Cancer
Cancer is the catchall term applied to diseases caused by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Cancer isn't one disease. It is many different diseases, more than 100 and counting.
Each kind of cancer is usually named for the cell type in which it begins — cancer that starts in a lung is called lung cancer; cancer that starts in pigment cells in the skin, which are known as melanocytes, is called melanoma.
When detected and treated early, cancer can often be stopped. That said, cancer is a leading cause of death and disability around the world.
Cancer Articles
About 58 million people have at least one actinic keratosis (AK), a precancerous skin growth caused by too much sun exposure. Yet, most people don’t see the potential danger of these lesions because they are small, with few if any annoying symptoms, and can go away almost as fast as they appear. Still, people need to watch out for AKs and get the appropriate treatment from a dermatologist because if left alone, they can turn into squamous cell skin cancer, the second most common type of skin cancer.
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Nonmelanoma skin cancers are unlikely to be life-threatening, but they can cause disfiguration and other problems. The cancers should be removed.
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Research has found that certain foods are protective against cancer, while others are associated with higher cancer risk. Fruits and vegetables might be among those that reduce risk, while processed meats and fast food are among those to avoid. In addition, maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular physical activity might help a person avoid cancer.
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Precision medicine, which aims to tailor treatment to individual patients, has significantly changed lung cancer treatment. Oncologist and researcher Dr. Lecia Sequist has helped transform lung cancer care and continues to work on improving outcomes for patients.
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New medications that stimulate the immune system are helping to fight cancer. The medications disable chemicals that keep T cells from attacking invaders such as cancer cells.
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People whose eating closely matched a diet that emphasizes plant-based foods and limited amounts of red and processed meat had a lower risk of cancer compared with those who ate differently.
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The American Cancer Society has updated its colon cancer screening guideline, recommending that screenings begin at age 45 instead of 50. The change was made in hopes of countering the growing number of colon cancer cases in younger Americans. The guideline recommends that people choose from a variety of different screening methods to find one that best suits their needs and risk profile.
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Despite a recent decision in California to require a cancer warning label on coffee, there’s no evidence that it poses a threat to health.
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Cases of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) skin cancers have more than doubled over the past decade, especially among men. However, BCC and SCC are rarely deadly and are easy to treat if they are caught early. It is also easy to lower your risk by following standard sun protection practices, including using proper sunscreen, avoiding the sun during peak exposure times, and wearing sun protection clothing and hats.
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Having a low blood level of vitamin D was associated with a higher relative risk of some cancers, especially liver cancer, according to a study of almost 34,000 people.
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