Cancer Essay Research Paper CancerICancer is a

Cancer Essay, Research Paper

Cancer

I.

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by an uncontrolled growth of

abnormal cells. If the spread of these abnormal cells is not controlled, cancer

can cause death. Most cancers take the form of tumors, although not all tumors

are cancers. A tumor is simply a mass of new tissue that serves no

physiological purpose. It can be benign, like a wart, or malignant, like cancer.

Benign tumors are made up of cells similar to the surrounding normal cells and

are enclosed in a membrane that prevents them from penetrating neighboring

tissues. They are dangerous only if their physical presence interferes with

bodily functions. A malignant tumor, or cancer, is capable of invading

surrounding structures, including blood vessels, the lymph system and nerves.

It can also spread to distant sites by the blood and lymphatic circulation and

so can produce invasive tumors in almost any part of the body.

In 1997, an estimated 1,359,150 people in the United States will be

diagnosed with cancer and 554,740 will die of the disease. Early screening for

cancer is believed to be able to drastically reduce the number of deaths due to

the disease. Knowing what to look for when detecting cancer, as well as knowing

if you are in a high risk population are two of the main factors of early

intervention. Early intervention of cancer has proven to increase survival

rates and lower the length and severity of treatments. Detection and protection

are two types of ambulatory care for cancer that begin before the disease is

ever diagnosed.

II.

Cancer often causes symptoms that you can watch for. These include:

change in bowel or bladder habits; a sore that does not heal; unusual bleeding

or discharge; thickening or lump in the breast or any other part of the body;

indigestion or difficulty swallowing; obvious change in a wart or mole; and

nagging cough or hoarseness. These symptoms are not always warning signs of

cancer. They can also be caused by less serious conditions. It is important to

see a doctor if any of these symptoms occur. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

A person shouldn’t wait to feel pain because early cancer usually does not

cause pain.

Observation is the most widely available examination for the detection

of cancer. It is useful in identifying suspicious lesions in the skin, lip,

mouth, larynx, external genitalia and cervix. The second most available

detection procedure is palpation. It is particularly valuable in detecting

lumps, nodules, or tumors in the breast, mouth, salivary glands, thyroid,

subcutaneous tissues, anus, rectum, prostate, testes, ovaries and uterus and

enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, axilla or groin.

Internal cancers require an extension of observation through endoscopes,

x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound. Laboratory test, such as

the Pap smear, and occult blood testing of the feces have also proven helpful

for some of the cancers. However, concerns regarding effectiveness and yield

play a particularly important role in decisions to screen for cancers not easily

responsive to earlier detection through physical examination. The performance

of these tests is usually measured in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and

positive and negative predictive values.

The type, periodicity, and commencement of screening in high-risk

populations for most cancers reflect the judgment of expert practitioners rather

that evidence from scientifically- conducted test. Some individuals are known

to be at high risk for cancer, such as those with a strong family history of

cancer. Physician judgment is needed in such circumstances to determine the

most appropriate application of available screening methods. Once the high-risk

person is identified, is counseled appropriately, and regularly undergoes

screening procedures, the benefits of early detection and treatment are

available to this person, yielding a proven higher chance of recovery. Those

people considered high risk should take extra precautions when attempting to

detect cancer.

III.

Important facts that a person should know about how to protect against

getting cancer include: not using tobacco products; eating at least five

servings of fruits and vegetables each day; if you are a woman, getting a

mammogram, pelvic exam and Pap test every year; getting tests done as you get

older for cancers of the colon and rectum; if you are a man, getting early

detection tests for prostate cancer, avoiding too much sunlight by wearing

protective clothing and sun screen; and avoiding unnecessary x-rays. If a

person does have cancer, it is wise to find out what the treatment choices are

and which are best suited for that person. Before getting treatment, it is

advisable to get a second opinion from another doctor. These are all f

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