General Cancer Information

What exactly is cancer?

The conditions called "cancer" can all be understood from the following basic facts. While there are over 100 types of cancer, each kind arises from just a single cell, the simplest living unit that makes up body tissues. One of the basic criterion for something to be alive is that it can replicate. There are times when these cells are meant to divide, and become more numerous, such as during a child's growth or to repair an injury. In fact, some cells are constantly dividing as their life span is very short, and new ones are always needed, for example blood cells which are continuously being replaced. Other cells only divide to respond to a certain event, like bone cells being stimulated by a break in the bone. Certain cells are never meant to divide again after childhood, for example brain cells that die will never be replaced. Elaborate mechanisms exist in the cells for controlling if, how and when the cell shall replicate. Cancer occurs when cells become abnormal, lose control of their functions, and divide in a disorderly and uncontrolled manner. This is also called a "malignancy" and usually first shows as a discreet swelling, or "tumor". Any swelling can be called a tumor (it's just the Latin name for swelling) and benign tumors remain in their local areas. However, a malignant tumor has the capability to spread to other areas of the body.