Cancer Fundamentals
Although the thought of having cancer strikes fear in most of us, what we should really fear is not taking action when we feel something may be wrong. As science and technology advance, more and more cancers are becoming highly treatable when caught early. Many cancers, if not curable, are manageable and it is felt that cancer may eventually be a disease like diabetes that is controlled throughout our lifespan without causing premature death.
Cancer occurs when our body’s cells begin to grow abnormally. Even though there are many kinds of cancer, each one starts with this out–of–control growth of abnormal cells. In a healthy body, the cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. Cancer cells do the growing and dividing part in a fairly normal way, but instead of dying they keep living and continue forming new abnormal cells. As they continue to multiply and exhibit this unusual behavior, they travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process is called metastasis.
Women are often the primary caregiver in a family, so a cancer diagnosis can be particularly problematic. Trying to juggle the responsibilities of a family and work can be overwhelming. Too often women are reluctant to ask for help, so they may be carrying the additional emotional burden of trying to be all things to all people – without taking time to care for themselves in the process.
In today’s world, millions of people are living with, or have had cancer. One universal first step in helping to stay cancer free is to quit smoking, right here, right now. It is also believed that maintaining a healthy weight is a good course of action. Creating a diet that is rich in fiber, fruits, and vegetables is good for reducing the risk of cancer and is also good for the heart, because, as you may know, heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women.
- Cancer is the second leading cause of death among both women and men
- Studies indicate that women who smoke are more likely to develop
lung cancer at a younger age and at lower levels of exposure than men
Making sure to have the suggested screenings for cancer is a great place to begin! Women without a history of breast cancer should begin having mammograms every two years when they reach age 40. And having a colonoscopy at age 50 is also advisable. If it is normal, this test won’t have to be repeated for 10 years. If there are polyps, they are removed during the colonoscopy and tested. If there is a high–risk pattern to the cells of the polyps, then colonoscopy will be recommended more frequently – sometimes even annually, until the colon is clear of polyps. The advantage of colonoscopy over other methods is that the surgeon or gastroenterologist can inspect and also do something to reduce the risk of colon cancer.
Here are links to a few sites that provide excellent information on a variety of cancers, treatment options, and communities:
