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
Most melanomas come in the form of a new spot on the skin, not changes to an existing mole.
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Screening tests for lung and breast cancer—chest computed tomography (CT) scans and mammograms—may offer clues about a person’s risk of heart disease. Chest CT scans, which are also done to detect blood clots in the lungs and for other lung diseases, can show calcium deposits in the heart’s arteries. Mammograms can show calcium in the breast arteries, which is closely linked to calcium in the coronary arteries. Calcium accumulates in artery walls, along with fat, cholesterol, and other substances to form plaque. Plaque narrows and hardens arteries, eventually leading to blockages that can trigger heart attacks.
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High dosages of vitamin B6 and B12 supplements were associated with three to four times the lung cancer risk in male smokers compared with smokers who did not use the vitamins. However, men who quit smoking for at least 10 years prior to the study, and also took the high dosages of the B vitamins, did not have a higher risk of lung cancer.
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A new study shows that women with periodontal disease may be at higher risk of cancer, but some experts say they’re skeptical because of study limitations. Even so, it’s important to protect gum health, because periodontal disease has been linked to other health conditions.
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Routine colon cancer screening is often not recommended for men over age 75 unless they have had precancerous polyps before or have a family history of colon cancer. However, men should consider having a colonoscopy at least once, even after age 75, if they have never had one.
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Stay alert for squamous cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer that is on the rise.
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Immunotherapy, one of the fastest-growing cancer treatments, helps the immune system better target and kill cancer cells by focusing only on the cancerous cells while sparing the healthy ones. One of the most innovative immunology therapies is chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which is custom-made for individuals and their specific cancer. It can be an alternative for people who are resistant to chemotherapy, or diseases that don’t respond well to the treatment.
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Although a recent study suggested an association between erectile dysfunction drugs, such as sildenafil (Viagra), and melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, the researchers concluded the elevated risk is likely due to other factors, like sunlight exposure.
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Data from the Nurses’ Health Study suggests that extended use of antibiotics earlier in life may increase the risk of precancerous adenomatous polyps in women ages 60 and older.
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Creative activities, particularly when undertaken with the direction of a trained art therapist, can relieve stress and aid communication in people with cancer, dementia, or depression. Doing arts and crafts can help arrest cognitive decline in healthy older people.
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