Cancer a deadly disease. How to deal with it as compiled by Ifedoyin Tubosun of World of Innovation group.

What is cancer?

Cancer can start any place in the body. It starts when cells grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. This makes it hard for the body to work the way it should.

Cancer can be treated very well for many people. In fact, more people than ever before lead full lives after cancer treatment.

Here we will explain what cancer is and how it’s treated. You’ll find a list of words about cancer and what they mean at the end of this booklet.

Cancer basics

Cancer is not just one disease.

There are many types of cancer. It’s not just one disease. Cancer can start in the lungs, the breast, the colon, or even in the blood. Cancers are alike in some ways, but they are different in the ways they grow and spread.

How are cancers alike?

The cells in our bodies all have certain jobs to do. Normal cells divide in an orderly way. They die when they are worn out or damaged, and new cells take their place. Cancer is when the cells start to grow out of control. The cancer cells keep on growing and making new cells. They crowd out normal cells. This causes problems in the part of the body where the cancer started.

Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body. For instance, cancer cells in the lung can travel to the bones and grow there. When cancer cells spread, it’s called metastasis (meh-TAS-tuh-sis). When lung cancer spreads to the bones, it’s still called lung cancer. To doctors, the cancer cells in the bones look just like the ones from the lung. It’s not called bone cancer unless it started in the bones.

How are cancers different?

Some cancers grow and spread fast. Others grow more slowly. They also respond to treatment in different ways. Some types of cancer are best treated with surgery; others respond better to drugs called chemotherapy (key-mo-THER-uh-pee). Often 2 or more treatments are used to get the best results.

When someone has cancer, the doctor will want to find out what kind of cancer it is. People with cancer need treatment that works for their type of cancer.

What are tumors?

Most cancers form a lump called a tumor or a growth. But not all lumps are cancer. Doctors take out a piece of the lump and look at it to find out if it’s cancer. Lumps that are not cancer are called benign (be-NINE). Lumps that are cancer are called malignant (muh-LIG-nunt).

There are some cancers, like leukemia (cancer of the blood), that don’t form tumors. They grow in the blood cells or other cells of the body

What stage is the cancer?

The doctor also needs to know if and how far the cancer has spread from where it started. This is called the cancer stage. You may have heard other people say that their cancer was stage 1 or stage 2. Knowing the stage of the cancer helps the doctor decide what type of treatment is best.

For each type of cancer there are tests that can be done to figure out the stage of the cancer. As a rule, a lower stage (such as a stage 1 or 2) means that the cancer has not spread very much. A higher number (such as a stage 3 or 4) means it has spread more. Stage 4 is the highest stage.

How is cancer treated?

The most common treatments for cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation (ray-dee-A- shun).

Surgery can be used to take out the cancer. The doctor might also take out some or all of the body part the cancer affects. For breast cancer, part (or all) of the breast might be removed. For prostate cancer, the prostate gland might be taken out. Surgery is not used for all types of cancer. For example, blood cancers like leukemia are best treated with drugs.

Chemo (short for chemotherapy) is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. Some chemo can be given by IV (into a vein through a needle), and others are a pill you swallow. Because chemo drugs travel to nearly all parts of the body, they are useful for cancer that has spread.

Radiation is also used to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. It can be used alone or with surgery or chemo. Radiation treatment is like getting an x-ray. Sometimes it’s given by putting a “seed” inside the cancer to give off the radiation.



What treatment is the best ?

 cancer treatment depend on body system  Some cancers respond better to surgery; others respond better to chemo or radiation. Knowing the type of cancer someone has is the first step toward knowing which treatments will work best .

The stage of your cancer will also help the doctor decide on the best treatment . A stage 3 or 4 cancer is likely to respond better to treatments that treat the whole body, like chemo.

Your health and the treatment you prefer will also play a part in deciding about cancer treatment. Not all types of treatment will work for your cancer, so ask what options you have. And treatments do have side effects, so ask about what to expect with each treatment.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s your right to know what treatments are most likely to help and what their side effects may be.

Why did this happen?

People with cancer often ask, “What did I do wrong?” or “Why me?” Doctors don’t know for sure what causes cancer. When doctors can’t give a cause, people may come up with their own ideas about why it happened.

Some people think they’re being punished for something they did or didn’t do in the past. Most people wonder if they did something to cause the cancer.

If you’re having these feelings, you’re not alone. Thoughts and beliefs like this are common for people with cancer. You need to know that cancer is not a punishment for your past actions. Try to not blame yourself or focus on looking for ways you might have prevented cancer. Cancer is not your fault, and there’s almost never a way to find out what caused it. Instead, focus on taking good care of yourself now

How to talk to your loved ones about cancer

It can be hard to talk about cancer, even with the people you love. Learning you have cancer can stir many feelings, such as sadness, anger, and fear. Sometimes it’s hard to know how you’re feeling, much less talk to others about it.

Your loved ones may also have a hard time talking about cancer. It’s not easy for them to know what to say to help you or make you feel better.

Here are some tips to help you and your loved ones deal with cancer:

Tell your family and friends about your cancer as soon as you feel up to it. Sooner or later, they’ll all know you have cancer. They might feel hurt or left out if they haven’t heard about it from you.
When you talk to them, explain what kind of cancer you have and how it will be treated. Let them know that no one can catch it from you.
Allow friends and family to help you, and tell them what kind of help you need. If you need a ride to the doctor’s office or hospital, let them know. If you need help around the house, let them know that, too. There may be times when you’re not sure what you need. That’s OK. Just let them know you aren’t sure, but you’ll let them know when you are.
Tell the people who are closest to you how you feel. This may not be easy, but it can be a very important way to get the support you need when you need it most. If you have trouble talking about your feelings, you might find a support group or a mental health counselor to help you.
If you have friends or family who tell you to “cheer up” when you’re not feeling good, it’s OK to ask them to just listen, and not tell you what to do. Sometimes you need to talk about what’s going on without getting advice in return.
If some people are not OK with talking about your feelings, don’t be upset. Try talking to others who might listen.
You may not be able to do things you were doing before you got cancer. If that’s true, let your family and friends know.
It’s best for your family and friends to keep doing the things they did before you had cancer. They should not feel guilty about doing this.
If you’re feeling sad or depress.

Types of Cancer



 They are  more than 120 types of cancer. Some are listed below

Bladder Cancer
Breast Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Kidney Cancer
Lung Cancer - Non-Small Cell
Lymphoma - Non-Hodgkin
Melanoma
Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Thyroid Cancer
Uterine Cancer .

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THYROID CANCER:
Thyroid cancer begins in the thyroid gland. This gland is located in the front of the neck just below the larynx, which is called the voice box. The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system, which regulates hormones in the body. The thyroid gland absorbs iodine from the bloodstream to produce thyroid hormones, which regulate a person’s metabolism.

A normal thyroid gland has two lobes, one on each side of the windpipe, joined by a narrow strip of tissue called the isthmus. A healthy thyroid gland is barely palpable, which means it is hard to be felt when touched. If a tumor develops in the thyroid, it is felt as a lump in the neck. A swollen or enlarged thyroid gland is called a goiter, which may be due to a person not getting enough iodine. However, most Americans receive enough iodine from salt, and a goiter under these circumstances is caused by other reasons.

About thyroid tumors

Thyroid cancer starts when healthy cells in the thyroid change and grow uncontrollably, forming a mass called a tumor. The thyroid gland contains two types of cells:

Follicular cells. These cells are responsible for the production of thyroid hormone.

C cells. These cells make calcitonin, a hormone that participates in calcium metabolism.

A tumor can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor means the tumor can grow but will not spread. Thyroid tumors can also be called nodules, and 90% of all thyroid nodules are benign.

Types of thyroid cancer

There are four main types of thyroid cancer:

Papillary thyroid cancer. Papillary thyroid cancer develops from follicular cells and grows slowly. It is the most common type of thyroid cancer. It is usually found in one lobe; only 10% to 20% of papillary thyroid cancer appears in both lobes. Papillary thyroid cancer is a differentiated thyroid cancer, meaning that the tumor looks similar to normal thyroid tissue under a microscope.

Follicular thyroid cancer. Follicular thyroid cancer also develops from follicular cells and usually grows slowly. Follicular thyroid cancer is also a differentiated thyroid cancer, but it is less common than papillary thyroid cancer.

Follicular thyroid cancer and papillary cancer are very often curable, especially when found early and in people younger than 45. Together, follicular and papillary thyroid cancers make up about 90% of all thyroid cancer.

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). MTC develops in the C cells and is sometimes the result of a genetic syndrome called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). This tumor has very little, if any, similarity to normal thyroid tissue. MTC can often be controlled if it is diagnosed and treated before it spreads to other parts of the body. MTC accounts for about 5% of thyroid cancer.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer. This type is rare, accounting for about 2% of thyroid cancer. It is a fast-growing, poorly differentiated thyroid cancer that starts from differentiated thyroid cancer or a benign thyroid tumor. Anaplastitreatc thyroid cancer can be subtyped into giant cell classifications. Because this type of cancer grows so quickly, it is more difficult to treat.


SYMPTOMS AND SIGN OF THYROID CANCER

People with thyroid cancer often experience the following symptoms or signs. Sometimes, people with thyroid cancer do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer.

A lump in the front of the neck, near the Adam's apple

Hoarseness

Swollen glands in the neck

Difficulty swallowing

Difficulty breathing

Pain in the throat or neck

A cough that persists and is not caused by a cold

If you are concerned about one or more of the symptoms or signs on this list, please talk with your doctor. Your doctor will ask how long and how often you’ve been experiencing the symptom(s), in addition to other questions. This is to help find out the cause of the problem, called a diagnosis.

These symptoms may be caused by thyroid cancer; other thyroid problems, such as a goiter; or a condition not related to the thyroid, such as an infection.

If cancer is diagnosed, relieving symptoms remains an important part of cancer care and treatment. This may also be called symptom management, palliative care, or supportive care. Be sure to talk with your health care team about symptoms you experience, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms.

THYROID CANCER: RISK FACTORS
A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing cancer. Although risk factors often influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors do. However, knowing your risk factors and talking about them with your doctor may help you make more informed lifestyle and health care choices.

The following factors may raise a person’s risk of developing thyroid cancer:

Gender. Women are two to three times more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men.

Age. Thyroid cancer can occur at any age, but about two-thirds of all cases are found in people between the ages of 20 and 55. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is usually diagnosed after age 60. Older infants (10 months and older) and adolescents can develop MTC, especially if they carry the RET proto-oncogene mutation (see below).

Genetics. Some types of thyroid cancer are associated with genetics. Below are some key facts about this disease, genes, and family history. If you are interested in learning more your personal genetic risk, read this separate article about getting genetic testing.

An abnormal RET oncogene, which can be passed from parent to child, may cause MTC. Not everyone with an alteredRET oncogene will develop cancer. Blood tests and genetic tests can detect the gene. Once the altered RET oncogene is identified, a doctor may recommend surgery to remove the thyroid gland before cancer develops. People with MTC are encouraged to have genetic testing to determine if a mutation of the RET proto-oncogene is present. If so, genetic testing of siblings and children will be recommended.

A family history of MTC increases a person’s risk. People with MEN2 syndrome are also at risk for developing other cancers.

A family history of goiters increases the risk of developing papillary thyroid cancer.

A family history of precancerous polyps in the colon, also called the large intestines, increases the risk of developing papillary thyroid cancer.

Radiation exposure.Exposure to moderate levels of radiation may increase the risk of papillary and follicular thyroid cancer. Such sources of exposure include:

Low-dose to moderate-dose x-ray treatments used before 1950 to treat children with acne, tonsillitis, and other head and neck problems.

Radiation therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma or other forms of lymphomain the head and neck.

Exposure to radioactive iodine, also called I-131 or RAI, especially in childhood. Sources of I-131 include radioactive fallout from atomic weapons testing during the 1950s and 1960s and nuclear power plant fallout. Examples are the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident and the 2011 earthquake that damaged nuclear power plants in Japan. Another source of I-131 is environmental releases from atomic weapon production plants.

Diet low in iodine. Iodine is needed for normal thyroid functioning. In the United States, iodine is added to salt to help prevent thyroid problems.

Race. White people and Asian people are more likely to develop thyroid cancer, but this disease can affect a person of any race or ethnicity.

Breast cancer. One recent study showed that breast cancer survivors may have a higher risk of thyroid cancer, particularly in the first five years after diagnosis and for those diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age. This finding continues to be examined by researcher.

As compile by IFEDOYIN TUBOSUN .

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