Cancer is one of the most feared disease of our age & for a good reason.

What is Cancer?

Two in five people will be affected by cancer at some stage in their lives. Cancer is not one disease but many, all with some similar features but all with a distinctive character which varies according to the cancer's type and location. There are over 200 types of cancer, but all start in the same way. Normally the activity of our cells is controlled by the genetic material or DNA in the nucleus of the cell. This tells the cell when to multiply and even when to die. Healthy cells divide and grow in number as we grow or to repair damage. When enough new cells have been produced this dividing mechanism switches itself off. In cancer, something goes wrong with the instructions coming from the genes, and the cell starts to do things it shouldn't like making unusual chemicals, or multiplying fast forming a cluster of cells.  This cluster of abnormal cells is called a tumour. Some tumours are benign, or harmless, and often don't need treatment. But malignant tumours - the cancers - can spread. They may be dangerous because they can invade nearby parts of the body and stop them working properly. Cells from malignant tumours can break away and travel to other parts of the body, where they can form new groups of abnormal cells, called secondary growths. What causes cancer in the first place, and how quickly the cells grow and spread, is different from person to person. A large number of people with cancer overcome the disease, or live fulfilled lives for many years.

What Causes Cancer?

• Cancer risk is known or believed to be inherited  i.e. passed from parents to siblings. One of the most common cancer passed on this way is breast cancer in women.

• Food. As many as 1 in 3 cancers may be linked to diet, although the exact connection is not clear. High fat intake, low fibre intake, and smoked, spiced and preserved foods may be most harmful.

• There is also evidence that tobacco smoke is full of carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals). Nine out of 10 cases of lung cancer are due to smoking, and it is linked to many other cancers, including the mouth, throat, oesophagus or gullet, cervix, pancreas, bladder, stomach, kidney and leukaemia.

• Sunlight. The ultraviolet (UV) light in sunshine is an important cause of skin cancers, especially UVB and to some extent UVA. It's especially dangerous when you expose fair skin to intense short spells of sun, and then burn, as British people still do during a brief summer holiday abroad. But even British sun is strong enough to cause serious damage.

• Radiation. These days we are all much more aware of the links between exposure to radiation and the development of cancer, but some people are still at risk in their jobs, such as those working with x-rays.

• Viruses. Some viruses appear to play a central part in causing certain cancers. For example, cervical cancer almost exclusively occurs in those women who have had a human papilloma (or wart) virus infection at some point. Hepatitis B virus can lead to liver cancer, and Epstein Barr virus can cause lymphoma.

• Exposure to toxic chemicals. Some industrial chemicals have been found to have strong links to cancer, such as chemical dyes and bladder cancer, or asbestos dust and lung cancer
  
   

What Can I Do To Prevent Cancer?

You can reduce your risk of cancer in the following ways:

• If you have a cancer that runs in the family, find out more about the risks to you by talking to your doctor and going for regular check-ups or screening. Also be particularly careful to avoid other risk factors.

• Don't smoke. If you do smoke, giving up is probably the single most important thing you can do to avoid cancer.

• Eat a healthy balanced diet, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, to provide all your vitamin requirements. Cut down on fat and increase your fibre intake. Drink alcohol only in moderation.

• Be sensible in the sun. Cover up in strong sun with UV-proof clothing and sun cream. Don't forget exposed spots like your head, ears and nose. It's particularly important that children are protected from the sun and don't burn.

• Exercise regularly and try to avoid being overweight.

• Have regular screenings such as cervical smears and mammograms as recommended. Be 'breast aware.'
  Watch out for early signs of cancer, such as an unusual lump, or a mole which is growing or itchy. Get advice on these from you doctor sooner rather than later. Even if you can't avoid cancer, being more aware of the risks, and the early symptoms and signs may help you to spot it at a stage when it is easier to treat - before it has caused immense damage.