Introduction
Cancer is a disease that affects millions of people around the world. It happens when cells in the body start to grow out of control. There are many different types of cancer, and each one is different in how it starts, grows, and affects the body. Learning about the different kinds of cancer is important because it provides doctors on how to treat each one of them.
What is Cancer?
Before we get started with the different types of cancer, we must understand what cancer is. Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells. Cells grow and divide to make new cells. However, sometimes cells grow too much and don’t stop when they should. This can create a lump called a tumor. Not all tumors are cancerous, but when they are, they can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer can happen anywhere in the body, which is why there are so many different types.
Common Types of Cancer
Breast Cancer
What Is It?: Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast, usually in the ducts that carry milk to the nipple or in the glands that make milk.
Who Gets It?: Both men and women can get breast cancer, but it is much more common in women.
How Is It Treated?: Breast cancer can be treated with surgery (removing the tumor), chemotherapy (using drugs to kill cancer cells), radiation (using high energy rays to kill cancer cells), or a combination of these methods.
Lung Cancer
What Is It?: Lung cancer begins in the lungs, which are the organs that help us breathe. It is one of the most common types of cancer in the world.
Who Gets It?: Lung cancer is most often found in people who smoke cigarettes, but non-smokers can also get it as well.
How Is It Treated?: Treatment for lung cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted therapy, which is a special kind of treatment that attacks only the cancer cells.
Leukemia
What Is It?: Unlike other cancers that start in organs or tissues, leukemia is a type of cancer that begins in the blood and bone marrow. It causes the body to make too many white blood cells, which can crowd out healthy cells.
Who Gets It?: Leukemia can happen to anyone, but some types are more common in children, while others are more common in adults.
How Is It Treated?: Treatment for leukemia usually includes chemotherapy, and sometimes a bone marrow transplant, which is a procedure to replace damaged bone marrow with healthy cells.
Skin Cancer
What Is It?: Skin cancer starts in the skin, the largest organ of our body. The most common types are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Who Gets It?: Skin cancer can happen to anyone, but people with lighter skin, those who spend a lot of time in the sun, and those who use tanning beds are more at risk.
How Is It Treated?: Treatment for skin cancer usually involves surgery to remove the cancer. Sometimes, doctors use radiation or special creams to treat cancer.
Colon Cancer
What Is It?: Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, starts in the colon or rectum, which are parts of our digestive system.
Who Gets It?: Colon cancer is more common in older adults, but it can happen to younger people too. Eating a lot of red meat, not getting enough exercise, and having a family history of the disease can increase the risk.
How Is It Treated?: Treatment includes surgery to remove the cancer, chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation.
Why Is It Important to Know About Different Types of Cancer?
Knowing about the different types of cancer is important because each type is treated differently. Knowing what type of cancer a person has helps doctors choose the best and most accurate treatment. Not only that, but it also helps people understand their health better and things they can do to lower their risk of getting cancer.
Conclusion
Cancer is a serious disease, but if we have the right knowledge, we can understand it better. If we learn about the different types of cancer, how they affect the body, and how they are treated, we can help ourselves and others to stay healthy. Remember, the best way to fight cancer is to know about it and take action to prevent it whenever it is possible.
References
Breast cancer: Breast cancer information & overview. Breast Cancer Information & Overview | American Cancer Society. (n.d.). https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer.html
Lung cancer-patient version. NCI. (n.d.). https://www.cancer.gov/types/lung
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, September 21). Leukemia. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20374373
Skin cancer: Skin cancer types. Skin Cancer Types | American Cancer Society. (n.d.). https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/skin-cancer.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Colorectal cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/index.htm
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