Written by Nr. Abdullahi Musa (CEO Caliphate Nurses).
INTRODUCTION
The world cancer day was initiated by Union of International Cancer Control (UICC) which was established in the year 1993. The world cancer day became official at world summit against cancer in 2000 and WCD written in the year 2008 to be celebrated 04 Febuary each year to reduce the cases of cancer diseases and cancer death worldwide.
It was first celebrated in Geneva, Switzerland which the following aims:
• Prevention of cancer
• Early detection and
• Prompt treatment
DEFINITION OF CANCER
Cancer is an abnormal grow of the cells which is uncontrollably and can be spread to other neighbouring parts.
The human body encompasses different cells such as blood cells, bone cells and skin cells which united to form tissues, organs, systems and eventually to organism (human being). The grow and multiplication of these cells are under the control of a structure inside the nucleus of the cell called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that carries genetic codes, out of which some of the genes instruct the cell on when and how to grow and split; therefore when it become mutated the end result might be abnormal grow or division of cells.
GENERAL CAUSES/RISK FACTORS OF CANCER
• Genes mutation
• Hereditary when an individual inherited the abnormal gene
• Harmful chemicals such as asbestos and benzene
• Old age: age is attributed to the development of cancer, when an individual aged 60 and above
• Smoking including secondhand smoke from someone
• Exposure to environmental factors such as excessive exposure to sun
• Multiple sex partner and unprotected sex
• Infectious agents such as virus and bacteria e.g Humam papilloma virus and HIV virus
However, having the basis and considering the nature of cancer which carried away the lives of numerous people over the years particularly cervical cancer despite it can be prevented. Going through all these, the reader is thinking of wether if there is any sign that an individual will see or perceive and accuse of having cancer? And before you end up with this question i provided you with suitable answer that's YES, there's.
Below are warning signs of cancer tagged with acronym CAUTION_UP:
• Change in bladder or bowel pattern
• A sore that does not heal
• Unusual bleeding or discharge
• Thickness or lump in the breast or elsewhere
• Ingestion dysphagia
• Obvious change_ wart and mole
• Nagging cough or horseness
• Unexplained weight loss
• Pernicious anaemia cause by Vitamin B12 deficiency
The above-mentioned signs and symptoms depend upon the area affected and severity of the tumor.
In addition, the reader also will be wandering if the cancer affect several parts of the body or does it restrained to affect only one specific organ or part?
The answer is yes, cancer affect different parts or organs in the body out of which the following are some examples:
• Bone cancer which affect bone e.g Ewing's sarcoma and osteogenic sarcoma
• Blood cancer which affect blood e.g leukemia acute and chronic myelocytic leukemia and acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Lung cancer that affect the lung
• Colon cancer which affect intestines
• Cancer of the oesophagus, a passage way for food and water in to the stomach
• Bladder cancer, a reservoir for urine
• Prostate cancer and two other most prominent cancers i. e
• Breast cancer which affect either one breast or both
• Cervical cancer, this most deadly among the women whom are victims. This types of cancer affect the lower portion of the uterus (womb) which stand as connection between the vagina and the uterus and mostly caused by a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV)
CLASSIFICATION OF CANCER
Meanwhile, cancer are classified in two:
1. Malignant cancer
This is the type of cancer that have capability of spreading to other part of the body, thus, metastasize in nature and the prognosis is poor. Example, a cancer of the lung can spread to oesophagus, trachea, larynx other parts in the body.
2. Non malignant cancer
This is the type of cancer where by the tumor is restrained only in the area affected, thus, non metastasize in nature and prognosis is good.
TREATMENT
• Chemotherapy: this involve the use of drugs that have the ability of interfering with the abnormal cells grow. Such as antimetabolites, purine agonists, alkylating agents vinca alkaloid in conjunction with other drugs, antibiotics and steroids anti inflammatory.
• Radiation therapy: it involve the use of beam light to destroy the abnormal cells.
• Surgery: surgical incision of the tumor.
• Hormonal therapy.
PREVENTION
• Immunization against diseases such as human papilloma virus (HPV)
• Screening such as mammogram for breast cancer, pap smear test for cervical cancer and prostate specific antigen test (PSA) for prostate cancer
• Avoid smoking including secondhand smoke
• Avoid multiple and unsafe sex
• Self breast examination, at the end of every menstruation to detect for changes in shape or size of the breast, discharge, or lump in the breast and report to the appreciate health care facility when noticed any change.
• Protection against harmful chemicals such as use of face mask and glass
• Early detection and prompt intervention
SUMMARY
Cancer is an abnormal grow of cells which may be malignant or non malignant (benign). The cancer affect several parts of the body such as colon, oesophagus, larynx, cervix and breast which occur as a result of infection, exposure to harmful chemicals, hereditary, genes mutation and aging. Although, some cancers are fatal in nature but preventable.
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