CANCER

What is Cancer?
• Cancer is actually a group of many related diseases that all
have to do with cells. Cells are  the very small units that make
up all living things, including the human body. There are
billions of cells in each person's body.
• Cancer happens when cells that are not normal grow and
spread very fast. Normal body cells grow and divide and know
to stop growing. Over time, they also die. Unlike these normal
cells, cancer cells just continue to grow and divide out of
control and don't die when they're supposed to.
• Cancer cells usually group or clump together to form
tumors. A growing tumor becomes a lump of cancer cells that
can destroy the normal cells around the tumor and damage
the body's healthy tissues. This can make someone very sick.
• Sometimes cancer cells break away from the original
tumor and travel to other areas of the body, where they keep
growing and can go on to form new tumors. This is how
cancer spreads. The spread of a tumor to a new place in the
body is called metastasis.
 Predisposing Factor of Cancer
• Cancer is one of the most feared diseases in the
world in the present era. In spite of the medical
advancements, the diagnosis of cancer seems to
be a death knell for many people. There are
various factors that can predispose to Cancer.
The factors that cause cancer are all listed in this
article.

• The factors that predispose a person to getting

cancer are such varied things like heredity,
environmental factors, physical agents, exposure
to radiation, excessive temperature, chemical
agents and other such irritants.
Heredity: Breast cancers and other such cancers are commonly seen
to be heredity. This does not mean that the woman whose mother
had cancer will surely get cancer. The risk of getting cancer is higher
than the general population.
 
Environmental factors: There are various environmental factors that
play a role in being carcinogenic. The pollution around us can lead
to lung cancer.

Physical agents: Excessive exposure to sunlight can lead to skin

cancers. This is due to the harmful ultraviolet radiation from the
sun that affects the skin. There are various other physical agents
that can predispose to a person getting cancer.
 
Exposure to radiation: Radiation can cause cancers. This is true in
people who work in atomic plants and in close proximity to X ray
machines. These people should have adequate protection from the
radiation to prevent getting cancer.
High temperature: This may be a reason for smokers to get oral cancer
and also the reason for testicular cancer.

Chemical agents: All chemical agents are considered as foreign

irritants by the body. So any chemical that is ingested can cause
Cancer over a period of time. This is the reason why people prefer
organic foods that do not contain any carcinogenic fertilizers.
Various dyes used in textile injuries can cause skin cancer. Those
who are exposed to asbestos and tobacco can get lung
cancer.
Age: Cancer of different types occurs in particular age groups. Other
than accidents, cancer is the most common cause of deaths in
children up to fourteen years of age.

Marital status: Breast cancer is less common among married women

than in unmarried women. Cancer of the cervix is more common in
women who are married at an early age, than those who never
marry or marry late.

No reason: There are many people who may not have any of these
predisposing factors, but may still get cancer.
 Danger Signs of Cancer?
• A change in bowel or bladder habits
• A sore that does not heal
• Unusual bleeding or discharge from any place
• A lump in the breast or other parts of the
body
• Chronic indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
• Obvious changes in a wart or mole
• Persistent coughing or hoarseness
 Common Cancer in Male and
Percentage
• For men the most common cancer is prostate
cancer, with an incidence of .16%. Second in line,
and actually most deadly is lung cancer, occurring
in .088% of each group of 100,000 men. Cancer
of the colon/rectum follows with an incidence
of .0627%. Cancer of the bladder affects .0369%
of the general male population. Non-Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma affects .0217%.
•  
 Prostate Cancer

• is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a

gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate
cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of
aggressive prostate cancers.[1] The cancer cells may
metastasize (spread) from the prostate to other parts
of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes.
Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating,
problems during sexual intercourse, or
erectile dysfunction. Other symptoms can potentially
develop during later stages of the disease.
•  
 Common Cancer in Female and
Percentage
• In women the most common cancer is breast
cancer, with a .1272% of occurrence in women of
all age and racial groups. Second is cancer of the
lungs affecting .0532% of women. Colon and
rectal cancer is the third most common cancer,
occurring in about .0458% of the female
population. Uterine cancer affects .0229% of
women. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is the fifth
most common cancer with an incidence rate of .
0154%.
 Breast Cancer

• is cancers originating from breast tissue, most

commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the
lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers
originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas
; those originating from lobules are known as
lobular carcinomas. There are many different types of
breast cancer, with different stages (spread),
aggressiveness, and genetic makeup; survival varies
greatly depending on those factors.[1] Computerized
models are available to predict survival.[2] With best
treatment and dependent on staging, 10-year disease-
free survival varies from 98% to 10%. Treatment
includes surgery, drugs (hormonal therapy and
chemotherapy), and radiation.
 Common Cancer in Children and
Percentage
• Leukemia, with a 27.5%. Neoplasms of the brain
and other nervous tissue, with a 17.4%. Hodgkin
lymphoma, with a 7.2%.
Leukemia
is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow
characterized by an abnormal increase of blood
cells, usually leukocytes (white blood cells).
Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of
diseases. In turn, it is part of the even broader
group of diseases called hematological
neoplasms.
 Stages of Cancer

• • Stage I cancers are localized to one part of the body.

•  
• • Stage II cancers are locally advanced.
•  
• • Stage III cancers are also locally advanced. Whether
a cancer is designated as Stage II or Stage III can
depend on the specific type of cancer.
•  
• • Stage IV cancers have often metastasized, or spread
to other organs or throughout the body.
•  
 Nursing Intervention
 Promotive
 Prevention
 
Cancer prevention step 1: Don't use tobacco
• All types of tobacco put you on a collision course with cancer.
Rejecting tobacco, or deciding to stop using it, is one of the most
important health decisions you can make. It's also an important
part of cancer prevention.
 Cancer prevention step 2: Eat a variety of healthy foods
• Though making healthy selections at the grocery store and at
mealtime can't guarantee you won't get cancer, it may help reduce
your risk.

• • Eat an abundance of foods from plant-based sources.

• • Limit fat.
• • Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.
Cancer prevention step 3: Stay active and maintain a
healthy weight
• Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly
also may play a role in cancer prevention. Being
overweight or obese may increase your risk of cancers
of the breast, colon, esophagus, kidney, stomach and
uterus.  Physical activity can help you avoid obesity by
controlling your weight. Physical activity on its own
may also lower your risk of cancers of the breast,
colon, prostate and uterus.
Cancer prevention step 4: Protect yourself from the sun
Skin cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer —
and one of the most preventable. Although repeated
exposure to X-rays or contact with certain chemicals
can play a role, sun exposure is by far the most
common cause of skin cancer.
 
Cancer prevention step 5: Get immunized

Certain cancers are associated with viral infections that

can be prevented with immunizations. Talk to your
doctor about immunization against:
• Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can increase your risk of
developing liver cancer. Vaccination is recommended
for all babies in the United States. Certain high-risk
adults also may need to be vaccinated.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually
transmitted virus that can lead to cervical cancer. The
vaccine that protects against two cancer-causing types
of HPV is recommended for girls ages 11 to 12. In
addition, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recommends that the HPV vaccine be given
to girls and women ages 13 to 26 who haven't
completed the full vaccine series.
Cancer prevention step 6: Avoid risky behaviors

• Reduce your risk of certain cancers by avoiding risky behaviors that

can lead to infections that may increase your risk of cancer. Viruses
transmitted sexually or by sharing contaminated needles include:

• HPV. HPV is most often associated with cervical cancer. But HPV may
also increase the risk of cancers of the anus, penis, throat, vulva
and vagina. The more sexual partners you have in your lifetime, the
more likely you are to have HPV.

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). People with HIV or AIDS have

an increased risk of anal cancer, cervical cancer, liver cancer,
lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma. People with multiple sexual
partners and intravenous (IV) drug users who share needles have
an increased risk of HIV.
 
• Hepatitis B and C. Chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection can
increase your risk of liver cancer. Both forms of hepatitis can be
passed through sexual contact with an infected person or sharing
needles with an infected drug user.
Cancer prevention step 7: Get screened
• Regular screening and self-examination for
certain cancers may not prevent cancer, but it
can increase your chances of discovering cancer
early — when treatment is more likely to be
successful. Screening should include your skin,
mouth, colon and rectum. If you're a man, it
should also include your prostate and testes. If
you're a woman, include cervix and breast cancer
screening on your list. Be aware of changes in
your body — this may help you detect cancer
early, increasing your chances of successful
treatment. If you notice any changes, see your
doctor.
END