Cancer Cells: Everything You Need To Know
Cancer cells begin to form, sometimes up to 30 years before cancer as such develops. The best way to prevent this serious disease from arising is with a healthy lifestyle.
Cancer cells present mutations in their DNA, that is, changes that alter the genetic material present in each of them. This occurs for a variety of reasons including hereditary factors, bad habits, or exposure to toxic substances.
To date, more than 100 types of cancer have been described. This pathology affects all mammals, except a rodent called ratopín or naked mole rat . Early detection of the disease significantly improves prognosis and that is why efforts are focused on tracking and screening campaigns for its most frequent forms according to age.
What is cancer?
Cancer a process by which normal cells undergo changes called mutations . As a result, they begin to reproduce in an uncontrolled way. This occurs due to a genetic predisposition, but also due to the lifestyle and environment to which we are exposed.
For the body to function properly there must be a balance between the birth and death of cells. The body has mechanisms to guarantee this balance, but when they fail, that indiscriminate cellular reproduction occurs that gives rise to neoplasms.
Categorization of cancer according to the type of cell in which it originates
According to the cells in which cancer originates, this disease is classified into five groups:
- Carcinoma: when cancer cells are in the skin or in the superficial areas of internal organs. It is the most common type.
- Sarcoma: if it originates in the cells of the connective tissues, that is, in the bones or soft tissues. The latter include muscles, blood vessels, and other supporting tissues.
- Myeloma: This type of cancer comes from the cells of the bone marrow.
- Lymphoma: in this case, the cancer cells are the lymphocytes, which are part of the immune system.
- Leukemia: occurs when the bone marrow produces an excessive number of immature white blood cells. It is considered a cancer of the blood.
Differences between normal cells and cancer cells
There are many differences between normal cells and cancer cells. The first of these is that the normals stop reproducing when their number is sufficient to perform the function that corresponds to them. Cancer, on the other hand, remain uncontrolled.
Other relevant differences are related to cell interaction. Cancerous ones do not respond to signals sent from other tissues, while normal ones do.
On the other hand, when normal cells are damaged or aged, what happens is that they repair or die. This would be the expected evolution for the proper functioning and maintenance of the functions. Cancerous ones don’t. This explains, in part, the irregular appearance and the increase in size of the nucleus.
When it is time to adhere, normal cells secrete substances that allow them to join another cell group. Cancer cells do not do this, but travel through the body causing metastasis, that is, forming new tumor sites near or far from the starting area.
What, then, are tumors?
Tumors are, therefore, masses that are formed by the uncontrolled multiplication of a group of cells in any tissue in the body. Just because it is a tumor does not immediately mean that there is cancer. Here we must make the differences.
A tumor is benign when its growth is not disproportionate or aggressive; Furthermore, it does not invade nearby tissues or metastasize, that is, it does not spread to other organs of the body. On the other hand, a tumor is malignant when the mass is made up of cancer cells and therefore can invade nearby tissues and even reach other regions.
What are the stages of cancer?
The cancer disease process goes from when cancer cells are formed until the cancer reaches its terminal stage. This can last for months, years, or even entire decades. Evolution is not always the same and the factors involved are countless.
The stages of cancer are as follows:
- Stage 0: corresponds to the moment when cancer cells originated by a mutation appear. It is the longest phase and in it uncontrolled multiplication occurs. It does not produce symptoms and it is unlikely to be diagnosed.
- Stage I: it is called the in situ phase and in it the cancerous lesion can already be seen under the microscope. It is possible to make an early diagnosis in some types.
- Stage II: Cancer cells begin to invade adjacent tissues and this is why it is known as local invasion . In some cases, symptoms already appear.
- Metastasis or stage III: the disease expands and affects areas other than the place of origin and adjacent tissues, which is why it is known as distant invasion . There are symptoms, which can be severe.
- Stage IV: the terminal stage is that of progressive and incurable disease. There are severe symptoms, particularly a characteristic severe pain that only supports palliative care.
What are the most common treatments?
There are several types of cancer treatments, and most commonly they are used in combination. The medical team assesses which is the best option, depending on each case and the current protocols. Each country has developed, in general terms, therapeutic approach guidelines to establish the appropriate protocols.
Surgery
It is done to remove solid tumors. Typically, it is insufficient to remove microscopic lesions that may be around the primary lesion. That is why it is common that it is later combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Chemotherapy
It is a treatment that uses the administration of drugs or chemicals to destroy cancer cells. What it does is prevent such tumors from growing and reproducing. However, it can damage healthy cells.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy is a procedure that uses X-rays or other types of particles to kill cancer cells. It is also used to shrink tumors.
Other options
Other cancer treatments include immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and stem cell transplants. Precision medicine helps to define which is the most suitable for each individual patient.
Healthy habits to prevent cancer cells
A healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent cancer. There are very simple measures that are effective in preventing this dangerous disease from developing. It is best to follow these general guidelines:
- Avoid tobacco use: Smoking is associated, above all, with lung cancer.
- Maintain a healthy diet: the inclusion of vegetables has shown beneficial effects.
- Perform physical activity: on a regular basis.
- Protect yourself from the sun: dermal cancer is susceptible to developing due to the effect of ultraviolet rays.
- Get vaccinated: we currently have immunizations against hepatitis B and human papillomavirus, which prevent liver and uterine cancers, respectively.
- Get a medical check-up: the periodicity in the scans is a simple and inexpensive measure that prevents malignant progressions. Mammograms, colonoscopies and uterine cytologies have already proven their effectiveness for years.
Cancer cells are to watch out for
Cancer changes the lives of those who have it and those around them. The importance of preventing it through self-care, expressed in a healthy lifestyle, should never be overstated.
Science today offers many opportunities to detect this disease early and treat it with a good chance of success. After having suffered from cancer, care must also be taken, since there is the possibility that it will reappear, especially in the context of chronic diseases.
