Cancer

Cancer in recent decades, has become such a common diagnosis. With rates of cancer in various areas of the body on the rise for both male and females, it is important to recognize what cancer is, how it is damaging to the body, what causes it, how the three stages of chemical carcinogenesis work, and what you can do to minimize the risk of developing it.  

What is Cancer?

Principles and Practices of Toxicology in Public Health written by Ira S. Richards states that cancer is a common collection of diseases that share common aspects of cellular pathophysiology that includes a lack of growth restraints and cell proliferation. When cells in the body lose growth control mechanisms, chaos occurs, creating abnormal physiology, biochemistry, behavior, and other patterns of growth associated with changes in normal physiology. Hyperplastic growth is very common in the occurrence of cancer. This type of growth occurs when more cells than normal are present in tissues, pregnancy induces hormone dependent hyperplasia in the breast, and when gestation and cessation of lactation results in breast tissue returning to normal. Metaplasia is also a common term discussed with cancer growth. This is when growths occur without change in mass, possesses the ability to be result of environmental exposure, and affects the ciliated columnar epithelia lines airways. Non-ciliated epithelia is a common result of repeated exposure to cigarette smoke and when cessation from smoking occurs, the regrowth of cilia often takes place. Neoplastic growth is the most dangerous form of cancer growth, for it is persistent and progresses.

How is Cancer Damaging to the Human Body and What are Tumors?

Medical News Today states, that cancer harms the body when altered cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissues called tumors (except in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream. Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, and they can release hormones that alter body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth are generally considered to be benign. More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when two things occur: a cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the blood or lymphatic systems, destroying healthy tissue in a process called invasion or that cell manages to divide and grow, making new blood vessels to feed itself in a process called angiogenesis. When a tumor successfully spreads to other parts of the body and grows, invading and destroying other healthy tissues, it is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called metastasis, and the result is a serious condition that is very difficult to treat. According to the American Cancer Society, Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US and accounts for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths. The World Health Organisation estimates that, worldwide, there were 14 million new cancer cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths in 2012 (their most recent data).

What are the Three Stages of Chemical Carcinogenesis and How do They Work?

Ira S. Richards indicates the concept of chemical induced carcinogenesis. This is the progression of events that lead to tumors. This can occur either by a single-hit mutation hypothesis leading to malignant neoplasm which is considered more unlikely to occur versus a multi-hit, which is where multiple genetic mutations develop spontaneously or as an inherited defect. There are three stages of chemical carcinogesis which include: initiation, promotion, and progression. 

The initiation stage consists of genotoxic event that leads to DNA mutations that increases risk for tumor formation. The carcinogen and DNA in the phase must be in portion of the genome that is involved with regulating cell growth and differentiation. Interaction between carcinogenic and inactivation of tumor suppression gene or the activation of proto-oncogenes "initiates" this process. This requires mutagenic event escape detection and DNA repair becomes "fixed". The "fixed" cells do not have autonomy and appear to be normal while the genotype is different and the phenotype is identical. 

Next, the promotion stage is where the end point in neoplasm occurs. This stage moves initiated cells further along the transformation process and the exposure of initiated cells to chemicals that stimulate proliferation result in the production of clone proliferation cells within the tissue. 

Finally, the progression stage is where malignant tumors begin. This stage has a high growth rate and invasions into the surrounding tissue occur. The cells then migrate from clone and gain entry into the blood/lymph and metastases. The progression to a state of malignant is considered to be irreversible. 

How Can You Minimize Your Risk of Developing Cancer?

While cancer may be genetically induced, there are ways to minimize the risk of developing cancer. Taking precautions in behavioral aspects are one way to do so. Avoiding carcinogens, such as UV rays, cigarettes, and alcohol are just a few items that have the ability to increase the development of diseases such as lung, liver, and kidney cancer. Although cancer isn't avoidable completely, the Mayo Clinic states, " Regular self-exams and screenings for various types of cancers — such as cancer of the skin, colon, cervix and breast — can increase your chances of discovering cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful.”