What is cancer? Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. This substance is in every cell and directs all activities. Most of the time when DNA becomes damaged the body is able to repair it. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired. People can inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. More often, though, a person’s DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment, like smoking.
Cancer usually forms as a tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, do not form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood-forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow. Often cancer cells travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process is called metastasis.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Nearly half of all men and a little over one third of all women in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. The
risk of developing most types of cancer can be reduced by changes in a
person’s lifestyle – for example, by quitting smoking, eating a better
diet, and increasing physical activity. The
sooner a cancer is found and treatment begins, the better are the
chances for living for many years. (American Cancer Society)
Cancer in Arizona: Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in Arizona. Cancer was responsible for 21.3% of all deaths in Arizona in 2003. (ADHS)
