Understanding Cancer: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

Cancer: Uncontrolled Cell Growth and Modern Approaches

Understanding Cancer Development

Under normal conditions, our body's cells are replaced at a proper rate. Sometimes, however, cells grow out of control and are unable to specialize and perform their corresponding functions. This uncontrolled growth causes a tumor. Some tumors are small and do not cause problems, but others grow quickly and destroy surrounding healthy cells; these are malignant. When malignancy progresses, the cells can spread throughout the body, i.e., metastasize, via blood vessels and the lymphatic system. Uncontrolled cell division can lead to malignant tumors, causing the disease known as cancer.

Preventing Cervical Cancer with HPV Vaccination

A new vaccine can prevent cervical cancer, being the first aimed at preventing cancers caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Immunization is effective if the body has not yet been exposed to HPV, meaning it's most effective before the first sexual encounter.

Cancer Treatment and Prevention Strategies

Cancer treatment has evolved dramatically over the last century. Current approaches include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Smoking is perhaps the most identified risk factor; today, we know that tobacco is linked to a third of all cancers. It's also important to remember that genetic factors may influence the development of cancer. For cancer to develop, it is usually necessary for more than one risk factor to be present.

Cancer Prevention Tips:

• Avoid tobacco products.
• Protect yourself from the sun.
• Eat foods high in beneficial fatty acids, such as olive oil.

Key Cancer Treatment Modalities

Surgery

Surgery involves the surgical removal of the tumor. Imaging techniques like CT scans, ultrasound, and MRI have significantly improved early detection, making surgical intervention more effective.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy consists of applying concentrated doses of radiation to the tumor to destroy it. Linear accelerators are devices that can produce precise beams of radiation that penetrate deeper areas, such as bone, without significantly damaging the skin or surrounding tissue.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to attack cancer cells. Before the discovery of interferons – a group of proteins produced by the body during certain diseases – anticancer drugs primarily aimed to inhibit the growth of abnormal cells, disrupt cell division, and kill rapidly dividing cells. Interferons, now obtained from genetically engineered bacteria, stimulate the body's defenses and inhibit cell division. Another group of proteins involved in the immune response are interleukins, which can reduce metastasis.