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Cancer is a general term that refers to diseases caused by the abnormal multiplication of body cells. This leads to the formation of a tumor, which is a mass that consists of abnormal cells. These tumours can affect the functioning of the immune system and cause impairment of the body’s affected area due to swelling. Let’s take a closer look…
Types of Tumours
There are two types of tumours: benign and malignant.
Benign tumours are non-cancerous tumours.Benign tumours grow for a number of different reasons. With any tumour, go see your doctor right away for a diagnosis.
Malignant tumours are cancerous and can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer is a mortal disease that affects millions every year. We also have premalignant tumours that are not cancerous but can become cancerous in the future. You will learn about the several types of cancer, diagnosis, and multiple treatments available to cancer patients in the below article.
Types of Cancer
Cancers are named depending on the part of the body where they develop. Below mentioned are the most common types of cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide. It’s a type of cancer that affects the breasts. It affects both women & men but is mostly diagnosed in women. According to Breast Cancer Network Australia, breast cancer affects approximately 55 people every day in Australia as per the 2020 statistics and projections. There has been a high survival rate among breast cancer patients over the past five years. Early diagnosis plays a huge part in the treatment of breast cancer. Breast cancer usually appears as a new lump in the breast area, armpit, or collar bone. The inflammation may be painless in some instances.
Skin cancer can be classified into melanoma & non-melanoma. It’s the most diagnosed type of cancer in Australia every year. Skin cancer is caused by exposure to UV rays, which causes the skin cells to multiply excessively. UV rays are essentially produced by the sun. It can also be artificially created by solariums, which are now banned in Australia. It is important to apply sunscreen before basking in the sun.
Lung cancer is caused by the growth and multiplication of abnormal cells in the lungs leading to the formation of a tumour that can be cancerous. You are likely to have a persistent cough or pain as some of the early symptoms of lung cancer. Symptoms might vary from patient to patient, and it is advisable that you visit a cancer doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Tobacco smokers are the highest victims of lung cancer. However, you can develop lung cancer from inhaling second-hand smoke, genetic mutation, or inhalation of toxic dust such as asbestos.
Other common types of cancer include:
- Cervical cancer
- Colon Cancer
Treatments for Cancer
According to the type of cancer & the location in the body, your oncologist may recommend one of the following forms of treatment.
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses medication to target the cancerous cells hence shrinking the cell. Chemotherapy is, however, known to have severe side effects such as drastic weight loss, loss of hair, and pale skin.
Hormone therapy is a type of treatment that aims to alter the way hormones work. This is mostly used on breast cancer and prostate cancer patients as hormones play a significant role in these types of cancer.
As the name suggests, radiotherapy involves the use of radiation in high doses to kill cancerous cells. Radiation can be used to shrink a tumour.
Other common treatments of cancer include:
Other treatments include precision medicine, immunotherapy, surgery, and stem cell transplant.
Cancer diagnosis can be scary, however, don’t let this stop you from living life. Thanks to many advancements in the field of cancer treatment and additional research being performed across the globe, the outlook isn’t always a death sentence. Keep that in mind.
If you have a tumour, be sure to visit your doctor right away to get a proper diagnosis. The sooner you figure out what you’ve got, the sooner you can take an appropriate course of action, whether your tumour is benign or malignant.