Cancer

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Cancer is a group of diseases characterised by abnormal and increased cell growth. Cancers are common and deadly diseases.

Cancer biology

Etiological factors contributing to cancer development
- Environmental exposure
  - Asbestos -> mesothelioma, RCC
  - Formaldehyde -> nose and nasopharyngeal cc
- Radiation
  - Those with childhood leukaemia often develop solid tumours 10 – 20 years after the radiotherapy
- Lifestyle problems
  - Smoking -> lung cancer, head and neck cancer
  - Alcohol -> head and neck cancer, oesophageal cancer
- Alimentary factors
  - Obesity, diabetes -> CRC
- Hygienic problems
  - -> cancer of glans penis
- Infections
  - HPV -> cervical cc
  - EBV -> nasopharyngeal carcinoma
  - Aflatoxin -> HCC
- Hormonal effects
  - Oestrogen -> breast cc, endometrial cc
  - Testosterone -> prostate cc
- Genetic background
  - BCL/ABL => CML
  - APC => CRC
Biological factors contributing to cancer development
- Trouble in communication between cells
- Absence of contact inhibition
- Uncontrolled growth and cell dividing
- Omitting the integrity of neighbouring cells, tissues and organs
- Neo-vascularization and aberrant blood vessels
- The possibility of penetrating blood vessels
- Disturbing the metabolic activity of the organ
- Evolving paraneoplastic symptoms