Most people consider cancer to be a single disease, but not quite. Cancer, in fact, is the name given to a set of more than 200 diseases. Currently, there are countless types of cancer, but they all start in the same way: the disordered growth of cells in our body. The human body is made up of thousands of cells, which grow, divide and die. It is the natural process of the system. But in the case of cancer, the cells do not die. On the contrary: they divide over and over again, and may even reach other tissues in our body besides the one that originated.
“And what causes cancer?”, Is the big question of the population. Well, several factors can influence the dysfunction of the division of our cells and they can be internal or external to our body. External causes are related to the environment and to the habits and customs of our culture, whereas internal causes, in most cases, are linked to the ability of our organism to defend itself from external aggressions. We humans are exposed to these factors, but with some care and precautions, it is possible to prevent the disease.
Contents
Is cancer hereditary?
As explained above, cancer is a disease caused by both external and internal factors in our body, however, there is a small portion of the population that is more likely to develop malignant tumors in their body because of heredity. An example is people who have retinoblastoma, a type of cancer that begins in the eye, more precisely in the retina, and that most often affects children aged 0 to 5 years.
The main types of cancer
As cancer encompasses more than 200 diseases, it can be grouped into broader categories. Below, you can see the main categories of cancer:
Carcinoma
A type of cancer that begins in the skin or tissues that line our internal organs.
Sarcoma
This type of cancer begins in any connective tissue, that is, the one that makes the connection between the different cells and organs of our body.
Leukemia
One of the most well-known types, leukemia is cancer that begins in the blood tissue and causes a large number of abnormal cells in the blood.
Lymphoma and Myeloma
Types of cancer that start in the cells of the immune system, the main defender against invading microorganisms in our body.
Cancers of the Central Nervous System
Cancers that start in the tissues of the brain or spinal cord.
The 10 most common types of cancer in 2016
According to the National Cancer Institute (Inca) , over 590 thousand new cases of cancer are estimated in Brazil this year, an incredibly frightening number. And we are very right to be scared! Pay attention to this list below and be aware of the most common types of cancer that may happen. Prevent yourself!
Non-melanoma skin
Most frequent cancer in the country, corresponds to 25% of the registered malignant tumors. Among the various types of skin cancer, non- melanoma has the lowest mortality.
To prevent the disease, avoid sunbathing between 10 am and 4 pm, use sunscreen of at least SPF 30, in addition to betting on hats, caps and sunglasses.
Prostate cancer
The prostate cancer is a type of cancer that affects Brazilian men. It is considered a cancer of the elderly, since more than half of the cases worldwide occur from the age of 65.
To prevent the disease, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals, in addition to the practice of physical exercises and the reduction of alcohol consumption already help.
Breast cancer
This type of cancer is the most frequent among women in Brazil and is more common after 50 years of age.
Because of the risk factors that cause this disease, the prevention of breast cancer is not entirely possible, but taking care of your diet and doing your breast self-examination regularly already reduces the risk of developing the disease.
Lung cancer
Each year, lung cancer increases by a total of 2% worldwide, in addition to being the most common of all malignant tumors.
In 90% of cases, the disease is related to tobacco consumption, so the main way to prevent it is not to smoke.
Colon and Rectal Cancer
Most colon and rectal tumors originate from polyps that grow on the inner wall of the large intestine. If these polyps are detected early, the disease has a high chance of being curable. To help prevent, detection and removal of polyps before they become malignant is critical. In addition, a diet consisting of vegetables and dairy products and the practice of physical activities also help.
Stomach cancer
There are no specific symptoms for this type of cancer, but some warning signs are unexplained weight loss, vomiting and frequent abdominal discomfort.
The main ways of preventing stomach cancer are a balanced diet, combating cigarettes and reducing alcohol consumption.
Cervical Cancer
This type of cancer is caused by the infection of some types of the Human Papillomavirus, HPV .
To prevent it, it is always very good to have a Pap test , which detects changes in the cervix. In addition, for girls aged 9 to 13, the Ministry of Health implemented the tetravalent HPV vaccine.
Oral Cavity Cancer
Mouth cancer affects, in most cases, white men over 40 years of age. One of the main risk factors is tobacco, but alcoholic beverages and sun exposure also increase the risk of the disease.
Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is divided into 3 types: transitional cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The most common symptom of the disease is blood in the urine. So stay tuned!
Esophageal Cancer
Early detection of this cancer is essential so that it is not so aggressive afterwards. The most frequent type is squamous cell carcinoma and, to combat the disease, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and avoiding very hot drinks, smoked foods and tobacco products is essential.
World Cancer Day
Like World Health Day, World Cancer Day was also created by the World Health Organization (WHO). Celebrated on April 8, it serves to raise awareness of people about the prevention of the disease, since it is the second that causes the most death worldwide, in addition to supporting those who suffer or have suffered from the disease.
In fact, we want to know: do you have any of these habits that you have already added to your daily life in order to fight cancer? Or is there another one that you acquired and that we did not mention here? Share with us here in the comments.
