Cancer or uncontrolled multiplication of cell is considered as a wide spread cause of mortality in the world today. There are different types of cancer based on the tissue it takes place. Cancer can simply be defined as the condition where a cell loses its ability to control its proliferation. The transformation of a cell to cancerous will be gradual and occurs as a result of a series of mutations. Research studies on cancer proved that the root cause of the condition is mutation or abnormal and abrupt change on the genetic material – Deoxy Ribonucleic Acid (DNA). It doesn’t mean that a single mutation can results in cancer, but accumulation of mutations on major portions of genome will lead to such a condition. The research findings reveal that certain agents mutate the DNA, cigarette smoke, alcohol, chemicals in the red meat and various chemicals used by us during the daily life is thought to be causing the cancer. Cancer is caused by mutations of the genetic material which are important in the control of cell proliferation. Such regions of genome are known as Oncogenes. It is estimated that there are about 200 types of cancer.
Causes of Cancer
The root cause of cancer is mutation. Mutations can takes place in different ways. During the multiplication of a cell, even though the chance of error is much low, it can take place. If such a mutation is in the proto oncogenes (unchanged form of oncogenes), it can result in the initiation of cancer. The agents that can cause mutation are known as mutagens. There are more than 40,000 types of mutagens, biological and non-biological. Some are mustard gas, tobacco, asbestos, UV, certain types of viruses etc. Oxidants present in many food items, dietary foods containing excess fats and oils and relatively less intake of anti-oxidants can lead to cancer.
Types of Cancer
Cancerous condition can takes place in different types of cells and are named accordingly. Some are:
Leukemia: cancer in blood forming cells
Sarcoma: cancer in epithelium.
Myeloma: cancer in neurons assisting tissue
Hepatoma: cancer in liver cells
Fibroma: cancer in fibrous connective tissue
Lymphoma: cancer in white blood cells
Cancer Statistics
In developed countries, 25% of death is due to cancer. Based on statistical data, it has been estimated that 289,000 people in UK are affected with cancer every year. The average age of patients diagnosed for cancer was found to be 67 from 2001-2004 and the median age of mortality was 73. One in three persons are diagnosed with cancer in the United Kingdom, and the major cancer types are the lung cancer, breast cancer, bowel cancer and the prostrate cancer. |
