essay on the causes of cancer
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Cancer might just be one of the most feared and dreaded diseases. Globally, cancer is responsible for the death of nearly 9.5 million people in 2018. It is the second leading cause of death as per the world health organization. As per studies, in India, we see 1300 deaths due to cancer every day. These statistics are truly astonishing and scary. In the recent few decades, the number of cancer has been increasingly on the rise. So let us take a look at the meaning, causes, and types of cancer in this essay on cancer.
Cancer comes in many forms and types. Cancer is the collective name given to the disease where certain cells of the person’s body start dividing continuously, refusing to stop. These extra cells form when none are needed and they spread into the surrounding tissues and can even form malignant tumors. Cells may break away from such tumors and go and form tumors in other places of the patient’s body.
Types of Cancers
As we know, cancer can actually affect any part or organ of the human body. We all have come across various types of cancer – lung, blood, pancreas, stomach, skin, and so many others. Biologically, however, cancer can be divided into five types specifically – carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, leukemia.
Answer:
Cancer is one of the most important non-infectious or non-communicable diseases.
“Cancer is referred to as an ailment characterised by an unrestrained growth of abnormal cells which if untreated and unchecked eventually kills the patient.”
In India nearly four lakhs of people are affected by cancer every year. Out of them two lakhs of people die. It is mainly due to late detection. Many people are not aware of the early symptoms of this disease.
What is Cancer?
The growth of multicellular animals occurs due to addition of new cells. The old or existing cells divide by mitosis to form new cells. This division is controlled and regulated by some factors. Sometimes, due to unknown reasons, some cells divide in abnormally faster rate to form a lump.
This lump increases rapidly causing ulcers. It causes serious complications in the body. These abnormal cells first destroy the organ and then the whole body. These cells utilize the total food of the body. So the affected person becomes weak, looses his weight and ultimately dies. The tumors, enclosed in connective tissue are called benign tumor and when the tumors grow, it is called as malignant.
Types of Cancer:
Cancer can be divided into different types:
1. Sarcoma:
The cancer which occurs in muscles, cartilages, bones, blood vessels, connective tissues are known as sarcoma.
2. Carcinoma:
This type of cancer originates from skin or cells which lines the internal organs.
3. Lymphoma:
It is the cancer of lymph glands and lymph nodes.
4. Leukemia:
It occurs in blood forming organs, specially the bone marrow. It is found that no organ of body and no species is free from cancer.
Causes of Cancer:
The real cause of cancer is not yet known.
The following aspects can be attributed to the cause of cancer:
1. Excessive smoking has been found to be associated with lung cancer, cancer in urinary bladder, mouth, throat, larynx etc.
2. Chewing of tobacco, betel nuts etc. are believed to be the cause of cancer in mouth, throat, oesophagus etc.
3. A large number of dyes, chemicals, heavy metals can cause cancer.
4. Ionic radiations like X-ray, gamma ray etc. can cause cancer.
5. Alcohol is thought to be the cause of cancer in stomach, liver, gall bladder etc.
6. Pollutants like chemicals, smoke, dust may be responsible for cancer. Though the exact cause of cancer is not known, the above described substances are mutagens which can cause mutation in genes. The mutant genes have no control over normal functioning of the cell. So it may lead to cancer.