Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body, which may be called cancerous or malignant.
Although it is not uncommon for cells to multiply when the body requires it, because they die or are damaged when they are not needed; The thing about cancer cells is that they get out of control.
Many cancers have been classified in medicine and can appear in almost any organ or tissue, including the lung, colon, breasts, skin, bone and even nerve tissue.
Despite the fact that the world has been fighting against cancer for a long time, it is difficult to know for sure a cause of this terminal disease, because it is multifactorial. That means that it can be generated in a person’s body for various reasons, which affect the malignant multiplication of cells mentioned above.
However, experts point out that there are some precautions that could prevent or reduce the risk of suffering from some type of cancer. Among those cares are:
- Eat healthy food.
- Exercise regularly.
- Reduce alcohol consumption.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Minimize exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
- Reduce sun exposure, especially if the person burns easily.
Although there are many types of cancer, The National Cancer Institute of the United States prepared a list in which it outlines which are the most common cancers. It includes those that are most frequently diagnosed in this country, but the risk exists in general for all nations:
- Colon and rectal cancer.
- Endometrial cancer.
- Liver.
- Leukemia.
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- Melanoma.
- Pancreatic cancer.
- Prostate cancer.
- Lung cancer.
- Kidney cancer.
- Breast cancer (breast).
- Thyroid cancer.
- Bladder cancer.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the signs and symptoms caused by cancer vary depending on the part of the body affected, but there are some general ones that are associated with this disease, although they are not specific, including:
- Fatigue.
- Lump or area of thickening that can be felt under the skin.
- Weight changes, such as unintentional weight gain or loss.
- Skin changes, such as yellowing, darkening or redness of the skin, sores that do not heal, or changes in existing moles.
- Changes in bowel or bladder emptying habits.
- Persistent cough or difficulty breathing.
- Difficulty to swallow.
- Hoarseness.
- Persistent indigestion or discomfort after eating.
- Persistent muscle or joint pain, without apparent cause.
- Fever or persistent night sweats, without apparent cause.
- Bleeding or bruising for no apparent reason.
The entity also states that a person should make an appointment with their doctor when they have some of these symptoms frequently or spontaneously but they worry them.
In fact, the insistence of the medical community is that people have continuous check-ups with their treating health professionals, since early diagnosis increases the chances of a cure.
“If you don’t have any signs or symptoms, but you’re concerned about your cancer risk, talk to your doctor about it. Ask which cancer screening tests and procedures are right for you.