Information on Cancer
Probably one of the most unusual roles for Sean Connery was his portrayal of a doctor in a South American jungle, looking into a way to eradicate cancer. A cure would bring a sigh of relief everywhere. The causes for cancer seem to be many but despite all the knowledge we gain, it is still almost impossible to know if or when a person will contract it.
Of course many researchers belief that we are in effect born with cancer which is just waiting for something to set if off, but just what is cancer? Although cancer is able to spread to neighboring cells and other parts of the body.
A benign tumor, unlike a malignant cancerous one, does not continue to grow and invade other cells. Cancer is responsible for about 13% of all deaths worldwide. Nearly all cancers are caused by abnormalities in the genetic material of the transformed cells.
For some people the problem lies not with any form of external poison although faults with their parents DNA or genetic makeup can result in a person being born with the diseased cells. It is still not fully understood why one person will contract the disease and another be free from it but it is believed that the interactions between any carcinogens and each person’s particular DNA is complicated.
More knowledge is being acquired about cancer each year. Once scientists discover the reason behind why some individuals are more likely to contract a disease than others, we may be closer to creating a cure. Knowledge like this could enable more people avoid contracting cancer in the first place.
There is a saying ‘You Are What You Eat’ and this is now being looked at more closely as food may have a direct effect on the incidence of the disease in certain groups. Calcium from dairy products is thought to be possible cause of prostrate cancer in males.
Cancer does not seem to have preferences as it is able to invade just about every part of the human body and organs. Sometimes the disease is only picked up through routine screening. However, the consistent research is paying off and the life expectancy of cancer victims is increasing all the time.
April 13 2009 06:42 am | Health