Cancer
Even though there are 100 different types of cancer, each one begins in your cells, your body's basic building blocks. When the cell creation process goes awry, abnormal cells are produced that can grow uncontrollably and cause cancer. When excessive cells form, benign or malignant tumors can develop throughout your body.
While benign tumors aren't cancerous, malignant ones can invade healthy tissue and spread to other parts of the body, a process called metastasis.
Early detection and treatment is key to fighting cancer.
Recently Answered
- Q What are endocrine cancers?
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Endocrine cancers are malignancies that develop in the endocrine system. The endocrine system produces many hormones that control homeostasis (balance) in the functioning of daily life. Some endocrine glands include the thyroid, pituitary, ovaries,... Full Answer
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- Q When is cancer considered a chronic illness?
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Dr. Stewart Fleishman, Hospice & Palliative CareCancer is almost always considered a chronic illness. In this video, palliative medicine specialist Dr. Stewart Fleishman explains why. Full Answer
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- Q What are the symptoms of endocrine cancers?
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There are several kinds of endocrine cancer, each producing a wide range of symptoms depending on the particular endocrine gland affected. For example, the thyroid gland is located in the neck, so symptoms of thyroid cancer include neck pain, swelling,... Full Answer
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- Q Where does cancer spread?
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Cancer cells can spread to almost any part of the body. Cancer cells frequently spread to lymph nodes (rounded masses of lymphatic tissue) near the primary tumor (regional lymph nodes). This is called lymph node involvement or regional disease. Cancer... Full Answer
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- Q What is a tumor?
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A tumor is a "ball" (collection) of cancer cells large enough to see on a scan or by examination. There are tumors that are very bad called malignant tumors and there are tumors that are not harmful called benign tumors. Tumors can occur anywhere in the... Full Answer
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- Q Is there such a thing as heart cancer?
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Dr. Michael Roizen, Internal MedicineYou never hear of heart cancer. That's because it rarely starts there. But the fact is that at end-stage cancer, there are actually cancer cells embedded in the heart quite frequently, which should not surprise us since cancers love energy-carrying blood. Full Answer
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- Q What are blood-borne cancers?
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Cancer in scientific terms is defined as the abnormal growth of cells. This can be malignant or benign. An extra growth of fat is considered cancer called a lipoma, but not life threatening. In reference to blood-borne cancers, it is the abnormal growth... Full Answer
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- Q How do most cancer cells spread from their original site?
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Dr. Michael Roizen, Internal MedicineCancer cells have developed a mechanism of replicating faster than other normal cells-making cancer cells stronger and faster than other cells in your body. While they grow quickly, they can't grow by themselves. Just as a plant needs water or a child... Full Answer
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- Q How does oxidation contribute to cancer?
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Dr. Michael Roizen, Internal MedicineIn many ways, oxidation is a good, naturally occurring thing that happens in your body. Your body needs oxidation for your immune system to work, for your body to protect itself. It helps kill off old cells to make room for new ones. So it's not a bad... Full Answer
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- Q Why can cancer be a valuable teacher?
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Dr. Michael Roizen, Internal MedicineTraditionally, we've viewed cancer as the body's dragon; it has no redeeming value whatsoever. But more recently, we've learned that it can be a teacher, too. Any doctor who studies, researches, and treats cancer gets an up-close look at how the body is... Full Answer
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