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 is cancer?
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A term for diseases in which abnormal cells in the body divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymphatic system, which is a network of tissues that clears infections... Full Answer
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- Q What cancers are associated with tobacco use?
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Like cigarettes, other tobacco products contain a variety of toxins associated with cancer. Cancer-causing chemicals have been identified in smokeless tobacco products (snuff), which are known to cause cancers of the mouth, lip and tongue. Users... Full Answer
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- Q Can cancer cause hearing loss?
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Dr. David Vernick, OtolaryngologyAlthough far less common than the benign tumors, certain forms of cancer can impair hearing. These include cancers of the ear and the brain, as well as cancer in other parts of the body (such as the breast, lung, or kidney) that spreads to the temporal... Full Answer
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- Q How is a biopsy used to diagnosis islet cell tumors?
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Magnetic resonance imaging is abbreviated MRI. An MRI might be one test a doctor will use to diagnose a pancreatic endocrine islet cell tumor. Before an MRI is done, a dye is injected into a vein of the person undergoing the test. This dye is attracted... Full Answer
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- Q What is a paraganglioma?
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Paragangliomas are rare tumors that grow in cells of the peripheral nervous system (the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord). The peripheral nervous system can be divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Sympathetic... Full Answer
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- Q What drugs target new tumor blood vessels?
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Tumors need to develop and maintain new blood vessels in order to grow. Drugs that target new blood vessels (angiogenesis) are proving to be helpful against a variety of cancers, including breast cancer. Bevacizumab (Avastin®) is a monoclonal... Full Answer
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- Q What outside sources of financial help are available to cancer patients?
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Most families find it hard to turn to others or to agencies and funds for financial help. The extra expenses of cancer may be the first time a family has had problems with money. Families should remember that their problems in this situation are often... Full Answer
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- Q How can I stay healthy while caring for a loved one with cancer?
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It is important for caregivers to take care of themselves as well as their loved ones with cancer. Here are a few tips to help: Plan time for yourself: arrange for a friend or family to relieve you for a period of time to give you a break. Maintain... Full Answer
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- Q How can I help my partner deal with the sexual effects of cancer treatment?
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Your sex life will likely be impacted by your partner’s diagnosis. Here's how you can help as a partner: 1. Empathy. Understanding the emotional and physical effects of treatment will help you find solutions. 2. Communication is critical.... Full Answer
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- Q How can I help my partner after cancer surgery?
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As with any serious surgery, patients typically suffer from fatigue and pain following surgery. The doctor may prescribe pain medications and other treatments, and the body’s natural healing powers should reduce the side effects over time.... Full Answer
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