What is Cancer and How it is Caused

Cancer is a term used to describe a group of illnesses all having certain common characteristics. There are over 200 different types of cancer and all have a specific name, treatment and a chance of being cured. The human body is made of organs, such as the brain, liver and heart. And each of these organs is made up tissues, such as fat, blood vessels and muscles.

There are more than 200 different kinds of tissues and each is made up of microscopic cells. All of these cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes within the nucleus. Chromosomes are made up of strains of DNA. These are complex proteins rains in a double heated pattern. DNA contains the genetic code for that cell and tells that cell what type of cell to become how to function and when to divide. Most cells in the body wear out and have to be replaced by new ones. Normally, cells are programmed to divide about 75 times and then die. This mechanism is controlled by this DNA within the cell. In some cells the DNA may become damaged and aging and dying process no longer occurs in these cells. When these cells divide they produce new cells that are identical to the original. This results in damaged DNA or mutation being carried on to the new cells. These cells will then continue to divide over and over without any control making them immortal. This condition is what is commonly known as cancer. Any cell of the body has a capacity to become cancerous. If a cell becomes cancerous and begins to divide uncontrollably, it will grow. Eventually forming its own mass and this is called a tumor. There are three main types of tumors that are classified by where they grow. Tumors that grow on the surface of organs, such as stomach, liver or lungs are called carcinomas. If the tumor grows on the support structures of the body, such as muscles or bones, is called a sarcoma. If the tumor growth happens in the cells of the blood stream, it is known as hematological malignancy. If a tumor grows in one place and does not break apart in anyway is called benign. If cells of a tumor break of and migrate to other parts of the body through the blood stream of the system, this is a malignant tumor. The root cause of cancer is damaged through the cause of DNA. Now we will look at what would cause this damage to the DNA strands. It’s a common misconception that most cancers are caused by inheriting these defective genes within to your family lineage. But the reality is that up to 90% of cancers are caused by exposure to one or more cancer causing factors, called carcinogens. Cell’s DNA can be damaged and this causes several different kinds of diseases and conditions. These changes in the DNA are called mutations. Whatever causes the DNA inside a cell to become cancerous is called a carcinogen. Carcinogens cause the cells then to divide uncontrollably. There are three types of carcinogens: Physical, Biological and Chemical. Physical types can be caused by ionizing radiations, such as x-rays, ultraviolet radiation from sun light and by mineral fibers, such as those from asbestos. These carcinogens damage the DNA by making holes in the DNA strains or by making clumps of DNA stick together when they should be separated. Chemical carcinogens act by binding form molecules to DNA strains and then causing the genetic code to be misread. Benzopyrene is an example of such a carcinogen and this is found in cigarette smoke. Biological carcinogens may be viral or bacterial. An example of a virus that causes cancer is the human T-cell lymphyocytic virus which is being linked to Lymphoma.