Cancer!

Cancer is a disease that affects millions of people worldwide. But what exactly is cancer?

What is Cancer?
Cancer occurs when abnormal cells in our body start growing uncontrollably. Imagine your body is like a garden, where cells are like flowers. Normally, flowers grow, bloom, and then die. But in cancer, the flowers (cells) keep growing and multiplying without stopping, choking out the healthy flowers.

How Does it Happen?
Sometimes, our cells' DNA (instructions) gets damaged. This damage can be caused by things like:

- Smoking
- Radiation
- Infections
- Genetics
- Environmental factors

When DNA is damaged, cells can become abnormal and start growing uncontrollably.

Types of Cancer
There are many types of cancer, including:
- Carcinoma (skin, breast, lung)
- Sarcoma (bone, muscle)
- Leukemia (blood)
- Lymphoma (immune system)

How Does it Spread?
Cancer cells can break away from the original site (tumor) and travel to other parts of the body through:
- Blood
- Lymphatic system
- Direct contact

This is called metastasis.

Symptoms
Cancer symptoms vary depending on the type and location. Some common symptoms include:
- Lumps or swelling
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Changes in skin, bladder, or bowel habits

Treatment
Treatment depends on the type, stage, and location of cancer. Common treatments include:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy (medicine to kill cancer cells)
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy (boosting the immune system)

Early Detection is Key
Cancer is often treatable if caught early. That's why regular check-ups, screenings, and self-exams are important.

#learnwithcoral