The body of every person consists of a huge number of cells. All of them perform specific functions. Normal cells grow, divide and die, subject to a certain pattern. This process is carefully controlled by the body, but due to the influence of many negative factors, it is disrupted. The result is uncontrolled cell division, which can later be transformed into an oncological neoplasm.
General information
A cancerous tumor consists of cells that divide uncontrollably and lose the ability to recognize “their own”. They can penetrate into other tissues and organs of the body, interfering with their normal functioning. Cancer cells differ from healthy ones in that, instead of dying in a timely manner, they continue to divide intensively. In addition, oncological neoplasms produce various toxins that constantly poison the patient's body.
Why exactly is cancer?
Malignant neoplasms are characterized by excessive reproduction. Mutated cells not only actively poison the body, but also begin to penetrate the layers of other tissues. Therefore, the tumor constantly becomes larger, and also gets the opportunity to grow into other organs and tissues. Affected cells stretching through healthy cells form rays. They look almost the same as claws of crustacean creatures. For this reason, such neoplasms got their name. A photo of a cancer tumor is presented later in the article.
What contributes to the development of oncology?
Chemical carcinogens are one of the most common causes of cancer. It is noteworthy that this applies to both local effects and effects on the whole organism. A vivid confirmation of this is the development of lung cancer in people who abuse tobacco. Meanwhile, builders dealing with asbestos may encounter cancerous lesions of the pleura, chimney sweeps - with a tumor of the scrotum.
In addition to chemical carcinogens, physical is also a great danger. It is directly about radiation. Allocate ionizing radiation and the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. They contribute to the development of carcinoma of the skin.
The formation of cancerous tumors causes a genetic predisposition. In girls whose mothers had breast cancer, the disease manifests itself three times more often, compared with those who do not have a burdened family history. Moreover, a similar pattern is observed in the case of cancer of the endocrine gland and colon. Currently, scientists have been able to prove a genetic link with dozens of varieties of malignant tumors.
The geographical area in which a person is located can also be the cause of cancer. So, for example, in a population that lives on the same territory, some types of tumors can occur much more often than others. This is due to a large set of factors, which includes climate features, food habits, environmental conditions and much, much more.
It should be noted and the harmful effects of oncogenic viruses. They are called so because they can provoke the formation of cancerous tumors. It was found that hepatitis B often causes cancer of the liver. There are cases when a cervical tumor arose due to the second type of herpes virus.
Main manifestations
Cancer can be accompanied by a variety of signs and symptoms, so there is no general pattern. It all depends on where the neoplasm is located, at what stage of development it is and whether it has reached large sizes. However, there are common signs that can directly or indirectly indicate cancerous tumors. Symptoms are most often the following:
- Elevated body temperature and fever. These signs are manifested in almost all people with cancer. In particular, those who are already undergoing treatment are exposed to it. The latter can have a negative effect on the immune system, because of which the body becomes much more susceptible to various infections and viruses.
- Unreasonable weight loss. This symptom manifests itself in many people who have experienced oncology. Those who are most susceptible to it are those in whom a cancerous tumor affects the organs of the gastrointestinal tract or lungs.
- Excessive fatigue. As the disease progresses, the person begins to feel more and more tired. Also, this symptom can manifest itself even in the early stages of tumor development, especially if it causes chronic blood loss. The latter often accompanies cancer of the stomach or colon.
- Pain. Sooner or later a person will experience unpleasant and uncomfortable sensations at the most different stages of the development of pathology. Severe pain may indicate the presence of several tumors at once. They can be located, for example, in the testicles or bones.
How fast does cancer progress?
The development of cancer is a fairly lengthy process. In most cases, the cancerous tumor does not grow rapidly. However, with some of the most aggressive types of pathologies, everything can be different. It depends on a large number of factors, including the person’s age, general health, and much more. On average, about three to five years elapse from the onset of development to the onset of the first symptoms. In some cases, this process can drag on for a whole decade. At the same time, there are also such varieties of cancer that can kill a person in just a few months. It is in this connection that it is not possible to name the specific life expectancy of patients.
Initial stages of development
Oncologists currently classify tumors according to the stage in which the disease is located. Initially, the neoplasm receives a clear localization. At the first stage of development, cancer is located only in a limited area. At the same time, the tumor has not yet had time to grow into other organs and tissues, so the presence of metastasis is excluded.
At the second stage of development, education increases in size. Nevertheless, it does not have time to get outside the body in which it is localized. At this stage, metastases may already begin to appear. However, they are located only in nearby lymph nodes.
Final stages of development
Reaching the third stage, the tumor further increases in size. At this stage, the process of its disintegration begins. Cancer penetrates the walls of the organ in which it is located. In the nearby lymph nodes, many metastases are found.
When a tumor grows into neighboring organs and tissues, it is assigned the fourth stage. At the same time, all malignant tumors that can produce distant metastases belong to the same category. At these stages of development, the disease is extremely difficult to treat.
The stages of cancerous tumors are exhibited for patients only once. They remain for them until the end of life. The stages do not change even if the cancer does not return after treatment. However, they should not be confused with the clinical groups into which patients are divided (there are 4 in total).
What are metastases?
A cancerous tumor is dangerous in that it can spread throughout the body. Metastases are new foci of its development. Through the lymphatic channels, the affected cells spread and infect other tissues and organs. Metastases can literally permeate the entire body. Most often, the liver, lungs, bones and brain are affected. It is multiple metastasis that is one of the most common causes of death from oncology.
Cancer and its external manifestations
Many people who suspect they have oncology want to know what a cancer tumor looks like. Currently, the Internet presents a huge number of pictures illustrating cancer. However, it is worth noting that not all of them correspond to the real signs of a particular tumor. That is why it is strongly recommended that you do not make a diagnosis on the Internet and, at the first suspicion, make an appointment with an oncologist. It is not possible to independently determine a cancer tumor from a photo from the Network. However, there are some signs that you can notice yourself:
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
- Seals under the skin.
- Sores or ulcers that appear for no reason and do not heal for a long time.
- Spots on the skin that begin to noticeably increase in size.
Breast tumor
Breast cancer is a fairly common occurrence. The incidence of this disease is increasing every year. This is partly due to the fact that modern medicine allows you to diagnose it in the early stages of development. However, according to statistics, it is a breast cancer that is one of the most common causes of female mortality today. Moreover, the number of cases among patients of working age is increasing.
Health care in Russia and around the world is making progress in the fight against breast cancer in women. This is facilitated both by the increased detectability of the disease, and the fact that the disease is identified precisely at the initial stages of development. There was a decrease in mortality in the first 12 months after the initial diagnosis. Timely detected tumors are treated much more successfully, while the life expectancy of patients increases. That is why regular preventive examinations and visits to a mammologist are indicated for all women over 18 years of age.
Non-surgical treatment
In order to stop the development of cancerous tumors and reduce their size, various techniques are used. The most commonly prescribed chemo, immune and radiation therapies. They can be used both individually and collectively - depending on the specific case. Such techniques are systemic and cannot save the patient from the consequences of metastasis.
Chemotherapy is currently considered the main component of cancer treatment. In this case, the affected cells are affected by various drugs. Chemotherapy is often prescribed to increase the effectiveness of an upcoming surgery. It may include antitumor, antibacterial, hormonal, and many other drugs, including cytostatics and antimetabolites.
Surgical intervention
Removing a cancerous tumor is a radical way to treat it. Affected cells can be excised with the organ in which they are localized. Also, lymph nodes that are located nearby are often removed. However, radical therapy can not help if the disease has already developed to the fourth stage.
Currently, symptomatic surgery is often performed to treat oncology. This technique is aimed at eliminating the main manifestations of the disease that pose a danger to the patient's life. So, for example, symptomatic surgical intervention is performed in case of intestinal obstruction. The problem is eliminated, but the tumor remains in place.
If the operation due to objective reasons is not possible, then palliative therapy is prescribed. This technique is aimed at prolonging the patient's life and increasing its comfort. In this case, the tumors are usually removed, but the lymph nodes are not subjected to surgical intervention. The impact on them can be carried out through radiation therapy and other techniques that help slow down the development of the tumor, but only for an indefinite period.
Finally
At the very beginning of the XXI century, according to statistics, the number of patients with cancerous tumors in the whole world was 10,000,000. Scientists predict that by 2020 this figure will increase to 16,000,000. This is due to the deteriorating state of the environment and ecology as a whole, as well as the wide spread of bad habits in all segments of the population.
In order to reduce the likelihood of cancer, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle (eat right, give up smoking and alcohol, provide moderate exercise and avoid harmful ultraviolet radiation) and always undergo routine diagnostics. The chances of early detection of malignant neoplasms increase every year. Thanks to advanced prevention, the number of cancer patients in Europe was reduced by 20%.