WHAT IS CANCER?

Cancer is an uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. This growth interferes with the way your body normally functions. These abnormal cells interfere with normal body functions. If the spread of the abnormal cells is not controlled, death can result.

There are many kinds of cells that make up the tissue in a human body. Cells make new cells by dividing. Some cells stop dividing when they become adult cells. Other cells constantly divide, such as those of your skin, hair, and blood. Some divide only if there has been damage somewhere in your body. They turn off growth only until the damage has been repaired. Cancer tissues have lost their ability to "turn off" their growth. They eventually crowd out healthy tissues, disrupting your body's ability to do what it needs to do.

There are over 100 different kinds of cancer. Many people will get some form of cancer in their lifetime. The good news is that almost half (4 in 10) of them will be cured for at least five years.

Your chances of being cured increase greatly with an early, accurate diagnosis, quickly starting the appropriate treatment, and follow-up evaluations.

The most common ways of treating cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy. These can be used alone or in combination.

There are new therapies being developed every day by researchers looking for better options for cancer patients. Research is also being done in the area of preventing cancer.

To learn more about cancer, call the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345 or the National Cancer Institute at (800) 4-CANCER.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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