By Dr Romy Sutrisna, Medical Advisor & Snr Wellness Consultant
Do You Know?
Cancer is the number two killer in United States and number one killer in Singapore (2006, MOH). It derives from the Latin words “Karkinos”, which means crab. Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer.
Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start -for example, cancer that begins in the lung is called lung cancer; cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system is called lymphoma and myeloma.
What is Cancer?
Cancer is an abnormal overgrowth of certain cells in the body. Cancer is also a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.
Where is the Origin of Cancer? Where Does It Come From?
All cancers begin in cells, the body's basic unit of life. To understand cancer, it's helpful to know what happens when normal cells become cancer cells.
The body is made up of many types of cells. These cells grow and divide in a controlled way to produce more cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy. When cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced with new cells.
However, sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. The genetic material (DNA) of a cell can become damaged or changed, producing mutations that affect normal cell growth and division. When this happens, cells do not die when they should and new cells form when the body does not need them. The extra cells may form a mass of tissue called a tumor. Modern day pollution, uncontrolled diet and lifestyle will enhance this process.
What are the Risk Factors for Cancer?
Physician often cannot explain why one person develops cancer and another does not. But research shows that certain risk factors increase the chance that a person will develop cancer. These are the most common risk factors for cancer:
-Growing older
-Tobacco and alcohol
-Sunlight
-Ionizing radiation
-Certain chemicals and other substances
-Some viruses and bacteria
-Certain hormones, such as Estrogen
-Family history of cancer -Poor diet, lack of physical activity, or being overweight
All Tumors are Cancerous and Dangerous, is that true?
Not all tumors are cancerous; tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancerous. They can often be removed, and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant tumors are cancerous. Cells in these tumors can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.
Can We Prevent and Protect Ourselves from Cancer?
Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. By preventing cancer, the number of new cases of cancer in a group or population is lowered. Cancer is not a single disease but a group of related diseases. Many things in our genes, our lifestyle, and the environment around us may increase or decrease our risk of getting cancer.
Researchers are studying many different ways to help prevent cancer, including modification in diet and lifestyle, finding precancerous conditions early (Precancerous conditions are conditions that may become cancer), chemoprevention (medicines to treat a precancerous condition or to keep cancer from starting).
How about Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage may lead to cancer. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals might otherwise cause. Examples of antioxidants include beta-carotene, lycopene, glutathione, vitamins C, E, A and other substances.
Considerable laboratory evidence from chemical, cell culture, and animal studies indicates that antioxidants may slow or possibly prevent the development of cancer but we still require further large-scale randomized clinical trial to establish a valid and significant final outcome.
Antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables, as well as in other foods including nuts, grains, and some meats, poultry, and fish. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals as the natural by-product of normal cell processes. Free radicals are molecules with incomplete electron shells which make them more chemically reactive than those with complete electron shells. Exposure to various environmental factors, including tobacco smoke and radiation, can also lead to free radical formation.
In humans, the most common form of free radicals is oxygen. When an oxygen molecule (O2) becomes electrically charged or “radicalized” it tries to steal electrons from other molecules, causing damage to the DNA and other molecules. Over time, such damage may become irreversible and lead to disease including cancer. Antioxidants are often described as “mopping up” free radicals, meaning they neutralize the electrical charge and prevent the free radical from taking electrons from other molecules.
What are the Recommended Tests for Primary Cancer Screening?
It depends on country’s health policy but usually mammograms, pap smears, and colonoscopy are primary screening exams for cancer, however, there are many specific tumor marker test for specific type of cancer (example: CEA-colon cancer, PSA-prostate cancer).
Since all cancers begin in cells, most devices that can detect imbalance at a cellular level could be recommended as a cancer screening device.What are the Conventional Treatments for Cancer?
Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical removal are the most common treatment for cancer. Other methods/procedures are biological therapy, laser treatment, angiogenesis inhibitor therapy, bone marrow transplantation and gene therapy.
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