Why is it important that you understand the basics of cancer?

By knowing and understanding the basics about cancer and following the recommended guidelines for screening, men and women can help reduce the number of cases and increase survival rates by allowing treatment to begin earlier.

What is your understanding of cancer?

At its most basic, cancer is a disease of the genes in the cells of our body. Genes control the way our cells work. But, changes to these genes can cause cells to malfunction, causing them to grow and divide when they should not—or preventing them from dying when they should. These abnormal cells can become cancer.

When did we start understanding cancer?

Our oldest description of cancer (although the word cancer was not used) was discovered in Egypt and dates back to about 3000 BC. It’s called the Edwin Smith Papyrus and is a copy of part of an ancient Egyptian textbook on trauma surgery.

Do we understand cancer?

Today, we know that cancer is a disease of molecules and genes, and we even know many of the molecules and genes involved. In fact, our increasing understanding of these genes is making possible the development of exciting new strategies for avoiding, forestalling, and even correcting the changes that lead to cancer.

Why is oncology so important?

Medical oncology is a core member of the MDT and offers cancer patients a comprehensive and systemic approach to treatment and care, while ensuring evidence-based, safe and cost-effective use of cancer drugs and preserving the quality of life of cancer patients through the entire ‘cancer journey’.

What is the best definition for malignant?

Full Definition of malignant 1 : tending to produce death or deterioration malignant malaria especially : tending to infiltrate, metastasize, and terminate fatally a malignant tumor. 2a : evil in nature, influence, or effect : injurious a powerful and malignant influence.

How do you explain cancer to a child?

Practise your response to potential questions before talking to kids. Explain that the cancer is not their fault and is not contagious. Assure them they will always be looked after, even if you can’t always do it yourself. Stop and listen to your children so you know how they really feel.

What is cancer According to who?

Overview. Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body and/or spread to other organs.

Why is the disease called cancer?

The word “cancer” came from the father of medicine: Hippocrates, a Greek physician. Hippocrates used the Greek words carcinos and carcinoma to describe tumors, thus calling cancer “karkinos.”1 The Greek terms actually were words that were used to describe a crab, which Hippocrates thought a tumor resembled.

How did cancer get its name?

What oncology means?

Listen to pronunciation. (on-KAH-loh-jee) A branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

What does the National Foundation for Cancer Research do?

The National Foundation for Cancer Research is dedicated to providing scientists in the lab the funding they need to make game-changing discoveries in cancer treatments, detection and ultimately, a cure for all types of cancer. Bringing life-saving information to the public.

What is the molecular view of cancer?

A central feature of today’s molecular view of cancer is that cancer does not develop all at once, but across time, as a long and complex succession of genetic changes. Each change enables precancerous cells to acquire some of the traits that together create the malignant growth of cancer cells.

How do you define cancer?

Defining cancer. Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, but they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells.

How does cancer start?

Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, but they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. To learn more about how cancer forms and grows, see What Is Cancer?