The Start of My Research

April 20, 2008
11:30 am

Cancer Vocabulary

You know, one would think that after having two parents battle cancer I would be an expert. I’m not. When I start to write about cancer, I could create a book with personal reflection on what the disease has done to change my family’s and my own life, yet when it comes down to actual medical terms, I never cared, so they never stuck. When doctors would start talking all I wanted to know was, “do we have to do chemo?” And “will he/she be able to fight this?” Yet, I feel that I am coming to an age, and our environment is coming to a place where it is imperative to know everything. Now, I want to understand everything. What the hell is CANCER...really?

Cancer: The word cancer refers to changes in the body’s cells that cause them to grow out of control. Cancer can occur in almost any cell, it begins with damaged DNA that controls all cell functions, including when to divide (reproduce) and when to die. When DNA is damaged, cells can divide rapidly or outlive normal cells. Normally the body’s immune system recognizes damaged cells and destroys them. However, if this process does not take place a tumor can grow.

Tumors
Benign: Tumors that are noncancerous. They can grow, but they do not invade surrounding tissues or travel to other areas of the body.

Malignant: Tumors that are cancerous. Very different from normal cells, cancer cells can invade surrounding tissue. They can travel to areas away from the primary site and grow in other regions of the body.

Metastasis: When malignant tumors have spread to other parts of the body. Cancer cells often travel through the bloodstream or through the lymph system to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This spreading process is called metastasis.
Even when Cancer has spread to different parts of the body it is still named for the place in the body from where it started. Breast cancer that has spread to the liver is called metastatic breast cancer, not liver cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society half of all men and one-third of all women in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes. “The risks of developing most types of cancer can be reduced by not smoking, limiting time in the sun, being physically active and eating a better diet …”

I hated hearing this last part from doctors. That’s it?! Neither of my parents smoked, they were both incredibly athletic, and always ate well. The truth is they don’t know what causes cancer yet. If Superman existed he would probably be getting a second opinion at Stanford right now.


Resources:
American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1x_What_Is_Cancer.asp?sitearea=