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Prevention
What is Cancer?
Such a small word has a big effect in the lives of people diagnosed with it. It is one powerful
word that can cause every type of feeling possible. To deal with these feelings, one must know what cancer is and is not.
People have had wrong ideas and beliefs about cancer through the years, but scientists have worked hard at teaching the truth.
Science finds out new information every day, and the public needs to be updated on the latest facts on cancer.
Every part of the human body is made of cells. Cells are tiny building blocks that work
together to make bigger parts of our body called organs. Each part of our body, like the heart, lungs, and brain,
has a special and different function in keeping us alive and healthy. Cells grow by dividing into more cells
when the body needs them. If cells grow when the body does not need them, or they grow abnormally, they
make a mass/growth/tumor. Many times, these growths do not cause any harm. They just stay in the body, and often
people don't even know they are there. Other times, masses stop normal cells from doing their job. When abnormal
cells attack the body, this illness is called cancer.
Benign Verses Malignant Tumors
Tumors, also called growths or masses, are swollen or enlarged areas that do not belong in the body.
They can be sacs filled with fluid or a fatty, solid mass. This abnormal growth can happen almost anywhere. Benign
tumors are not cancer. They do not spread to other parts of the body. Surgery or medications can treat them.
Malignant tumors are cancer. The cells act abnormal and look twisted,
warped, and deformed. The cells will spread to other areas in the body causing harm unless treatment is started early.
When cancer spreads, it is called metastasis. It can still be treated, but it is more difficult to be cured.
There are many types of cancer such as breast cancer, lung cancer and leukemia. When you are diagnosed,
the doctors know what type you have based on the area in the body where it began, called the primary site. If cancer
started in the breast, it is called breast cancer. If it started in the leukocytes in the blood, it is called leukemia. If
cancer has already spread at the time of diagnosis, they still name the type of cancer after the primary site.
For example, if cancer begins in the breast, and has spread to the bone, it is called breast cancer with metastasis
to the bone.
Metastasis
Cancer cells do kill normal cells. It is believed that this may happen because cancer fights
for food and nutrients and wins. Cancer cells tend to break away as clumps or clusters rather than as single cells.
Lymphocytes may clump cancer cells, making them likely to stick in tiny blood vessels/tubes called capillaries.
They are carried through lymphatic vessels/tubes and the bloodstream. More aggressive cancer cells attack
the capillaries (tiny blood vessels/tubes) and veins directly rather than through the lymphatic system.
Some types of cancer tend to metastasize (spread) to certain areas, especially the lymph nodes,
bones, lung, and liver. It seems that cancer cells like to stop where they are most likely to live without harm.
Something about cancer cells causes them to cling to certain types of tissue. One reason is that some tissue
and organs have special traits and characteristics that help cancer cells to grow. Another is that cancer cells
have chemicals on the surface that cause them to stick to cells of organs and tissues. Possible
causes of metastasis may be hormone levels, age, and the person's immune system.
Cancer cells that attack tissue can die, grow right away, or lay dormant (inactive) then
grow later. To grow, they need blood and blood vessels/tubes. Tumors have a protein called tumor angiogenesis factor
(TAF) that forces normal cells to build these blood vessels for them.
Why Does Cancer Happen?
There are many reasons why normal cells start to turn to cancer. These are called risk factors.
Some risk factors can be prevented like cigarette smoking and some cannot. They may affect one person or a group
from the same race or city if the group is exposed to cancer causing agents. The more risk factors a person has,
the greater the chances they can get cancer. Not everyone with a known risk factor will get cancer.
Early detection (finding cancer) and treatment (doing things to stop the illness) increase the chance for
cure and/or control of cancer. It is not true that you have to have pain or feel sick to know you have cancer. That is why
you need to know the warning signs and see your doctor regularly. Checkups by your doctor can help find clues of cancer before
it has a chance to cause problems. It is important to let your doctor know any risk factors because he/she may want
to see you more often than usual for cancer screening.
The chart below shows most of the known risk factors of today. Scientists studied these and have
proof that they may lead to cancer. This is only a general guide and should not be used to pinpoint the definite cause of
cancer.
| Risk Factors |
Where it is Found |
Type of Cancer it Causes |
| Diet |
High fat foods |
Breast, Rectum, Colon, Uterus, Prostate, Testes, Gallbladder, Pancreas |
|
Overweight |
Prostate, Pancreas, Uterus, Colon, Ovary, Breast, Gallbladder |
|
Low fiber in the diet |
Colon |
|
Preservatives and seasonings, nitrites (smoked or salted fish, dried fish, pickled vegetables) cured
meats |
Esophagus and Stomach |
|
Drinking alcoholic beverages often or in large amounts |
Oral, Liver, Throat, Esophagus, Larynx, Pharynx and Mouth |
|
Aflatoxins (spoiled peanuts), mold of peanuts, corn, and milk |
Liver |
|
Low levels of vitamins A and C |
Esophagus, Stomach, Colon, Rectum, Prostate, Bladder, Lung, Larynx |
| Heredity/family history of cancer |
Children of people with cancer |
Breast, Colon, Melanoma, and Ovary |
|
Close blood relatives with cancer |
Melanoma, Breast or Colon |
|
Tobacco (smoked, chewed, sniffed, or second hand smoke) (The number of cigarettes per day and number of years
of smoking increase the risk of getting cancer) |
Cigarettes, pipes, cigars, snuff
Cigarette poisons: Trace amounts of 4,000 chemicals have been identified in cigarette smoking 43 of them
are carcinogens.
Cadmium: used to recharge batteries
Butane: used in lighter fluid
Polonium 210: component of nuclear waste
Arsenic: a murder weapon
Hydrogen Cyanide: used in gas chamber executions
Ammonia: found in toilet bowl cleaner
Nicotine: used to kill cockroaches
Cyanide: fatal poison
Benzene: chemical solvent
Carbon monoxide: auto emission
(The Boston Globe Monday, April 11, 1994) |
Mouth, Pharynx, Larynx, Lung, Esophagus, Bladder, Oral, Pancreatic, Kidney, and Cervical
|
| Daughters of mothers who took a drug called DES (diethylstilbestrol, a form of estrogen) to prevent miscarriages
in the 1940 to 1970's |
DES prescriptions
|
Rare Vaginal and Cervical cancers, Breast
|
| Excessive sun exposure |
1. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when its rays are strongest
2. When you are out in the sun, wear wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, and pants
3. Apply sun block or sun screens with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of fifteen a half hour before going
outside
4. You can still get burned on cloudy days
5. Apply sun screen or sun blocks when swimming since you can get burned from the sun reflecting on the water
and through the water
6. Snow reflects sunlight that can cause sunburn
7. Don't use sun lamps or tanning parlors (they have ultraviolet radiation just like the sun's) |
Oral cancer of the lip |
Repeated exposure to X-rays
|
People who have had radiation treatments for cancer, especially head and neck, are at higher risk for developing
a second type of cancer |
Thyroid tumors
|
| X-rays during pregnancy |
|
X-rays may cause harm to the unborn fetus causing birth defects |
| Environment |
|
|
| Acrylonitrile |
Makers of apparel, ethylene, carpeting, blankets, draperies,synthetic furs, and wigs |
Lung, Colon |
| Senecio alkaloids |
Herbal medicines and teas |
|
| Alkylating agents:
Cyclophosphamide
Melphalan |
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy |
Bladder
Marrow |
| Aromatic amines:
4-Aminodiphenyl
|
Chemical workers, antioxidants in rubber, manufacture of dyes |
Bladder |
| Benzidine
|
|
Bladder |
| 2-Naphthylamine |
Makers of dyes, rubber-tires, chemicals, coal gas, nickel refiners, copper smelters, and electrolysis workers |
Bladder, Pancreas |
| Arsenic |
Makers of metal, sheep-dip, pesticides, copper smelter, insecticides, glass and ceramics, food and drinking
water; tanners, vineyard workers, and gold miners |
Lung, Pleura, Peritoneum, Skin, Scrotum, Lymphatic, Hemangiosarcoma of the liver |
| Asbestos |
Makers of asbestos containing materials, brake linings, textiles, rubber-tires; industry workers, miners,
insulation workers, and shipyard workers |
Marrow, Lung, Larynx, GI tract, Pleural and Peritoneal Mesothelioma |
| Auramine |
Workers of dye, paint, rubber, and textile |
Bladder |
| Benzene |
Workers of rubber-tire industry, painters, rubber cement, glue, varnish, distillers, adhesives, gasoline
fumes, shoemakers, plastics, and chemicals |
Lung, Leukemia |
| Benzidine |
Dye and chemical workers |
Bladder, Pancreas |
| Beryllium |
Beryllium workers, electronics
workers, missile parts producers |
Lung |
| Bis(chloromethyl) ether |
Workers in plants producing anion-exchange resins (chemicals), plastic makers |
Marrow, Lung |
| Busulphan |
|
Prostate |
| Cadmium |
Workers in cadmium production, metals, electroplating industry, chemicals, batteries, pigments, jewelry,
and nuclear products |
Mouth, Lung, Prostate |
| Carbon tetrachloride |
Plastics workers, dry cleaners |
Liver |
| Chloromethyl methyl ether |
Workers in plants producing ion-exchange resin and chemicals |
Lung |
| Chewing betel, tobacco, lime |
|
Mouth |
| Chromium |
Workers in chromate-producing industry, acetylene and aniline, bleachers, glass, pottery, pigments, linoleum,
and metal makers |
Lung, Nasal sinuses |
| Chlomaphazine |
|
Bladder |
| Coal tar pitch volatiles |
Workers in aluminum pot rooms, steel industry, and foundries |
Lung, Scrotum |
| Coke oven emissions |
Steel industry and coke plant workers |
Lung, Kidney, Prostate |
| Dimethyl sulphate |
Chemical workers, drug and dye makers |
Lung |
| Epichlorohydrin |
Chemical workers |
Lung, Leukemia |
| Ethylene oxide |
Hospital and research lab workers, beekeepers, fumigators |
Lung, Leukemia, Stomach |
| Furniture manufacture (hardwood) |
|
Nasal sinuses |
| Hematite |
Miners of iron ore |
Lung |
| Immunosuppressive drugs |
|
Reticuloendothelial system |
| Ionizing radiations |
|
Marrow |
| Isopropyl alcohol and oils manufacturers |
Makers of isopropyl alcohol |
Paranasal sinuses |
| Leather goods manufacturers |
|
Nasal sinuses |
| Mustard gas |
Production workers, chemical warfare agents |
Respiratory tract |
| Nickel |
Nickel refiners |
Nasal cavity, Lung, Larynx |
| Estrogens:
Unopposed
Transplacental (DES)
Over nutrition (causing obesity) |
|
Endometrium
Vagina
Endometrium, Gallbladder |
| Phenacetin |
|
Kidney (pelvis) |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS) |
PCB workers |
Melanoma |
| Polycyclic hydrocarbons |
|
Skin, Scrotum, Lung |
| Radiation, ionizing |
Uranium miners, radiologists, radiographers, luminous dial painters |
Skin, Pancreas, Brain, Stomach, Breast, Salivary glands, Thyroid, GI tract, Bronchus, Lymphoid tissue, Leukemia,
Multiple Myeloma |
| Radiation, ultraviolet |
Farmers, sailors, arc welders |
Skin |
| Radon |
X-ray imaging, makers of ceramics, incandescent lamps, magnesium alloys, nuclear reactors, and vacuum tubes |
|
| Parasites:
Schistosoma haematobium
Chlonorchis sinensis |
|
Bladder
Liver (cholangioma) |
| Sexual promiscuity |
|
Cervix uteri |
| Steroids: Anabolic (oxymetholone) |
|
Liver |
| Soots, tars, mineral oils |
Makers of coal tar, creosote, crude minerals, cutting, shale, and isopropyl oils, roofers, construction
workers, chimney sweeps, and machinists |
Skin, Lung, Bladder, GI tract |
| Thorium dioxide |
|
Liver, Kidney, Larynx, Leukemia |
| UV light |
|
Skin, Lip |
| Vinyl chloride |
Makers of plastics |
Liver (angiosarcoma), Brain, Lung Hematolymphopoietic system, Breast |
| Hormone replacement therapy |
Women who use estrogen during menopause to control hot flashes and osteoporosis |
Uterus, Endometrial, and Breast |
| Viruses |
Human T-Lymphocytic Virus
(HTLV-I and II)
Hepatitis B and C Viruses
Papilloma and Herpes Viruses
Epstein-Barr Virus |
Certain Leukemias
Liver
Cervical
Certain Lymphomas and Nasopharynx cancer and Burkitts Lymphoma |
| Radiation |
High energy (ionizing) radiation
Ultraviolet radiation |
Leukemia, Breast, Lung, Brain, Pancreas, Stomach, Salivary glands, Thyroid, GI tract, Multiple Myeloma,
Lymphoid tissue
Skin |
| Age |
Children
Elderly |
Childhood Leukemia
Breast, Ovary, Pancreas, Prostate |
| Noncompliance (failure to follow the doctor's recommendations or to delay seeking treatment) |
1. Possible warning signs of cancer (CAUTION was developed by the ACS):
C hange in bowel or bladder habits
A sore that does not heal
U nusual bleeding or discharge
T hickening or lump in breast or other areas
I ndigestion or difficulty swallowing
O bvious change in wart or mole
N agging cough or hoarseness
2. Self breast exams (BSE):
Every woman should do self exams of her breasts every month after her menstrual period has ended |
All types of cancer |
| Medical conditions |
Previous history of cancer
Intestinal polyps, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease
Diabetes, gallbladder disease, hypertension, obesity
Down's syndrome
Chronic pancreatitis, and cirrhosis |
That same cancer or a new type
Colon/Rectal
Endometrial
Leukemia
Pancreas |
| Race/Culture |
African-American men
African-American women |
Prostate, Lung, Colon/Rectum, Oral, and Stomach
Breast, Colon/Rectum, Lung, Corpus Uteri, and Cervix |
| Gender (male/female) |
Women have a higher risk of developing cancer who:
1. Late age at 1st pregnancy/birth
2. Zero or low parity (live births)
3. History of breast cancer in self or relatives
4. Multiple sexual partners, and venereal disease
5. Early age at menarche (start of period)
6. Late age at menopause (end of period forever) |
Breast
Ovary
Breast
Cervical |
Top Five Cancers for Males and Females of Different Races:
|
Males |
Females |
| African
Americans |
Prostate, Lung, Colon & Rectum, Oral Stomach |
Breast, Colon & Rectum,
Lung, Corpus Uteri, Cervix |
| Alaska
Natives |
Lung, Colon & Rectum, Prostate, Stomach, Kidney |
Breast, Colon & Rectum,
Lung, Kidney, Cervix |
| American
Indians |
Prostate, Colon & Rectum, Kidney, Lung, Liver |
Breast, Colon & Rectal,
Gallbladder, Ovary, Corpus Uteri |
| Chinese |
Lung, Prostate, Colon & Rectal Liver, Stomach |
Breast, Colon & Rectal,
Lung, Corpus Uteri, Ovary |
| Filipinos |
Prostate, Lung, Colon & Rectum, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Liver |
Breast, Colon & Rectal,
Lung, Thyroid, Corpus Uteri |
| Hawaiians |
Lung, Prostate, Colon & Rectum, Stomach, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma |
Breast, Lung, Colon & Rectal, Corpus Uteri, Stomach |
| Hispanics |
Prostate, Lung, Colon & Rectum, Urinary, Stomach |
Breast, Colon & Rectal, Lung, Cervix, Corpus Uteri |
| Japanese |
Prostate, Colon & Rectum, Lung, Stomach, Urinary |
Breast, Colon & Rectal,
Stomach, Lung, Corpus Uteri |
| Koreans |
Lung, Stomach, Colon & Rectum, Liver, Prostate |
Breast, Colon & Rectal,
Stomach, Lung, Cervix |
| Vietnamese |
Lung, Liver, Prostate, Colon & Rectum, Stomach |
Cervix, Breast, Lung,
Colon & rectal, Stomach |
| Whites |
Prostate, Lung, Colon & Rectum, Urinary, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma |
Breast, Lung, Colon & Rectal, Corpus Uteri, Ovary |
American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 1997. Reprinted by the permission of the American Cancer
society, Inc.
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