FAQ's

Cancer is not just one disease but a group of more than 100 diseases that share a common trait — they all start when abnormal cells live longer than they should and grow out of control. As they continue dividing, abnormal cancer cells usually form a lump or mass called a tumor. Tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumors grow locally and can be removed. They do not spread to other areas in the body. Malignant tumors, however, are composed of cancerous cells that can break away and travel through the blood stream or lymph system to other parts of the body. This is called metastasis. Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start, and they continue to be called by that name even if they spread from their original location to another organ or region of the body.

You don’t have to get old to get cancer. Anyone can get cancer. Babies, Teens, Adolescents, Adults or Seniors. While some cancers are more closely associated with specific age groups, cancer can affect people of any age, from children through seniors. It also affects people of all genders, races, socio-economic status and education levels.

No one really knows how or why some individuals get cancer and others do not. Researchers are continuing to look into the precise reasons. Cancer is caused by both external (chemicals, radiation and viruses) and internal (hormones, immune conditions and inherited mutations) factors. Genetics, environment, stress, and unhealthy habits like smoking are potential risk factors.

Genetics refers to the genes in our bodies that may want to produce cells that will grow into cancer. Only a few cancers are known to be genetic.

Environmental factors that may lead to cancer can include the many chemicals we live and work around. Some of these chemicals are known to cause cancer; therefore we as a society have made an effort to stop using them. Chemicals serve many important functions, however, such as helping crops grow healthy, keeping food safe, running our cars. It is impossible to get rid of all of chemicals, so we choose to live with some amount of risk.

Stress may cause cells to grow abnormally by changing the way the chemicals inside our bodies work. We're not sure about all of the relationships between our feelings and our bodies, but it is commonly believed that people under extreme amounts of stress get sick more often.

Smoking has been related to many types of cancers including lung, neck and mouth cancer. Passive smoking – being in an area where people smoke and you inhale the smoke, is also a known reason for some types of cancer. Scientists are looking at other things we do, like the foods we eat, to see if other such habits affect whether or not we get cancer.

Any and every part of the internal and external body is susceptible to cancer. Bones, muscles, skin, tissues, Brain, eyes, breast, lungs, gastro-intestinal, nose and the like. It is not very uncommon for men to have breast cancer.

Cancer often causes symptoms that you can watch for. The word CAUTION can remind you of the most common warning signs of cancer:

• Change in bowel or bladder habits
• A sore that does not heal
• Unusual bleeding or discharge
• Thickening or lump in the breast or any other part of the body
• Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
• Obvious change in a wart or mole
• Nagging cough or hoarseness

These symptoms are not always warning signs of cancer. They can also be caused by less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis. Don’t wait to feel pain because early cancer usually does not cause pain.

A biopsy is the only sure way to know whether a medical problem is cancer. In a biopsy, the doctor removes a sample of tissue. The tissue is examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

Although there are many types of cancer, they can be grouped into broad categories. The main categories include:

Carcinoma, cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma, cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia, cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and myeloma, cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers, cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

Depending on the type of cancer and research status, cancer is treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radioactive substances or immunotherapy. The doctor may use one method or a combination of methods. The choice of treatment depends on the type and location of the cancer, whether the disease has spread, the patient’s age and general health, and other factors.

The treatment options include:

Chemotherapy, the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells or slow the spread of cancer. Radiation therapy, the use X-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Surgery, a common method for treating certain kinds of cancer that appear to be locally contained. It involves the removal of a tumor and nearby tissue that may contain cancer cells. Hormone therapy, which alters the levels of hormones in the body. Immunotherapy, or biologic response modifier therapy, the use of the body's natural immune system to help fight cancer. Bone marrow and stem cell transplants, used mostly for cancers of the blood and lymph system (leukemia and lymphoma) and some solid tumors (breast and ovarian). If your doctor feels you are a candidate for a transplant, you will be referred to a transplant treatment center.

Many cancer patients take part in clinical trials (research studies) testing new treatment methods. Such studies are designed to improve cancer treatment.

Cancer stages describe the extent of the disease in a given individual. "Staging" a cancer is important to the care team because it helps doctors to plan a person's treatment, estimate the person's prognosis (likely outcome or course of the disease), and identify clinical trials (research studies) that may be suitable for a particular patient. Although there are finer designations within each stage, here are the basic stages:

Stage 0 — Early cancer that is present only in the layer of cells in which it began.

Stage I, Stage II, and Stage III — Higher numbers indicate more extensive disease: greater tumor size, and/or spread of the cancer to nearby lymph nodes and/or organs adjacent to the primary tumor.

Stage IV — The cancer has spread to another organ.

Cancer is a group of diseases. In total there are more than 100 different types of cancers. Cancers are also caused by different things, so no one strategy can prevent them. Likewise, different cancers respond to different treatments, so no one treatment can cure them all. Treating cancer is further complicated due to the lifestyle and attitude of patients, the different physiology of people and the rate their bodies will metabolise drugs, the blood supply to the tumour affecting the drug getting into the tumour, the tumour physiology and the fact that the tumour can continue to change.

A hundred years ago, cancer was most always fatal. But not today. Many types of cancers are relatively easy to treat, and there is little chance that they will re-occur. One of the best steps than anyone can take is to undergo regular check-ups with their physician. The earlier that cancer is detected, the faster treatment can begin. Thus, the likelihood for a better outcome is also increased.

Learning that they have cancer one of the most significant moments that people will ever experience. From that moment, there are so many questions to ask, fears to face, decisions to make and treatments to undergo, you may worry that your life will never be the same. In some ways, it won’t. You will always be a person who has or who had cancer. But that doesn’t mean that you must stop doing the things that you enjoy or spending time with the people that you love. We encourage people to remember that cancer is something that they have-it’s not who they are. And we make every effort to help our patients return to the life and lifestyle they’ve always had as soon as possible.

Second only to learning that you have cancer yourself is the difficulty of telling your family and close friends about it. They are likely to have many of the same questions and fears that you do, and will want to help, but may be unsure how. Be honest with them, share how you’re feeling, and let them do the same. Ask them for help if you need it-most will be more than grateful for the chance. When you can, keep life as normal as possible. And if you’re struggling with telling people, or with their reactions to it, consider working with a counselor who can help you do so. Talking with other cancer patients and survivors may also provide the support you need, and there are also support groups for spouses, friends and family of people with cancer.

Learning that they have cancer one of the most significant moments that people will ever experience. From that moment, there are so many questions to ask, fears to face, decisions to make and treatments to undergo, you may worry that your life will never be the same. In some ways, it won’t. You will always be a person who has or who had cancer. But that doesn’t mean that you must stop doing the things that you enjoy or spending time with the people that you love. We encourage people to remember that cancer is something that they have-it’s not who they are. And we make every effort to help our patients return to the life and lifestyle they’ve always had as soon as possible.