Types of Cancer and Symptoms

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Cancer may be regarded as a group of diseases characterized by an abnormal growth of cells with the ability to invade adjacent tissues and even distant organs, and the eventual death of the affected patient if the tumor has progressed beyond that stage when it can be successfully removed. Cancer can occur at any site or tissue of the body and may involve any type of cells.

Cancer Categories

The major categories of cancer are:

Carcinomas which arise from epithelial cells lining the internal surfaces of the various organs (e.g. mouth, esophagus, intestine, uterus) and from the skin epithelium;

Sarcomas, which arise from mesodermal cells constituting the various connective tissues (e.g. fibrous tissue, fat and bone), and

And Lymphomas, myeloma and leukaemias arising from the cells of bone marrow and immune systems.

The term "primary tumor" is used to denote cancer in the organ of origin, while "secondary tumor" denotes cancer that has spread to regional lymph nodes and distant organs. When cancer cells multiply and reach a critical size, the cancer is clinically evident as a lump or ulcer localized to the organ of origin in early stages. As the disease advances, symptoms and signs of invasion and distant metastases becomes evident.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The following are the danger signals of cancer:

· a lump or hard area in the breast
· a change in wart or mole
· a persistent change in digestive and bowel habits
· a persistent cough or hoarseness
· excessive loss of blood at the monthly period or loss of blood outside the usual dates
· blood loss from any natural orifice
· unexplained loss of weight