- What is cancer?
Cancer is a group of many related diseases that begin in cells, the body's
basic building blocks. To understand cancer, it is helpful to know what happens
when normal cells become cancerous.
The body is made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells grow and divide
to produce more cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy. Sometimes,
this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need
them, and old cells do not die when they should. The extra cells form a mass
of tissue called a growth or tumor.
Not all tumors are cancerous; tumors can be benign
or malignant.
Benign tumors are not cancer. They can often be removed
and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumors do not spread
to other parts of the body. Most important, benign tumors are rarely a threat
to life.
Malignant tumors are cancer. Cells in malignant tumors
are abnormal
and divide without control or order. Cancer cells invade and destroy the tissue
around them. Cancer cells can also break away from a malignant tumor and enter
the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Blood
vessels include a network of arteries, capillaries, and veins through
which the blood
circulates in the body. The lymphatic system carries lymph
and white
blood cells through lymphatic
vessels (thin tubes) to all the tissues of the body. By moving through
the bloodstream or lymphatic system, cancer can spread from the primary (original)
cancer site to form new tumors in other organs.
The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
- What causes cancer?
Scientists have learned that cancer is caused by changes in genes that normally
control the growth and death of cells. Certain lifestyle and environmental
factors can change some normal genes into genes that allow the growth of cancer.
Many gene changes that lead to cancer are the result of tobacco use, diet,
exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation
from the sun, or exposure to carcinogens
(cancer-causing substances) in the workplace or in the environment. Some gene
alterations
are inherited (from one or both parents). However, having an inherited gene
alteration does not always mean that the person will develop cancer; it only
means that the chance of getting cancer is increased. Scientists continue
to examine the factors that may increase or decrease a person's chance of
developing cancer.
Although being infected with certain viruses,
such as the human
papillomavirus (HPV),
hepatitis
B and C
(HepB and HepC), and human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
increases the risk of some types of cancer, cancer itself is not contagious.
A person cannot catch cancer from someone who has this disease. Scientists
also know that an injury or bruise does not cause cancer.
- Can cancer be prevented?
Although there is no guaranteed way to prevent cancer, people can reduce
their risk (chance) of developing cancer by:
- not using tobacco products
- choosing foods with less fat and eating more vegetables, fruits, and
whole grains
- exercising regularly and maintaining a lean weight
- avoiding the harmful rays of the sun, using sunscreen,
and wearing clothing that protects the skin
- talking with a doctor about the possible benefits of drugs
proven to reduce the risk of certain cancers
Although many risk
factors can be avoided, some, such as inherited conditions, are unavoidable.
Still, it is helpful to be aware of them. It is also important to keep in
mind that not everyone with a particular risk factor for cancer actually gets
the disease; in fact, most do not. People who have an increased likelihood
of developing cancer can help protect themselves by avoiding risk factors
(see Question 2) whenever possible and by getting regular checkups so that,
if cancer develops, it is likely to be found and treated early. Treatment
is often more effective when cancer is detected early. Screening exams, such
as sigmoidoscopy
or the fecal
occult blood test, mammography,
and the Pap
test, can detect precancerous conditions (which can be treated before
they turn into cancer) and early-stage cancer.
The NCI is conducting many cancer prevention studies to explore ways to reduce
the risk of developing cancer. These studies are evaluating dietary
supplements, chemopreventive agents, nutrition,
personal behaviors, and other factors that may prevent cancer. More information
about cancer prevention trials is available in the following NCI resources:
See Question 6 for additional information about clinical trials related
to the prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
- What are some of the common signs and symptoms of cancer?
Cancer can cause a variety of symptoms. Possible signs of cancer include
the following:
- new thickening or lump in the breast or any other part of the body
- new mole
or an obvious change in the appearance of an existing wart
or mole
- a sore that does not heal
- nagging cough or hoarseness
- changes in bowel
or bladder
habits
- persistent indigestion or difficulty swallowing
- unexplained changes in weight
- unusual bleeding or discharge
When these or other symptoms occur, they are not always
caused by cancer. They can be caused by infections,
benign tumors, or other problems. It is important to see a doctor about any
of these symptoms or about other physical changes. Only a doctor can make
a diagnosis. A person with these or other symptoms should not
wait to feel pain because early cancer usually does not cause pain.
If symptoms occur, the doctor may perform a physical
examination, order blood work and other tests, and/or recommend a biopsy.
In most cases, a biopsy is the only way to know for certain whether cancer
is present. During a biopsy, the doctor removes a sample of tissue from the
abnormal area. A pathologist
studies the tissue under a microscope to identify cancer cells.
- How is cancer treated?
Cancer treatment can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone
therapy, and biological therapy. The doctor may use one method or a combination
of methods, depending on the type and location of the cancer, whether the
disease has spread, the patient's age and general health, and other factors.
Because treatment for cancer can also damage healthy cells and tissues, it
often causes side
effects. Some patients may worry that the side effects of treatment are
worse than the disease. However, patients and doctors generally discuss the
treatment options, weighing the likely benefits of killing cancer cells and
the risks of possible side effects. Doctors can suggest ways to reduce or
eliminate problems that may occur during and after treatment.
Surgery is an operation to remove cancer. The side effects
of surgery depend on many factors, including the size and location of the
tumor, the type of operation, and the patient's general health. Patients have
some pain after surgery, but this pain can be controlled with medicine. It
is also common for patients to feel tired or weak for a while after surgery.
Patients may worry that having a biopsy or other type of surgery for cancer
will spread the disease. This is a very rare occurrence because surgeons
take special precautions to prevent cancer from spreading during surgery.
Also, exposing cancer to air during surgery does not cause the disease to
spread.
Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy)
uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells in a targeted area. Radiation can
be given externally by a machine that aims radiation at the tumor area. It
can also be given internally; needles, seeds, wires, or catheters
containing a radioactive
substance are placed directly in or near the tumor. Radiation treatments are
painless. The side effects are usually temporary, and most can be treated
or controlled. Patients are likely to feel very tired, especially in the later
weeks of treatment. Radiation therapy may also cause a decrease in the number
of white blood cells, which help protect the body against infection. With
external
radiation, it is also common to have temporary hair loss in the treated
area and for the skin to become red, dry, tender, and itchy.
There is no risk of radiation exposure from coming in contact with a patient
undergoing external radiation therapy. External radiation does not cause the
body to become radioactive. With internal
radiation (also called implant
radiation), a patient may need to stay in the hospital, away from other
people, while the radiation level is highest. Implants
may be permanent or temporary. The amount of radiation in a permanent implant
goes down to a safe level before the person leaves the hospital. With a temporary
implant, there is no radioactivity left in the body after the implant is removed.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs that kill cancer cells
throughout the body. Healthy cells can also be harmed, especially those that
divide quickly. The doctor may use one drug or a combination of drugs. The
side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly on the drug(s) and the dose(s)
the patient receives. Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy; however,
not all anticancer drugs cause loss of hair. Anticancer drugs may also cause
temporary fatigue,
poor appetite, nausea
and vomiting, diarrhea,
and mouth and lip sores. Drugs that prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting
can help with some of these side effects. Normal cells usually recover when
chemotherapy is over, so most side effects gradually go away after treatment
ends.
Hormone therapy is used to treat certain cancers that depend
on hormones for their growth. It works by keeping cancer cells from getting
or using the hormones they need to grow. This treatment may include the use
of drugs that stop the production of certain hormones or that change the way
hormones work. Another type of hormone therapy is surgery to remove organs
that make hormones. For example, the ovaries may be removed to treat breast
cancer, or the testicles
may be removed to treat prostate
cancer.
Hormone therapy can cause a number of side effects. Patients may feel tired,
or have fluid
retention, weight gain, hot
flashes, nausea and vomiting, changes in appetite, and, in some cases,
blood clots. Hormone therapy may also cause bone loss in premenopausal
women. Depending on the type of hormone therapy used, these side effects may
be temporary, long lasting, or permanent.
Biological therapy uses the body's immune
system, directly or indirectly, to fight disease and to lessen some of
the side effects of cancer treatment. Monoclonal antibodies, interferon,
interleukin-2,
and colony-stimulating
factors are some types of biological therapy.
The side effects caused by biological therapy vary with the specific treatment.
In general, these treatments tend to cause flu-like symptoms, such as chills,
fever, muscle aches, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Patients also may bleed or bruise easily, get a skin rash, or have swelling.
These problems can be severe, but they go away after the treatment stops.
- Are clinical trials (research studies) available? Where
can people get more information about clinical trials?
Yes. Clinical trials are an important treatment option for many cancer patients.
To develop new, more effective treatments, and better ways to use current
treatments, the NCI is sponsoring clinical trials in many hospitals and cancer
centers around the country. Clinical trials are a critical step in the development
of new methods of treatment. Before any new treatment can be recommended for
general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment
is safe for patients and effective against the disease.
People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their
doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the NCI's Cancer
Information Service (CIS) (see below) at 1–800–4–CANCER
and in the NCI booklet Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies,
which is available at http://www.cancer.gov/publications
on the Internet. This booklet describes how research studies are carried out
and explains their possible benefits and risks. Further information about
clinical trials is available at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials
on the NCI's Web site. The Web site offers detailed information about specific
ongoing treatment trials as well as trials focused on prevention, screening,
and diagnosis by linking to PDQ®,
the NCI's comprehensive cancer information database. The CIS also provides
information from PDQ.
- Does cancer always cause pain?
Having cancer does not always mean having pain. Whether
a patient has pain may depend on the type of cancer, the extent of the disease,
and the patient's tolerance for pain. Most pain occurs when the cancer grows
and presses against bones, organs, or nerves.
Pain may also be a side effect of treatment. However, pain can generally be
relieved or reduced with prescription
medicines or over-the-counter
drugs recommended by the doctor. Other ways to reduce pain, such as relaxation
exercises, may also be useful. Pain should not be accepted as an unavoidable
part of having cancer. It is important for patients to talk about pain so
steps can be taken to help relieve it. The fear of addiction
or “losing control” should not stop patients from taking pain
medication. Patients who take medications for cancer pain, as prescribed by
their doctor, rarely become addicted to them. In addition, changing the dose
or type of medication can usually help if the patient has troublesome side
effects.