Cancer

Introduction

Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread.

Symptoms: Lump in your armpit, neck or groin., abnormal bleeding, loosing weight, feeling worn out for no reason, itching all the time but don't know why, drenched in sweat during the night .

Other names: Malignant tumor, malignant neoplasm...

Treatment: Radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy...

                                                 "Cancer does not respect age".

A disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue.

Most common types are:

Basal cell cancer : A type of skin cancer that begins in basal cell.

Prostrate cancer : A cancer in a men's prostrate, a small walnut size gland that produces seminal fluid.

Breast cancer : A cancer that forms in the cells of breast.

Lymphoma : A cancer of lymphatic system.

Leukemia : A cancer of blood forming tissues hindering the body,s ability to fight infection.

Lung cancer : A cancer that begins in lungs and most often occurs in people who smoke.

Colon cancer : A cancer of the colon or rectum located at the digestive tract lower end.

Skin Cancer :(melanoma) The most serious type of skin cancer.

Prolong use of saturated fats causes constriction and hardening of arteries which may result in hypertension, cancer, heart attack, and other related ailments.

Symptoms

Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of lymph nodes  or glands. Leukemia refers to cancer of the blood.  In both these diseases  the child feels weak ,complaints of poor appetite, can loose weight and may have unexplained fever and enlargement of his liver and spleen. . In both conditions child may have enlargement of the lymph nodes, but the nodes are likely to be much more enlarged in Hodgkins disease.  They can be found in different parts of the body, including the abdomen. , chest, armpits and groin, but are more likely to be discovered  first in the neck . The chest nodes are usually detected in the X-ray of the chest. 

In leukemia, severe anemia a tendency for bleeding and tenderness in the bones are more silent features.

Bone tumors cause pain and swelling at the site of tumor. The bones of the limbs are commonly affected.

Brain tumors leads to persistent headache, vomiting tiredness, visual disturbances, unsteady gait and convulsions.

Children can also have cancer of the kidney (Wilm' tumor), the supra-renal gland lying above the kidney, the liver ,the skin and the eye.

The Silver Lining

Fortunately, early detection and treatment can now save over half the children who get afflicted by cancer.