Cancer is actually an
umbrella name given to a group of about 210 diseases. Of these, only a few
predominate in each country. In Malaysia, cancer is the 2nd major cause of
deaths. It is estimated that 40,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed every year.
Cancer can affect any organ of the body. The major cancer affecting males would
be cancer of the lung, nasopharynx, mouth, stomach and liver. Amongst females,
cancer of the breast, cervix, lung and stomach are the most prevalent.
There are basically
3 types of cancer:
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 Carcinomas
These usually occur in rapidly dividing tissues such as cells that cover and
line our bodies, including the skin, colon, breast, liver and breathing
passages. These are the most common forms of cancer.
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 Sarcomas
This type of cancer generally occurs in more slowly dividing tissues such as
muscle and nerve tissues.
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 Leukaemias
These are cancers of the tissue that form the blood cells themselves, also
referred to as cancer of the blood.
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Cancer
cells are abnormal cells. They keep dividing and forming more cells without
control or order. A mass of extra tissue, called a growth or tumour, is formed
and it can be either benign or malignant.
Benign tumours are not cancerous. They can be removed and in
most cases, they do not come back. Benign tumours do not spread to other parts
of the body and are rarely a threat to life.
Malignant tumours, on the other hand, are cancerous and can spread
to invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break
away from the malignant tumour and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
This is how cancer spreads from the original or primary tumour to form new
tumours in other parts of the body. This spread of cancer is called metastasis.
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