What exactly is cancer? The American Cancer Society’s (ACS) web page, reviewed and revised April 15, 2015, explains that “Cancer is the general name for a group of more than 100 diseases. Although there are many kinds of cancer, all cancers start because abnormal cells grow out of control. Untreated cancers can cause serious illness and death.”
Here, then, is some background on the difference between the body’s normal cell growth and a cancer’s cell growth.
Our body’s are composed of trillions of living cells which normally grow, divide to make new cells, and then die in an orderly fashion. When a person is young, normal cells divide quickly to help the person to grow. When we become adults, most cells only divide to repair injuries or to replace dying cells. ACS instructs us that cancer starts when cells in a part of the body begin an abnormal growth pattern.
The society tells us that “Cancer cell growth is different from normal cell growth. Instead of dying, cancer cells continue to grow and form new, abnormal cells.” Another huge difference between normal and cancer cells is that the “C” cells are capable of growing into other body tissues, something that healthy cells can’t do.
How do cells become abnormal or cancer cells?
“Cells become cancer cells because of changes to their DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid),” the American Cancer Society continues.
Because DNA (found in every cell) directs the cell in its actions, the normal command is for the cell to repair damage or to die. However, the “C” cell has damaged DNA that is not repaired and doesn’t die, either. The “C” cell instead continues making more cells, with the same damaged DNA, not needed by the body. Sometimes people can inherit faulty DNA, passed on from their parents. Sometimes obvious transgressions like cigarette smoking and sun exposure are to blame. However, most DNA damage occurs by mistake while a healthy cell is reproducing or by something in the environment.
In fact, the ACS says “…it’s rare to know exactly what caused any person’s cancer.”
As the cancer cells grow, most often, they form a tumor which can invade, push aside, or crowd out normal tissue in the tumor’s vicinity. Metastasis is the process of how cancer spreads to other parts of the body. This occurs when cancer cells get into the bloodstream or lymph system’s vessels. Leukemia is a type of cancer that rarely forms tumors but whose cells do involve the blood and blood-forming organs where it circulates through other tissues and then grows. All cancers are named after its original location. No matter where that particular form of cancer has traveled to, the DNA of the metastasized cancer cells will remain the same as the original site and, therefore, the treatment will be the same as for the original cancer cells.
It is important to know that ACS notes “A tumor is an abnormal lump or collection of cells… not all tumors are cancer.” While non-cancerous tumors, known as benign, can cause trouble by growing large and, thus, pushing against healthy organs and tissues, they cannot invade other tissues. Benign tumors also can’t metastasize and are usually not life-threatening.
There are many different kinds of cancer that grow at different rates and which respond differently to various treatments. With modern cancer research leading the way, people today receive medical services that are aimed to help them with their particular form of cancer. There is great hope for triumphant victories over their adversary: the dreaded “C” word!
My Part 3 (next edition) will answer three important “do” questions:
1. When first diagnosed with the disease, what are four things that every cancer patient must do?
2. What can a cancer survivor do to prevent the dreaded “C” word from returning?
3. What can the rest of us do to prevent getting cancer?
