The word ‘cancer’ often brings countless questions, fear, and confusion. Of course, yes, it is a life-changing event. However, people don’t fully understand what it truly is. From diagnosis to recovery, this guide covers prevention, symptoms, common myths, and much more. If you are diagnosed with cancer, how can you treat it, take care of yourself, and stay empowered throughout the journey?”
Overview:
Cancer is a group of diseases in which your cells grow abnormally. It affects any part of the body. Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells that develop, separate and exist in a controlled way. Cancer begins when this natural process goes wrong and develops abnormal cells that create lumps called tumours or spread through blood. Other terms for cancer are ‘malignant tumours’ and ‘neoplasm’.
How does it happen?
Cancer is a genetic disease, and it happens because of changes in the genes. The changing process of genes is called mutations. Cancer does not have a single cause. It develops due to a combination of factors like
Lifestyle-related risk. Excessive use of alcohol, smoking unhealthy foods, and lack of physical activity are the biggest factors of cancer.
Environmental factors. Harmful chemicals, radiation, pollution and excessive sunlight can increase the risk of skin and lung cancer.
Family history. Some types of cancer can be linked to inherited genes. If a close family member has had cancer, it may increase the risk of developing it.
Hormones. Especially in women, hormonal changes can increase the risk of breast or ovarian cancer.
Broad types of cancer:
In Pakistan cancer is a growing health issue. Around 125000 deaths were reported, and 185000 new cases arrived. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in Pakistan.
However, there are many kinds of cancers, but researchers classified cancer into three broad types in which they start from the body.
Solid tumor cancer
Solid tumor cancer usually begins in the form of lumps and starts in organs and tissues. This group includes sarcomas, which start in bones or soft connective tissues, and carcinomas, which originate in cells that form in the skin, lungs, breast and other organs. Solid tumors often grow slowly; when detected early, treatment is usually more effective and successful.”
Blood cancer:
Blood cancers are harder to recognize because it does not formed in the form of lumps they spread in the blood vessels or lymphatic system. Leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma are the example of blood cancer
Blood cancers can be difficult to recognise because they do not form visible lumps. Instead, they affect the blood or lymphatic system and spread through the bloodstream or lymph nodes. Common examples of blood cancer include leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.”
Metastatic cancer:
In this category cancer spreads from their original location to other parts of the body. For example, lung cancer that spreads in the brain, which means it affects more than one part of the body.
Common types cancer in the world:
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Skin cancer
- Stomach cancer
View signs and symptoms:
Cancer does not look the same for everyone; its signs and symptoms depend on where it develops in the body. But some common symptoms of cancer are given below:
- Mysterious weight loss or gain
- Constant fatigue
- Changes in skin like change mole shapes or resize
- Unusual lumps.
- Constant pain.
- Long lasting cough.
- Abnormal bleeding.
- Changes in Bowel Habits.
- Blood in your pee or stool.
These symptoms do not always mean cancer but should never be ignored. The best thing is if you note some changes in your body, immediately contact your healthcare provider.
How cancer is diagnosed
Cancer diagnosis usually involves a combination of steps. Doctors begin by reviewing a person’s symptoms and family history. The initial tests often include blood work, such as a complete blood count (CBC), along with imaging scans like X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRIs. To confirm whether cancer cells are present, a biopsy is usually performed. This final and most important step involves taking a small sample of tissue for detailed examination.
Furthermore, examinations determine their phases and volume and guide the treatment of cancer diagnoses.
Stages of cancer:
By identifying the stages of cancer, doctors plan the most effective treatment for their patients with the help of stages and give a clear picture of what to expect. Stages simply define how much cancer is in the body.
The main stages of cancer can be categorized into 0 to 4 groups
Stage 0: This is an early stage in which abnormal cells are present but not spread and highly treatable.
Stage 1: limited area covered in this stage.
Stage 2 or 3: cancer spread in nearby tissues or lymphatic cells.
Stage 4: Stage 4 is also metastatic cancer spread in different parts of the body.
Treatment and hope:
Cancer treatment is not the same for every patient; it depends on the condition and types of cancer. So, firstly, doctors understand the overall situation and then start treatment. Common cancer treatment is
- Cancer treatment is not always therapy; it is also necessary, but sometimes patients need support and care for fighting the disease, like pain management, emotional care and psychological happiness, which are essential parts of the treatment.
- Surgical treatment is used when patients are diagnosed with types 2 and 3 cancer. Through surgery, a cancer tumour is removed or nearby tissues are removed to make sure no cancer cells remain.
- Chemotherapy is a powerful medicine which is used for destroying cancer cells through injections, drips and tablets.
- Radiation therapy is used to kill cancer cells with high-energy rays.
- Immunotherapy in which fights cancer through your own immune system
- Hormone therapy requires breast and prostate cancer to grow in reaction to hormones. Hormone therapy works by blocking or lowering these hormones, helping to slow or stop cancer growth.
Prevention – small steps make a big difference:
Many cancers can be reduced by adopting healthy habits, but not all can be prevented especially when risk factors beyond our control are involved.
- Regular exercise, balanced diet, avoiding tobacco are the powerful steps to prevent cancer
- Limiting or avoiding alcohol protects body cells from damage. It is also an important step towards the prevention of cancer.
- Working on hygiene or timely medical care for infections also play an important role in cancer prevention.
- Avoiding direct sunlight can help skin health because sun rays may damage skin or lead to skin cancer.
- Regular health checkups, self-examination or screening can detect change before it turns serious.
Myths and facts about cancer:
Cancer is a serious disease which requires timely medical checkups with expert consultants. Many myths in our environment create panic or delay medical help. Let’s vanish these myths with the help of facts.
Myth 1: cancer is always deadly
Fact: cancer is not always deadly. Although, it’s treatable with proper medical care
Myth 2: cancer is contiguous
Fact: cancer cannot spread to anyone by touching or attachment
Myth 3: cancer effect only older people
Fact: cancer affects individuals at any age.
Myth 4: If Cancer Rounds in the Family member, You Will Acquire It
Fact: High risk is to get it but not guaranteed
Myth 5: worse treatment:
Fact: Cancer treatments can have side effects, but modern medicine has made treatments more effective and manageable
Myth 6: Cancer cures with natural remedies
Fact: healthy food, physical exercise and natural support are good, but medical treatment is necessary to completely remove cancer from the body.
Famous names and one story about who survived and beat cancer:
- Kathy Bates (ovarian and breast cancer)
- Yuvraj Singh (lung cancer)
- Nelson Mandela (prostate cancer)
- Terry fox (osteosarcoma bone cancer)
- Nadia Jamil (breast cancer)
- Micheal Douglas (throat cancer)
- Sonali Bendre (metastatic breast cancer)
- Wajeeha (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma)
- Manisha Koirala (ovarian cancer stage 4)
- Areej Fatima (choriocarcinoma cancer)
- Sanjay Dutt (stage 4 lung cancer)
- Tahira Kashyap (0 stage breast cancer)
- Dr Fahmida mirza (Breast cancer)
Twice cancer survivor Kathy Bates – A story of resilience and courage:
Kathy Bates beats two cancers at one time, and her journey has inspired many around the world. She is an American actress known for her powerful performances on screen.
In 2003, Bates’s first encounter was stage 1 ovarian cancer. She went through surgery and chemotherapy but in 2012 she received a diagnosis of breast cancer. She went for a double mastectomy to remove both cancers. After surgery katy developed lymphoedema, in which her body swelled and felt discomfort. So, doctor recommends removing lymph nodes. The result is worse than the cancer itself.
Katy faced all these challenges to turn their pain into purpose. Katy continues her acting journey speak motivate and create awareness about cancer and her health.
A message or suggestion from Medica wisdom:
If you know you have any disease, you must be scared, upset or sometimes feel life is over. Suppose that “You have cancer” can be one of the most frightening moments of your life. In an instant, everything can feel uncertain.
Many questions start racing on your mind How will this change my life? What will happen next? How much time will I have with the people I love? If you are thinking this way, you are not alone. From the moment of diagnosis, you become a cancer survivor.
Along the way, you will meet others who will walk beside you like family, friends, doctors, nurses, and fellow survivors. Let them support you. Your healthcare team knows how life-changing this moment is, and they are there not just to treat your body but to care for your heart and mind as well. You do not have to face this journey yourself.
