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India observes National Cancer Awareness Day on November 7 every year. The first one was marked in September 2014. The day is an opportunity to spread awareness about cancer prevention and early detection. The rise in the number of cancer cases is alarming as over 1.1 million cases are reported every year in the country. Amongst these reported cases, are diagnosed in an advanced stage, which lowers the chances of survival and increases complications. Numerous initiatives are taken to expand the study of cancer prevention and early diagnosis.
Continue reading to find out the most commonly asked questions about cancer, its diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
What is Cancer?
Cancer is a medical condition in which cells in your body divide more quickly than usual. These unnatural cells develop into a tumour in any part of the body.
What Are The Stages And Types Of Cancer?
Cancer is categorised into 4 stages that specifically mark its severity it. The size of cancer and the how much it has spread in the body is indicated by the stage. The four stages of cancer are:
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Stage I
Cancer has not progressed to the lymph nodes or other tissues and is contained in a small location.
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Stage II
Cancer has not spread in the body.
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Stage III
Cancer might have increased in size and affected the tissues and lymph nodes.
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Stage IV
Cancer has spread to further organs or body parts. Additionally known as metastatic or advanced cancer, this stage.
What Are The Types Of Cancer?
There are five primary cancer kinds. These consist of:
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Carcinoma
Cancer that affects the lungs, breasts, pancreas, skin, and other organs are termed a carcinoma.
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Sarcoma
When cancer affects muscle, fat, bone, cartilage, or blood vessels that are categorized under sarcoma.
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Melanoma
When cancer arises in the skin's pigment-producing cells such malignancies are known as melanoma.
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Lymphoma
When cancer affects lymphocytes or white blood cells it is called Lymphoma.
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Leukaemia
Cancer related to blood fall in this category.
What Are The Factors That Increases The Risk Of Cancer?
Unhealthy Lifestyle. Eating foods with a lot of fat or sugar can make you more likely to get several cancers. If you don't exercise enough, you're also more prone to illness.
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Polluted Environment
The long-term effects of environmental pollutants like radon, asbestos, and pesticides can include cancer.
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Exposure to Radiation
Your chance of developing skin cancer is dramatically increased by solar ultraviolet radiation. Over-radiation therapy exposure is also a danger factor.
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Hormone Therapy
Breast cancer and endometrial cancer risk may be higher in women who use hormone replacement treatment. Visit Manipal Hospitals, the best cancer care hospital in Pune for treatment.
How is Cancer Diagnosed?
Cancer cannot be accurately diagnosed by a single test. A thorough history and physical examination, as well as diagnostic tests, are typically necessary for a patient's full evaluation. To identify whether a person has cancer, numerous tests are required. Imaging, laboratory tests (including tests for tumour markers), tumour biopsy, endoscopic examination, surgery, or genetic testing are all examples of diagnostic techniques for cancer.
What Are The Treatment Options Available For Cancer?
Treatment for cancer is a combination of surgery, medication and therapies. Radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery are the most often used treatments. There are many other more targeted treatment options such as hormone therapy, laser therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and others. Here is a summary of the various cancer treatments and how they operate.
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Surgery
Numerous cancer types are commonly treated with surgery. The tumour and some of the surrounding tissue are removed by the surgeon during the procedure.
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Chemotherapy
Drugs used in chemotherapy kill cancer cells. The medications may be taken orally or intravenously (IV).
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Radiation Therapy
To eliminate cancer cells, radiation therapy employs X-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds. The body's regular cells develop and divide more slowly than cancer cells do. Radiation therapy harms cancer cells more than healthy cells because it is most destructive to rapidly proliferating cells. This causes cell death in the cancer cells by halting their ability to proliferate and divide. Consult with our cancer care specialist in Pune to learn more about Radiation therapy.
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Targeted Therapy
Drugs are used in targeted therapy to halt the growth and spread of cancer. Compared to previous treatments, it achieves this with less injury to healthy cells.
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Hormone Therapy
Breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers—all of which are driven by hormones—are treated with hormone treatment. The body's natural hormones are stopped or blocked by surgery, medicines, or both.
How Can I Prevent Cancer?
A person’s lifestyle greatly contributes to increasing the risk of cancer, hence one must switch to a healthier one and make mindful choices. Quitting tobacco and alcohol tops this list as the consumption of these is often the cause of multiple health conditions. In addition to these, maintaining a healthy weight, eating nutritious food, being physically active and managing stress are some other things one must focus on to live disease-free.
Contact us now with experienced oncologists in Kharadi, Pune, at Manipal Hospitals to discuss any aspect of your treatment. Bookmark our blog page to keep abreast with the advancements in the medical world and reliable information about numerous diseases and their treatments.
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