What is Cancer?
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These cells can spread rapidly, leading to loss of normal functioning of the cell and eventually leading to death.
Is Cancer a hereditary disease?
There are inherited tendencies associated with certain cancer type. Cancer is not a hereditary disease but certain cancer may be considered as hereditary (Certain types of Eye and Breast Cancer).
What are the causes of Cancer?
The exact cause of Cancer depends on its type, genetic factors, environmental factors etc. Hence it is difficult to isolate the definite cause. In General, exposure to Carcinogens increase the likelihood of Cancer.
Is cancer contagious?
No, Cancer is not contagious. It is non-communicable disease. We can’t catch cancer from someone who has it. Feel free to care and support Cancer patients, they need our support.
How common is cancer?
Cancer has become one of the common diseases. In Nepal the estimated cancer incidence is around 50,000 -70,000/year. According to National Cancer Registry of Nepal, the most common cancer in male is lung cancer, followed by oral cavity and stomach while the most common cancer in female are cancer of the cervix, uterus, breasts and lungs.
About how many types of cancer are there?
Cancer is not a single disease. There are more than 100 types of cancer. Any part of the body can be affected and symptoms depend on the type of cancer and organs affected.
What are the risk factors for Cancer?
There are various risk factors for cancers. The most common identified in Nepal are smoking followed by illiteracy, lack of awareness, poor hygiene, and low economic status. Cancer affliction has been increasing due to lack of awareness program, ignorance about the disease and the high cost of cancer treatment in Nepal.
Who can get cancer?
Cancer can occur to any age, gender or ethnic groups. The incidence and epidemiology differs with topography and the genetics. In women, breast and cervical cancer are common in Nepal.
Can injuries cause cancer?
No, injuries have not been linked to cancer. There is a common Myth that Injuries may lead to Cancer. This may be because a person might visit the doctor for an injury and cancer is diagnosed. Rarely, burn scars may increase the risk of Skin Cancer.
Can stress cause cancer?
No.
How can cancer be prevented?
Majority of Cancer can be prevented through a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition.
What are the early symptoms of Cancer?
Few of the early symptoms of Cancer include but not limited to: Hoarseness of sound, ,Sores that do not heal for a long time, Longer period of incurable cough, Change in bowels habits, Unusual Weight loss, Difficulty swallowing, Unusual bleeding and discharges, Change in the colors and size of wart or mole, Lump in breast or other parts of the body.
Is Cancer curable ?
If diagnosed and treated at its early stage, some of the cancers are curable. In Nepal, Twenty years before, cancer was almost a nonexistent disease, considered as incurable, not often diagnosed due to limited diagnostic facility and had very limited or no treatment options. With the advent of various diagnostic and therapeutic tools, cancer treatment has also become possible in the country. However, the technology, skills and advancement is slow as compared to other developed countries.
How is Cancer treated ?
Nepal has just initiated its struggle against cancer and is very far away from the recent achievements in the field. At a very earlier stage, surgery is the main mode of treatment. In certain sites of the body like cervix, oral cavity, breast, tumors can also be cured by radiotherapy. Certain cancers are treated by chemotherapy. In Global context, recent research progress include Personalized Immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, Microbial-therapy etc.
Are there any vaccines for cancer prevention?
Some vaccines are believed to prevent certain cancers. HPV vaccine is used for prevention of cervical cancer while HBV vaccine is used to prevent liver cancer. Except for some projects, In Nepal, such vaccines are not commonly introduced.
How many people survived cancer?
Approximately 14.5 million people alive in the United States have had some type of cancer. Every year more and more people survive cancer. The survival rates are different for people with different types of cancers.
Is cancer treatment worse than cancer?
No, this is a common myth among People. Often people diagnosed with early cancer are asymptomatic. In the early stages of cancer, symptoms tend to be minor. It’s often only after the treatment begins that people start to feel sick. However, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery can cause various side effects.