cancer

The name that has already become colloquial cancer or Cancer, which has acquired an important meaning in the field of both human and veterinary medicine, is an overarching term.

What is cancer

Graphic illustration and infogram of a typical cancer cell.

Behind these collective names cancer or. Cancers hide new emergence of the body's own and degenerate cells, which are, however, characterized by a malignancy, a disease-causing effect.

The regeneration of these aggressive and malignant cells occurs in every organ and in every type of tissue of the organism and is characterized by special properties.

When people talk about cancer, they mean that the body's own cells that develop into a later tumor do not divide in a controlled manner and destroy the adjacent healthy tissue.

causes

The causes of cancer are enormously complex and unfortunately not yet fully explored. This applies not only to the causes, but also to the so-called cancer-causing factors. In general, the causes of cancer are assumed to be both internal and external factors and triggers that lead to cancer either individually or in combination.

An uncontrolled and degenerate growth of body cells can occur on the basis of unhealthy or altered genetic material. The causes that contribute to an abnormal genetic material are also very diverse and can also be influenced by environmental influences.

In addition to environmental toxins such as asbestos or various carcinogenic chemicals, the external and environmental influences of cancer include radioactive radiation, which can cause cancer. These toxins can be found in or on food, in water or in the air and can get into the organism through different routes. Various cancer-causing drugs can also promote the development of cancer.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

Non-specific symptoms of cancer can include unwanted weight loss, constant fatigue, and a decrease in physical performance. A malignant disease can be suspected if these symptoms are accompanied by enlarged lymph nodes, fever, night sweats or a palpable tumor.

Depending on the organ affected, a variety of other symptoms can indicate cancer: flatulence, abdominal pain, changed bowel habits and blood in the stool occur in colon cancer, black discolored stool (tarry stool) in connection with stomach pain, vomiting and loss of appetite suggest stomach cancer. If you have a long-term cough that does not improve even with medication, you should think of lung cancer.

This is especially the case when there is bloody sputum, shortness of breath and chest pain. Chronic hoarseness and persistent swallowing problems can be caused by cancerous ulcers in the throat and larynx, and skin cancer can manifest itself as a change in color or the growth of birthmarks. Headaches, visual disturbances, and neurological failures occur with brain tumors.

In women, nodular changes in the breast or armpit are often the first signs of breast cancer; cervical cancer only manifests itself in advanced stages through bleeding or brownish discharge. Men should consult a specialist in the case of hardening in the testicle area and difficulty urinating to clarify a possible testicular or prostate tumor.

Complications

Since cancer is a serious disease that can also be life-threatening, complications can occur over and over again as the disease progresses. Since cancer can be fatal and lead to a wide range of consequences in the body, each tumor should be treated individually by a specialist. Both without and with medical treatment, the patient can experience cancer-related pain in the body.

Many sufferers complain of difficulty breathing as the disease progresses. As the cancer and its treatment affect the way the bowels work, diarrhea or constipation can occur. Often the weight loss of those affected is the first symptom to indicate a possible cancer. Some of the cancer patients suffer from severe emaciation with sunken eyes, sagging skin, protruding bones and a massive loss of fat and muscle mass.

In the course of cancer treatment, patients often experience nausea. The cytostatics used in chemotherapy, but also extensive radiation, can cause the affected person to feel unwell, nausea and vomiting. If daughter tumors develop in the body, they can destroy tissue in other organs and lead to functional disorders. Paraneoplastic syndromes are symptoms in various organ systems, such as impaired hormonal regulation of the water balance due to lung cancer.

When should you go to the doctor?

If you have problems speaking, seeing or moving, you should seek medical advice. Deafness, speech difficulties and symptoms of paralysis can also indicate a tumor that, for example, presses on nerve cords or disrupts organ functions. People who keep having severe headaches that seem to have no underlying cause should see their family doctor. Unexplained weight loss should also be clarified. People who visibly lose weight within a month may have cancer or another serious medical condition that needs to be investigated. The same applies to unusual changes in the breast area, such as itching, pain, lumps or secretions.

Women who notice unusual vaginal bleeding should consult their gynecologist. Changed bowel habits and other signs of illness in the gastrointestinal tract also require medical clarification. If a persistent cough occurs or a high fever develops, it is best to see a general practitioner immediately. Cancer can occur anywhere in the body and the possible signs are accordingly diverse. Therefore, medical advice should be sought with any unusual health problem. The first point of contact is the family doctor, and then, depending on the suspicion, an appropriate specialist must be called in.

Treatment & Therapy

Lymphocytes are part of the blood. They belong to the natural "killer cells" as well as to the white blood cells, the leukocytes. In the picture, lymphocytes destroy cancer cells. White: lymphocytes, green: cancer cells. Click to enlarge.

To treat cancer A wide variety of procedures are currently used, which are carried out both independently and jointly. Oncological treatments are characterized by chemotherapy, radiation treatment with radioactive rays and the use of cancer-destroying and growth-inhibiting preparations that work on the basis of hormones.

In addition to these forms of therapy, oncologists also achieve great success with the use of surgical methods in which the cancerous tissue is removed. In the majority of cases, surgical interventions are carried out to confirm the suspicion that cancer is present. These are particularly successful if they are carried out at an early stage. In addition, the metastases are removed during the operations.

Outlook & forecast

Therapy for cancer depends on the type of tumor and the affected organ. Thus, the therapy options that are used are completely different. However, there are therapies that are used frequently. These include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. All forms of therapy fall back on the current, scientific state of medicine.

Through the development and continuous improvement of therapies, it has been possible to achieve a significant improvement in the survival rate for cancer patients. The medicine here is based on the absolute survival rate with the period of five years. The chances of surviving cancer have increased worldwide.

Through specific after-treatments, such as B. immunotherapies, the human organism can receive support in fighting harmful substances. Here too, enormous progress has been made. Immunotherapy is now considered to be the beacon of hope for cancer therapy.

Cancer patients who would like to know more about the likely course of their disease will find the best and most accomplished advisor and expert in their treating doctor. With the help of the individual findings, the doctor can give the correct and important answers and assess how the cancer is likely to progress.

prevention

Around cancer To prevent it, it makes sense to rethink your own way of life, to pay attention to an optimal body weight and to stop consuming nicotine. In addition, regular exercise is good for preventing cancer. Protection against excessive and long-term exposure to the sun and a change in diet are very important in cancer prevention.

It is advisable to use a plant-based diet over a reduction in spicy, high-fat and heavily fried animal foods. A reduction in alcoholic beverages to the lowest possible limit has a prophylactic effect against the development of cancer.

Pre-cancer examinations should not be underestimated. These relate to different forms of cancer and become more important, especially after a certain age, for both women and men. This applies to mammography for the detection of breast cancer, cancer screening examinations of the colon and prostate examinations. In the course of life, however, it is important to pay attention to external changes in the body and to have a hepatitis B vaccination.

Aftercare

After the actual cancer treatment, those affected need ongoing care. In addition to regular medical examinations and the use of other therapies, a change in lifestyle is also part of the follow-up care. Those affected now have to build quality of life again.

The support of the responsible doctors as well as acquaintances and friends is also important in coping with the disease. The family doctor can call in cancer counseling centers, psycho-oncologists and social law contacts. Visiting a self-help group is also an important part of aftercare. Depending on the type of cancer, nutritionists, sports groups and other bodies must also be consulted.

The aftercare plan is drawn up together with the doctor and is based on the symptoms, the type of cancer, the general course of the disease and the prognosis. Follow-up care is particularly important in the first phase, when patients are still processing the consequences of the disease and treatment. It is crucial to support the patient until a remission is achieved.

The risk of relapse decreases every year. As a rule of thumb, five years apply, whereby the type of cancer is also decisive here. Medical rehabilitation may also include taking antihormones and other medications. In the case of protracted illnesses, follow-up checks and follow-up care merge. The details of aftercare will be discussed during the discharge interview or at a separate appointment.

You can do that yourself

Cancer often completely messes up the everyday life of those affected and makes many things seem pointless. In the context of self-help, therefore, all things are useful that contribute to having a structured daily routine despite the illness and to regaining mental stability.

On the one hand, self-help groups provide valuable services for people with cancer. In such self-help groups, exchanges take place in a protected setting about the disease, its consequences and individual fears. There are also special groups for relatives. Trained supervisors of such self-help groups can give those affected important tips on how to gain strength for treatment and everyday life despite the difficult life situation.

It also helps many sufferers to find out as much medical information as possible about their cancer. This enables them to better classify information and make informed decisions about therapies. A trusting doctor-patient relationship is of great importance for an optimistic start to modern therapy options. Sick people shouldn't be afraid to ask the doctor treating them all. Unspoken worries and needs are a heavy burden in everyday life. Social counseling in hospitals also advise those affected on all structural and financial support options that are available to them in everyday life for the duration of the illness.