapy and active immunotherapy. Passive immunotherapy relies on antibodies or T-cells taken from someone else and given to the patient. Active immunotherapy works by stimulating the patient’s immune system to attack the cancer directly. Vaccination is a common example of active immunotherapy.
6. Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is a newer form of cancer treatment that seeks to specifically inhibit the growth and spread of certain types of cancer. Monoclonal antibodies and kinase inhibitors are examples of targeted therapies. Monoclonal antibody therapy attaches monoclonal antibodies to cancer cells. Kinase inhibitors block enzymes that regulate cell division.
