
Lesser Known Facts About Cancer
We all think we know a lot about cancer. However, this condition is still puzzling to experts when it comes to its cause and treatment. We have shortlisted some very intriguing facts about cancer that you probably weren’t aware of and will be amazed to read.
Cancer as a topic is most researched and sends people into panic mode when diagnosed. However, most of us don’t know what cancer is and rely on hearsay. Cancer is not one single disease but a group of diseases that includes an abnormal growth and multiplication of cells in the tissue. There are more than 100 kinds of cancer that can cause sickness and the reason for cancer is still unknown
If you were led to believe that smoking, consumption of processed foods, and alcohol were the only culprits then hear what the experts say.
Here are some unknown facts about cancer that may surprise you
1. Skin cancers due to indoor tanning are more prevalent than lung cancers due to smoking: Yes, you read that right. According to studies, it was revealed that there were around 4 lakh cases of skin cancer due to indoor tanning in the United States alone.
2. Breast cancer occurs more in the left breast than in the right: Research indicates that the left breast has around 5-10% more chances of suffering from cancer than the right one. And that is not all, the left side of the body is more susceptible to being affected by skin cancer called melanoma. The reason for this strange occurrence is still being discovered.
3. Cancer is not the end: All cancers are not fatal as per common belief. Doctors say that 50 % of cancers don’t lead to death and can be managed effectively and even cured. Data shows that there are more than 28 million cancer survivors across the world owing to the progress made in recent times in the field of cancer treatment. These include people who have survived for more than five years after they were diagnosed with cancer. If diagnosed early, cancer can be treated and stopped from spreading to other parts of the body.
4. Nearly 10% of cancers are hereditary: This data explains the occurrence of cancer in people who don’t smoke or consume too much alcohol and processed food and lead an unhealthy lifestyle. However, with genetic testing, the occurrence or the possibility of the cancer occurring at a later stage can be identified by doctors and prevented by gene modification therapy.
5. Cancer cannot be transmitted from one person to another: Cancer is not aids and is not transferable or communicable through kissing, sex, holding hands, breathing closely, or sharing food and water. However, certain infectious agents like human papillomavirus, hepatitis B and C, and Helicobacter pylori bacteria can trigger cervical cancer, liver cancer, and cancer in the stomach respectively.
6. All tumors don’t mean it is cancer: Tumors are abnormal growth of cells in the tissues of the body. Sometimes the tumors may be benign, which means they are not cancerous. Sometimes these benign tumors may cause complications in the body by pressing a nerve or a blood vessel like cysts and polyps and if they are inside the brain. In such cases, surgical intervention is required.
7. Cancer doesn’t lead to hair loss: It doesn’t. It is the treatment of cancer like radiation and chemotherapy that leads to hair loss. The treatment involves killing certain cells that are growing abnormally in the body. However, in the process, it ends up targeting some healthy cells too causing various symptoms and hair loss is one of them.
8. Alternate therapies don’t cure cancer: There are many alternate therapies like acupuncture, herbal remedies, meditation, etc that people believe can cure cancer. While these therapies cannot be disregarded, they have not been scientifically proven to destroy cancer cells and eliminate cancer. They however can work together with the cancer treatment and help in better management of symptoms and side effects of the treatment.
To conclude, cancer can stealthily creep into a human body without showing any signs and symptoms for a long time and can catch a person off guard when it may be a bit too late to salvage the situation or increase complications during treatment. Hence doctors advise people to undergo regular screening for cancer or any abnormal and irregular growths in the body to detect the problem early and nail it before it spreads beyond control.
Related
BY: Sukino
COMMENTS: No Comments