MAIN Health Diseases Cancer

Cancer is the result of a single damaged cell that has become wild and aggressive.

How Cancer Grows

First, the cell makes copies of itself. Then it multiplies and grows until it begins to steal nourishment from the cells around it. In order to survive and continue to grow, the cancer starves other cells. The other cells stop functioning and die as the renegade cancer cells continue to multiply.

Some cancers grow so fast or large that they need even more nourishment. The tumor sends single cancer cells into the blood to look for new places to root and grow. When cancer spreads from where it first started it is called a metastasis - (in medical jargon, "mets".)

How Cancer is Diagnosed

The cells in each organ in the human body are specialized...even when cells become cancerous and spread cancer to other parts of the body. A biopsy is the test that determines whether a cell is cancer - and if it is - where the cancer got started.

For example, a liver cell that changes into a cancer cell is still a cancerous "liver" cell. A cancer that starts in the breast is a breast cancer cell - even if it moves to the brain or lungs. All of the copies of the original cancer cell keep the characteristics and behaviors of that one parent cell.

Why It's Important to Know Where the Cancer Began

Different treatments work better on some cancer cells than on others. There are treatments tailored to work specifically against prostate, lung, breast, brain and many other cancers. The best treatment for one type of cancer may not be the best choice to beat a different type. By knowing where a cancer originally began, doctors have a better chance of picking the right drug to stop it from growing.

There was a time when a cancer diagnosis meant preparing to die. Now it means preparing to fight.

More about cancer around the Web:

Elsewhere on the Web, find out more about the cancer battle at expert sites offering more on current research, diagnosis, drug therapies, surgeries, new clinical trials, and patient support ...

American Cancer Society - One of the leaders in raising funds for research and treatment, the ACS site is a good place to start gathering information on this disease.

National Cancer Institute - NCI is a great resource. From the simplest questions to the most complicated procedures... information on drugs, clinical trials - you name it - it's here.

CancerBACUP - UK site with more than 4500 pages of information - and all of it researched, reliable and easy to locate. There is a free phone hotline for those in the UK to get support or information.

Steve Dunn's Cancer Guide - It is amazing how much you can learn about cancer when you get that diagnosis. Steve has put together information from the patient's perspective that will help you ask the right questions.

Association of Online Cancer Resources (ACOR) - This site is rich in information, but the best resource is their selection of lists. Each brings you into a mailing list community of people who - have / had /or have information on...a specific type of cancer or complications from the disease. Incredible resource!

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - This agency is part of the World Health Organization (WHO). It is definitely geared to the health care researcher or professional, but the database entries may interest anyone who is able to translate 'scientific-speak.' The research units give detailed information on current topics and contact information to enable you to learn more.

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation (CCCF) - Set up to help you "learn more about how cancer affects children, how you can help, and where to find information and support." Along with the online resources they offer financial assistance with camps and emotional support. A tough topic handled extremely well.

also see in Health -> Great American Smokeout

Stand Up to Cancer Telethon

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This information is intended as reference and not as medical advice.
All treatment decisions should be made by medical professionals.