types of cancer essay

Essay on Cancer for Students and Children

500+ words essay on cancer.

Cancer might just be one of the most feared and dreaded diseases. Globally, cancer is responsible for the death of nearly 9.5 million people in 2018. It is the second leading cause of death as per the world health organization. As per studies, in India, we see 1300 deaths due to cancer every day. These statistics are truly astonishing and scary. In the recent few decades, the number of cancer has been increasingly on the rise. So let us take a look at the meaning, causes, and types of cancer in this essay on cancer.

Cancer comes in many forms and types. Cancer is the collective name given to the disease where certain cells of the person’s body start dividing continuously, refusing to stop. These extra cells form when none are needed and they spread into the surrounding tissues and can even form malignant tumors. Cells may break away from such tumors and go and form tumors in other places of the patient’s body.

Types of Cancers

As we know, cancer can actually affect any part or organ of the human body. We all have come across various types of cancer – lung, blood, pancreas, stomach, skin, and so many others. Biologically, however, cancer can be divided into five types specifically – carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, leukemia.

Among these, carcinomas are the most diagnosed type. These cancers originate in organs or glands such as lungs, stomach, pancreas, breast, etc. Leukemia is the cancer of the blood, and this does not form any tumors. Sarcomas start in the muscles, bones, tissues or other connective tissues of the body. Lymphomas are the cancer of the white blood cells, i.e. the lymphocytes. And finally, melanoma is when cancer arises in the pigment of the skin.

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Causes of Cancer

In most cases, we can never attribute the cause of any cancer to one single factor. The main thing that causes cancer is a substance we know as carcinogens. But how these develop or enters a person’s body will depend on many factors. We can divide the main factors into the following types – biological factors, physical factors, and lifestyle-related factors.

Biological factors involve internal factors such as age, gender, genes, hereditary factors, blood type, skin type, etc. Physical factors refer to environmental exposure of any king to say X-rays, gamma rays, etc. Ad finally lifestyle-related factors refer to substances that introduced carcinogens into our body. These include tobacco, UV radiation, alcohol. smoke, etc. Next, in this essay on cancer lets learn about how we can treat cancer.

Treatment of Cancer

Early diagnosis and immediate medical care in cancer are of utmost importance. When diagnosed in the early stages, then the treatment becomes easier and has more chances of success. The three most common treatment plans are either surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

If there is a benign tumor, then surgery is performed to remove the mass from the body, hence removing cancer from the body. In radiation therapy, we use radiation (rays) to specially target and kill the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is similar, where we inject the patient with drugs that target and kill the cancer cells. All treatment plans, however, have various side-effects. And aftercare is one of the most important aspects of cancer treatment.

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Cancer Essay

500+ words cancer essay.

Cancer is a leading cause of death globally. The World Health Organisation estimates that 10 million people will die of cancer in 2020, and more people will die in the coming years if action is not taken. More than 70% of all cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, where resources available for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer are limited or nonexistent. This essay on cancer will help students know about this disease and the prevention method.

Students can also go through the list of CBSE Essays on different topics. It will help them to improve their writing skills and also increase their scores on the English exam. Moreover, they can participate in different essay writing competitions which are conducted at the school level.

What Is Cancer?

Cancer is a group of diseases characterised by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Cancer cells develop because of multiple changes in their genes. These changes can have many possible causes. If the spread of cells is not controlled, it can result in death. There are many known causes of cancer; they include tobacco use, smoking, alcohol, excess body weight, inherited genetic mutations, hormones, and immune conditions. These risk factors may act simultaneously or in sequence to initiate and/or promote cancer growth. There are many types of cancer. Cancer can develop anywhere in the body and is named after the part of the body where it started. For instance, breast cancer that starts in the breast is still called breast cancer, even if it spreads (metastasises) to other parts of the body.

Cancer Prevention

Cancer prevention is achieved through primary, secondary, and tertiary methods. Primary cancer prevention is achieved through two mechanisms: the promotion of health and wellness and the reduction of risks known to contribute to cancer development. Primary prevention aims to reverse or inhibit the carcinogenic process through modifications in a patient’s diet or environment. Secondary cancer prevention includes screening and early detection. Screening for cancer refers to checking for the presence of disease in populations at risk, and early detection is defined as testing for cancer when no symptoms are present.

Secondary prevention seeks to detect cancer at the earliest possible stage when the disease is most likely to be treated successfully. Tertiary cancer prevention is applied to those individuals who have already been diagnosed with malignancy but are now candidates for screening and early detection of secondary malignancies.

How to Fight Cancer?

The promotion of a healthy diet and physical activity is one of the best ways to fight against cancer. Avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes and such items which are hazardous to health. Cancer mortality can be reduced if cases are detected and treated early. So, early diagnosis, screening and treatment reduce the severity of cancer; and it can be cured.

Apart from spreading awareness among people and educating them to know the early signs of this disease. Also, the education will upgrade the information about exercise, dietary habits, sun exposure, smoking cessation, and recommended screening practices. We all can together fight against this disease and make our country cancer-free.

Cancer is a dangerous disease, but it can be cured. Required instruments should be provided to the hospitals so that the screening and initial detection of cancer can be done at the early stage. In national health insurance, the treatment of cancer should be included with an emphasis on providing financial support to the patient and his family. The expensive immune and targeted therapies should not only be for those upper-income people. These facilities should be made accessible to all people at affordable costs. Thus, it will increase access to health services and strengthen the health systems for low and middle-income people.

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Essays About Cancer

When it comes to writing an essay about cancer, choosing the right topic is crucial. The topic you choose will determine the depth and breadth of your research, as well as the impact your essay will have on your readers. In this article, we will discuss the importance of choosing the right topic, provide advice on how to choose a topic, and offer a detailed list of recommended essay topics, divided by category.

The topic of your essay is important because it will determine the focus of your research and the angle from which you will approach the subject. A well-chosen topic will allow you to delve deep into a specific aspect of cancer, while also engaging your audience with a fresh and insightful perspective. Additionally, the right topic will enable you to make a valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge about cancer, whether by shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of the disease or by presenting a novel interpretation of established facts.

When choosing a topic for your cancer essay, consider your interests, expertise, and the potential impact of the topic. Think about what aspect of cancer you are most passionate about, what you have the most knowledge about, and what you believe will be most valuable to your audience. Additionally, consider the current state of research in the field and look for gaps or controversies that you may be able to address in your essay. Finally, make sure to choose a topic that is sufficiently narrow to allow for in-depth analysis, but also broad enough to be of interest to a wide range of readers.

Recommended Cancer Essay Topics

Types of cancer.

• The Role of Genetics in Breast Cancer
• The Impact of Lifestyle Choices on Lung Cancer
• The Challenges of Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer
• Exploring the Link Between HPV and Cervical Cancer
• The Rising Incidence of Skin Cancer in Young Adults

Treatment and Prevention

• The Promise of Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment
• The Role of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention and Recovery
• The Impact of Exercise on Cancer Survival Rates
• Alternative Therapies for Cancer Patients
• The Ethical Dilemmas of Cancer Clinical Trials

Social and Psychological Impact

• The Stigma of Lung Cancer and Its Impact on Patients
• The Support Networks for Families of Children with Cancer
• Cancer Survivorship: Challenges and Triumphs
• The Psychological Effects of Hair Loss in Cancer Patients
• The Role of Palliative Care in Cancer Treatment

Public Policy and Advocacy

• The Economics of Cancer: The Cost of Treatment and Care
• The Role of Government in Funding Cancer Research
• Cancer Awareness Campaigns: Effectiveness and Ethical Considerations
• The Role of Advocacy Groups in Shaping Cancer Policy
• The Impact of Insurance Policies on Cancer Patients' Access to Care

Emerging Trends and Technologies

• The Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Diagnosis
• The Role of Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment
• The Promise of Nanotechnology in Targeted Cancer Therapies
• Exploring the Gut Microbiome's Influence on Cancer Development
• The Role of Liquid Biopsies in Early Cancer Detection

With these recommended essay topics, you can explore various aspects of cancer from different perspectives, ensuring that your essay is both informative and engaging. Remember to choose a topic that resonates with you and has the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the discourse on cancer. Good luck!

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Essay on Cancer

List of essays on cancer, essay on cancer – introduction, types and conclusion (essay 1 – 150 words), essay on cancer (essay 2 – 250 words), essay on cancer – for school students (essay 3 – 300 words), essay on cancer – for medical students (essay 4 – 400 words), essay on cancer – for science students (essay 5 – 500 words), essay on cancer (essay 6 – 600 words), essay on cancer – written in english (essay 7 – 750 words), essay on cancer – for ias, civil services, upsc, ips and other competitive exams (essay 8 – 1000 words).

Cancer is a disease which is related to the abnormal growth of cells in a particular part of the body. Since the last decade, cancer has become one of the most feared diseases of all times, particularly due to the difficult treatment one has to undergo and the limitations of the treatment in curing this disease during later stages of cancer.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for school and college students. Furthermore, those students preparing for IAS, IPS, UPSC, Civil Services and other competitive exams can also increase their knowledge by studying these essays.

Introduction:

Cancer is a group of more than 100 diseases that can develop in almost anywhere in the body. Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.

Types of Cancer:

There are various types of cancer. They include:

1] Breast cancer: This is type of cancer that forms in the cells of the breast.

2] Prostate cancer: This is type of cancer that occurs in a man’s prostate. This is a small walnut sized gland that has the duty of producing seminal fluid.

3] Lung cancer: This is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs and this occurs mostly in people who smoke.

4] Leukemia: A cancer of blood forming tissues, hindering the body’s ability to fight infection.

Conclusion:

We have seen various types of cancer but the types of cancer we have are hundreds but we had mentioned just a few. Each type of cancer comes with various symptoms and various ways of curbing it.

Cancer is a disease that has been around for centuries, but it has never had such an impact on public health as it has now. Cancer is the increase in the number of cells in human beings at an abnormal rate. Doctors have been discussing the reasons behind this increase for the past fifty years. One is tempted to think that there are no reasons behind this occurrence and that it is just a natural phenomenon, people die all the time. Right?

The thing is that the number of cancer cases has increased in the past decades and a lot of this increase is attributed to the influence of different types of radiation. Even though most of the really dangerous substances (or sources of radiation) are not allowed near people. What else can be causing such an increase in cancer cases?

Some doctors have made a discovery regarding cancer that can really help us get rid of this problem. Following down the line of the argumentation presented in the famous “China Study” more doctors are advising their patients to change their diet because it can help  in their fight against cancer. Not only that but a proper diet can also be the best prevention.

When you are a student your metabolism is young so you do not feel the bad effect of your habits as much as older people do but as we age the side effects of our bad choices will become obvious. We can teach ourselves to listen to our bodies and to prevent cancer but to do that we, first of all, have to defeat our habits.

Cancer is uncontrolled and unchecked development of abnormal cells in a part of the body. Cancerous cells develop just like another cell in the body. They, however, keep growing and can form a mass then subsequently becomes tumors. Since cells are present in every part of our body, cancer can also grow in all parts of our body.

Causes of Cancer:

One great scientific mystery in our world is the cause of cancer. Scientists from all over have tried and failed in isolating any particular action, substance or environmental factors that can lead to cancer.

However, scientists all over the world agree that cancer is caused by substances known as carcinogens. These substances are introduced to the body when we are exposed to or consume materials containing them. One of the confirmed sources of carcinogens is exposure to radiation from x-ray machines.

Cancer Treatment:

There are various ways to treat a person infected with cancer. These modes of treatment are chosen depending on the type of cancer, the stage of development and the health peculiarities of the cancer patient. In other cases, several modes of treatment are combined to treat a single patient.

Some of the modes of treating cancer are in fly highlighted below:

1. Surgery to remove Cancerous tumors from the body.

2. Radiation therapy to reduce the growth of cells.

3. Chemotherapy for destroying cancer cells.

4. Stem cell transplant.

Prevention of Cancer:

Just as there are no agreed actions, materials and exposure that causes cancer, there are no generally accepted means of preventing cancer. However, there are certain habits that can limit a person’s exposure.

Some of them are highlighted below:

1. Healthy environment and diet.

2. Reduction of exposure from the sun.

3. Keep your weight low.

4. Avoid the use of tobacco.

Early detection of cancer has been hailed as the most potent way of treating this menace. Though scientists are still in the business of searching for a cure, we as humans can prevent cancer by regular medical check-ups.

Cancer is one of the second largest fatal illnesses across the world. One of the horrific words a human being can listen to is being diagnosed with Cancer. The word Cancer brings alarm and anxiety to the listener. Cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in one part of the body which can even spread to other parts if not treated at an early stage. Neoplasms or tumour are the subset of these abnormally grown-up cells which often results in a mass or lump.

What causes Cancer?

Those agents which cause cancer are termed as Carcinogens . These can be classified into physical, chemical and biological. Physical Carcinogens include ultra violet and other ionizing radiations. Food adulterants such as aflatoxin, tobacco smoke, drinking water contaminant such as Arsenic, asbestos etc., are termed as Chemical Carcinogens. Viruses, Bacteria and other parasites which cause infections and eventually lead to Cancer are categorized under Biological Carcinogens. Ageing also causes cancer as the risk of the cellular repair mechanism weakens as we age.

Significant Symptoms of Cancer:

Some of the major symptoms of cancer include unexplained weight loss, extreme fatigue, persistent sores that do not heal, changes in the bladder and bowel movements, odd bleeding and discharges, change in voice due to cancer indication in larynx and lumps and bumps on the skin.

Preventive Measures:

Some of the risk factors which needs to be addressed to prevent cancer may include avoidance of tobacco, being overweight or obese, unhealthy eating with less vegetables and greens, physical in-activity, avoiding pollution etc. Apart from the mentioned, vaccination against HPV and Hepatitis B Virus, controlling hazards while at work, reducing exposure to ultra violet and ionizing radiation etc., can help prevent being infected by Cancer.

Assessing the type of cancer and the stage is very important because every cancer type has a different pattern of treatment from surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy . The treatment that is used to relieve the cancer patient from their pain and enhance the quality of life for the patients and their families is termed as Palliative care.

World Health Organization has partnered with UNO and other non-profit organizations to ensure every country is being made aware of the non-communicable diseases and the prevention of cancer and its control. Insights to develop Centers of Excellence to provide quality treatments and to conduct research on the carcinogenesis should be provided to governments and to help the people.

The abnormal cell growth in our body which spreads to other parts as well is what is termed as cancer. Around four lakh of people in India are known to be affected by this disease every year. More so, around half of them are not able to survive as they are usually detected in the last stages of cancer. Hence it is all the more important to educate the people about this disease and its symptoms so that it can be detected early and the lives of the people suffering from it can be saved.

Cancer can affect any body part. The part that is affected gives it the name, for instance, lung cancer which affects the lungs, skin cancer in which the skin is affected and so on. However, we can broadly divide cancer into four types. The first one is Sarcoma which is known to affect the blood vessels, bones, muscles cartilages and connective tissues. The second type of cancer is Carcinoma which affects the internal organs of the body or the skin. The third type is the Lymphoma. This cancer affects the lymph glands and the lymph nodes. The last type in which cancer can be categorised is Leukaemia which largely affects the parts forming blood such as the bone marrow.

Symptoms of Cancer:

Although no particular cause is known to trigger this disease, some activities have been associated as the cause of different types of cancer. The first and foremost is smoking. Excess smoking affects the entire respiratory system thereby leading to the onset of lung cancer. More so chewing tobacco is also attributed to giving rise to mouth and throat cancer. Similarly, alcohol is attributed to be the cause of stomach, liver and gallbladder cancer. Summarising it, all the ill habits of society and urbanisation have been attributed to this disease. Even radiations coming from X-ray machines can prove harmful and lead to cancer. That is why there are proper laws an protection in place when exposing people to these harmful radiations.

Treatments Available:

If detected in early stages, cancer can surely be curable. Surgery is one of the primary steps of curing this disease. If required, doctors remove the body part affected such as the uterus, gallbladder or the breast. Thereafter, through radiotherapy, the cancerous cells on the other affected parts of the body are killed so that they don’t spread to other parts. Chemotherapy is done using the strong chemical in order to kill the cancerous cells. Other methods such as tumour suppressing genes are used in different types of cancer as may be the need advised by the doctors. Whatever the method, it is extremely difficult to go through the pain and social stigma such as loss hair which comes alongside the treatment of cancer.

Living with this Disease:

It is indeed very difficult to live with this disease as not only this disease is not fully curable but the treatment is so tough that it scares even the toughest of individuals. We, as a society, must support the people suffering from cancer and help in their difficult times. We must not discriminate them and must understand that is already suffering a lot and must not do anything which further aggravates their sufferings.

Cancer is a severe disease in which there is abnormal growth of cell that spreads around the human body. Many people in the world are struggling with this disease. Consistently around 10 million cases are analyzed. These number of cases are expected to increase around 20 million by 2020. It turns into the most widely recognized reasons for death. Due to abnormal cell growth, it develops & affects the overall body weight. Prolonged cough and abnormal bleeding are some symptoms of this severe disease. The developed abnormal cells first make their impact on organs then slowly moved as poison. Cancer disease can be identified in the beginning periods. The medical professionals are still trying to catch this disease.

One of the main causes of cancer is smoking. Other causes include tobacco, consumption of alcohol, obesity, lack of physical activities, exposure to UV radiations, etc. Age factor and changes in genes are yet other factors that cause cancer.

Cancer has different types which can be divided into various forms:

i. Skin Cancer:

It is the most common type of cancer which can be seen in many people. Every year more than 1 million people are affected by skin cancer. Skin cancer happens due to the overexposure from the sun. The thicker ozone layers directly harms our skin, which increases the chances of skin cancer.

ii. Lung Cancer:

This type of cancer is related to the cells inside the lungs. The symptoms of this type of cancer are chest pain & sudden weight loss. It is also known as lung carcinoma. As a process of metastasis, the growth of abnormal cell growth spread inside the lungs. Smoking is a fundamental driver of Lung cases.

iii. Kidney Cancer:

Another name of kidney cancer is renal cancer. Renal Cell Carcinoma and Transitional Cell Carcinoma are the types of kidney cancer. This development of cancer happens after the age of 40 years. Smoking can twofold the danger of kidney malignant growth.

iv. Leukemia:

This cancer starts developing in the bone marrow, which leads to a high number of abnormal white cells. Acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphocytic leukemia are the sorts of leukemia. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy can be used as the treatment for Leukemia.

Cancer Staging:

It is important to understand the staging factor of this severe disease. Diagnosis of cancer in early stages helps to tackle this disease by proper treatments. During the initial stages of cancer, proper surgeries or radiotherapy can help to overcome cancer. When the broken cancer cells move to other parts of the human body, then advance treatment is suggested by the professionals. But when a patient is in the final stages of cancer, he needs a treatment which covers his whole body. Chemotherapy is a therapy which is used to circulate the bloodstream. Professional doctors use various test techniques to identify the stages of cancer. Stages are used to describe the severity of cancer.

In the initial stage, cancer can be prevented through medication, proper surgeries and light treatment. In the advance stages of cancer, chemotherapy and radiation therapy is useful. Above all, the best way to keep cancer away is to stay away from smoking and tobacco, eat healthy food and a lot of green vegetables, and do some physical exercise daily.

It is very difficult for a cancer patient to fight with the final stages of cancer. To deal with this severe problem cancer symptoms should never be ignored. More than 70% of cases are seen only due to smoking. At every stage, it is essential that everyone must adopt a healthy diet plan & exercise daily to prevent this disease. A person who has a good and healthy lifestyle can fight with cancer more strongly.

Current trends in global health mention cancer. Cancer is currently one of the leading causes of death globally. It is an illness in which abnormal cell growth develops and affects parts of the human body as it advances, it has the potential to spread from one part of the body to the other. It is a chronic illness that imposes a great economic burden on a nation because its management is costly. Cancer occurs in different parts of the body and are classified according to where it has affected. In India, men are mostly acted by lung, oral, lip and neck cancers whereas women are affected by cervical, breast and ovarian cancer. The detection procedure varies with the type of cancer while the treatment varies with the stage of the cancer progression. Mostly early stages of cancer have better prognosis compared to late stages of cancer.

There are modifiable and non-modifiable factors that predispose an individual to cancer. Non modifiable factors include age and genetics. With an increase in age, the rate of cancer incidence increases. The genetic predisposition to cancer increases the incidences of suffering the disease. Modifiable factors include lifestyle habits like drinking and smoking tobacco which increase the incidences of lung, oral, esophageal among other cancers. Diet is also a predisposing factor especially one that is less in vitamin supplements.

Physical inactivity and obesity predispose to cancers of the colon, breast and others. Sexual activity in women with multiple sexual partners predisposes them to cervical cancer due to the transmission of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). The environment also predisposes to cancer because of the chemicals, radicals and radiations that interact with human beings.

Detection of Cancer:

The detection varies with the type of cancer and so screening is done for each type differently. It is advisable that people get regular checkups of the whole body so that early detection facilitates effective and curative treatment. Screening of cancer is done using detailed examination of the physique, laboratory and histology tests, radiological and magnetic imaging techniques among other methods.

The campaigns against cancer advocate for early detection by teaching the public on the early signs of cancer. In breast cancer awareness for example, the public is made aware of physical examination of the breast and if they detect any abnormal growth or lump, they are to seek further investigation. Early detection is important because it results in successful treatment. In the detection, the cancer staging is done, which is usually four stages, stage one, two, three and four. Stage one has the best prognosis whereas stage four has the poorest prognosis.

Treatment of Cancer:

Once cancer is detected, a range of treatment options is provided. Treatment depends on the types of cancer and the staging. It can be treated by surgery whereby excision of the abnormal growth is done. Surgery is done for non-hematological cancers and those that have not metastasized to other parts of the body. An example of surgery is mastectomy to treat breast cancer.

Chemotherapy is another treatment option that involves the administration of anticancer medication that eliminate the abnormal cells in the body. Another treatment option is radiation therapy that uses ionizing radiations to destroy cancer cells. Radiation is also used to make tumors small. It is used to treat solid tumors and it depends on the sensitivity of the tumor to the radiations. It is targeted at the nucleic acid destruction in the tumor cells.

Consequences of Cancer:

Cancer is a chronic illness that could result in very serious consequences even with treatment. Cachexia is the extreme wasting of the body that causes death in cancer patients. Economic burden to both the individual and the nation is experienced in cancer treatment because the treatment modalities are costly. The economic burden results in decline of the nation’s economy and increased healthcare costs to the population.

Mental illnesses result from cancer because it is a terminal illness and most patients become mentally unstable upon diagnosis. The quality of health is affected in a country when there is high incidences of cancer and the performance is greatly affected, which cause poverty and economic crisis for individuals.

Cancer is a serious illness that impacts the lives of people and the nation negatively. It is evident that cancer has diverse treatment options but the problem is that people do not go for checkups. Checkups are important in early detection, which usually results in successful treatment and less burden of cancer in a nation and in individuals.

Cancer is basically an agglomeration of various diseases that involves the abnormal growth of cells with the ability to spread or invade other body parts. Cancers are quite different from benign tumours in that the latter does not spread or invade other body parts. Some of the many symptoms and signs of cancer include abnormal bleeding, a lump, weight loss that is unusual, prolonged cough and bowel movement change. Even though these listed symptoms and signs of cancer, they might be caused by other things so it is necessary to be diagnosed. Today, we have more than 100 various kinds of cancer that affect us humans.

History of Cancer:

It is believed that cancer has been in existence for a majority if not all of the history of man. Breast cancer was the first form of cancer that was recorded and this happened around 1600 BC in Egypt. Between 460 BC and 370 BC, Hippocrates spent time analysing various types of cancer and referred to them as crayfish or crab. The name was as a result of the crab-like look of the malignant tumour and the lateral extension of the distended veins and tumours.

Factors Causing Cancer:

It has been discovered that the major cause of deaths as a result of cancer is the use of tobacco and it accounts for about 22 percent of the total number of deaths due to cancer. Poor diet, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and a lack of exercise and physical activities accounts for another 10 percent of deaths caused by cancer. Some other causes and factors that contribute to cancer include environmental pollutants, ionizing radiation exposure and certain infections.

In most developing countries, infections like hepatitis B, Helicobacter pylori, papillomavirus infection of humans, Hepatitis C, HIV and Epstein Barr contribute to fifteen percent of all cancers. All of the factors listed above change the cell genes. There are always a lot of genetic changes before the development of cancer. About 10% of all cancers are as a result of genetic defects that are inherited from a parent. Asides the symptoms and signs that are used to detect cancer, screening tests are also a good way of detecting cancer. Cancer is normally thoroughly investigated using medical imaging; it is then confirmed through biopsy.

Development of Cancer:

A tumour or neoplasm is a collection of cells which have gone through growth that is not regulated and most times form a lump or mass. Every tumour cell exhibits the six important characters that are necessary for the production of the malignant tumour.

The six characteristics are:

1. Cell division and growth without all the signals that are proper.

2. Continuous division and growth even though the signals given are contrary.

3. Cell death that is usually programmed is avoided.

4. The divisions of the cell are quite limitless in number.

5. The construction of blood vessel is promoted.

6. The tissues are invaded and metastases are formed.

Cancer Prevention:

The prevention of a lot of cancers can be ensured by trying to maintain a weight that is healthy, not smoking, consuming a lot of whole grains, fruits and vegetable, avoiding the consumption of a lot of alcohol, reduction in the amount of red and processed meat that is consumed, getting vaccinated against some infectious diseases and the avoidance of too much exposure to sunlight. It is sometimes useful that there is early detection in cases of colorectal and cervical cancer and this can be achieved through screening. The usefulness of breast cancer screening is highly controversial.

The treatment of cancer is usually done by combining surgery, radiation therapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy. A very important element of care is the management of symptoms and pain. In cases of advanced disease, palliative care is of utmost importance. The extent of the disease at the commencement of treatment and also the form of cancer that is involved go a long way to determine the odds of survival. Using the adopted survival rate at five years, children that were under the age of 15 when they were diagnosed have an average rate of survival of 80% in most developed countries. In the US, the average rate of survival for the five year period is 66%.

90.5 million  people were living with different cancers in 2015. It has been reported that every year, close to 15 million reports of new cancer cases are filed. These do not include the cases of skin cancer. Cancer results in more than eight million deaths every year which is about 15.7% of the total number of deaths every year.

In males, prostate cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer and colorectal cancer are the most widespread cancer types. In females, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and lung cancer are the most widespread cancer types. Apart from melanoma, if we include skin cancer in the amount of new cases of cancer every year, it is going to be 40% of the total number of cases.

Brain tumours and lymphoblastic leukemia that is acute are the most widespread cancer types in children but in Africa, lymphoma that is no-Hodgkin is the most widespread. The total number of children that are under the age of 15 that ended up being diagnosed with one type of cancer or the other in 2012 is around 165,000.

With an increase in age, it has been seen that the risk of getting cancer also increases significantly and the number and occurrence of cases of cancer in developed countries in more than the number and occurrence of cancer cases in other countries. The change in lifestyle and increase in the number of people living to a very old age in countries that are developing contributes to the increase in the rate of the occurrence of cancer. Cancer is believed to have a financial cost of up to 1.16 trillion dollars every year.

Cancer can be extremely dangerous when it is not discovered early and when adequate and proper care and attention is not given to the treatment. Therefore it is very important to go for regularly screening to find out if there is need for caution or treatment.

Cancer , Diseases , Health

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Writing Tips for Winning Essays

Key elements.

• Focus –  An essay should have a clear, central idea. Know what you’re going to write about and don’t wander. Before writing, consider creating an outline to organize your ideas.
• Stay on point –  A good essay should be organized and flow, especially from one paragraph to the next. Flow is essential for readers to understand what you’re writing about. A good tip is to read your essay out loud. This will help you notice any problems or sections that need to be rewritten. 
• Good grammar – Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and word choice. Mistakes can cause you to lose credibility and make your readers stop reading. 
• Voice –  You have a writing voice; use it! It’s called creativity. The best writing voice carries your personality and is unique to you. Don’t try to copy what you think is good form. Be aware of it, but make sure what you write is yours and no one else’s.

Before Writing

• Understand your assignment.  What is the goal of this essay? What do I want to convey? What is the length and deadline?
• Determine your central point or argument. A clear point of view is essential for a focused essay.
• Create an outline.  Outline what you want to say and map out a structure for your essay. This keeps you on track, focused, and makes it easier to start writing. Once you have a clear idea of what you want to say, what evidence you’ll use, and in what order, you’re ready to start writing!

While Writing

• Hook your reader. The introduction sets the tone for your essay. The first sentence should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity and inform them of what to expect. It could be a surprising fact, a bold statement, or a short anecdote related to your message.
• Provide context. This includes a few additional details that will help your reader undertsand your argument.
• Give details. This is in the body of your essay where you will tell your story, provide facts, and the evidence that you really want to convey.
• Wrap it up.  Your essay’s ending ties together your main points. A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence or even a paragraph that leaves the reader with a strong final impression. Avoid including new information, undermining your main point, or using phrases like “in conclusion”.

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Visuwords: visual dictionary, thesaurus, lexicon, creative nonfiction: an overview, how to write a narrative essay.

“A narrative essay tells a story. In most cases, this is a story about a personal experience you had. This type of essay, along with the descriptive essay, allows you to get personal and creative, unlike most academic writing.

Narrative essays test your ability to express your experiences in a creative and compelling way, and to follow an appropriate narrative structure.”

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Cancer Types

Select a type of cancer to learn about treatment, causes and prevention, screening, and the latest research.

Common Cancer Types

Bladder Cancer Breast Cancer Colon and Rectal Cancer Endometrial Cancer Kidney Cancer Leukemia Liver Cancer Lung Cancer Melanoma Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Pancreatic Cancer Prostate Cancer Thyroid Cancer

Cancers by Body Location

• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
• Adolescents, Cancer in
• Adrenocortical Carcinoma
• Kaposi Sarcoma (Soft Tissue Sarcoma)
• AIDS-Related Lymphoma (Lymphoma)
• Primary CNS Lymphoma (Lymphoma)
• Anal Cancer
• Appendix Cancer - see Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors
• Astrocytomas, Childhood (Brain Cancer)
• Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor, Childhood, Central Nervous System (Brain Cancer)
• Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin - see Skin Cancer
• Bile Duct Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Bone Cancer (includes Ewing Sarcoma and Osteosarcoma and Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma)
• Brain Tumors
• Breast Cancer
• Bronchial Tumors (Lung Cancer)
• Burkitt Lymphoma - see Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Carcinoma of Unknown Primary
• Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor, Childhood (Brain Cancer)
• Medulloblastoma and Other CNS Embryonal Tumors, Childhood (Brain Cancer)
• Germ Cell Tumor, Childhood (Brain Cancer)
• Primary CNS Lymphoma
• Cervical Cancer
• Childhood Cancers
• Childhood Cardiac Tumors Treatment
• Cancers of Childhood, Rare
• Cholangiocarcinoma - see Bile Duct Cancer
• Chordoma, Childhood (Bone Cancer)
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
• Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
• Colorectal Cancer
• Craniopharyngioma, Childhood (Brain Cancer)
• Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma - see Lymphoma (Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome)
• Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) - see Breast Cancer
• Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) (Brain Cancer)
• Embryonal Tumors, Medulloblastoma and Other Central Nervous System, Childhood (Brain Cancer)
• Endometrial Cancer (Uterine Cancer)
• Ependymoma, Childhood (Brain Cancer)
• Esophageal Cancer
• Esthesioneuroblastoma (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Ewing Sarcoma (Bone Cancer)
• Extracranial Germ Cell Tumor, Childhood
• Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor
• Intraocular Melanoma
• Retinoblastoma
• Fallopian Tube Cancer
• Gallbladder Cancer
• Gastric (Stomach) Cancer
• Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors
• Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) (Soft Tissue Sarcoma)
• Childhood Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors (Brain Cancer)
• Childhood Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors
• Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors
• Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors
• Testicular Cancer
• Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
• Hairy Cell Leukemia
• Head and Neck Cancer
• Heart Tumors, Childhood
• Hepatocellular (Liver) Cancer
• Histiocytosis, Langerhans Cell
• Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Hypopharyngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Islet Cell Tumors, Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
• Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer
• Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis
• Laryngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Liver Cancer
• Lung Cancer (Non-Small Cell, Small Cell, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Pulmonary Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor, and Tracheobronchial Tumor)
• Male Breast Cancer
• Melanoma, Intraocular (Eye)
• Merkel Cell Carcinoma (Skin Cancer)
• Mesothelioma, Malignant
• Metastatic Cancer
• Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Midline Tract Carcinoma With NUT Gene Changes
• Mouth Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes
• Multiple Myeloma/Plasma Cell Neoplasms
• Mycosis Fungoides (Lymphoma)
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes , Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
• Myelogenous Leukemia, Chronic (CML)
• Myeloid Leukemia, Acute (AML)
• Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, Chronic
• Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Nasopharyngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Neuroblastoma
• Neuroendocrine Tumors (Gastrointestinal)
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Oral Cancer, Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer and Oropharyngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Osteosarcoma and Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma of Bone Treatment
• Ovarian Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (Islet Cell Tumors)
• Papillomatosis (Childhood Laryngeal)
• Paraganglioma
• Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Parathyroid Cancer
• Penile Cancer
• Pharyngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Pheochromocytoma
• Pituitary Tumor
• Plasma Cell Neoplasm/Multiple Myeloma
• Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (Lung Cancer)
• Pregnancy and Breast Cancer
• Primary Central Nervous System (CNS) Lymphoma
• Primary Peritoneal Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Pulmonary Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor (Lung Cancer)
• Rare Cancers of Childhood
• Rectal Cancer
• Recurrent Cancer
• Renal Cell (Kidney) Cancer
• Rhabdomyosarcoma, Childhood (Soft Tissue Sarcoma)
• Salivary Gland Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma (Soft Tissue Sarcoma)
• Childhood Vascular Tumors (Soft Tissue Sarcoma)
• Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer)
• Soft Tissue Sarcoma
• Uterine Sarcoma
• Sézary Syndrome (Lymphoma)
• Skin Cancer
• Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Small Intestine Cancer
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin - see Skin Cancer
• Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary, Metastatic (Head and Neck Cancer)
• Stomach (Gastric) Cancer
• T-Cell Lymphoma, Cutaneous - see Lymphoma (Mycosis Fungoides and Sèzary Syndrome)
• Nasopharyngeal Cancer
• Oropharyngeal Cancer
• Hypopharyngeal Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer
• Tracheobronchial Tumors (Lung Cancer)
• Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter (Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer)
• Unknown Primary, Carcinoma of
• Ureter and Renal Pelvis, Transitional Cell Cancer (Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer
• Urethral Cancer
• Uterine Cancer, Endometrial
• Vaginal Cancer
• Vascular Tumors (Soft Tissue Sarcoma)
• Vulvar Cancer
• Wilms Tumor and Other Childhood Kidney Tumors
• Young Adults, Cancer in

Essay on Cancer: Types, Causes and Treatment

Cancer is one of the most important non-infectious or non-communicable diseases.

“Cancer is referred to as an ailment characterised by an unrestrained growth of abnormal cells which if untreated and unchecked eventually kills the patient.”

In India nearly four lakhs of people are affected by cancer every year. Out of them two lakhs of people die. It is mainly due to late detection. Many people are not aware of the early symptoms of this disease.

What is Cancer?

The growth of multicellular animals occurs due to addition of new cells. The old or existing cells divide by mitosis to form new cells. This division is controlled and regulated by some factors. Sometimes, due to unknown reasons, some cells divide in abnormally faster rate to form a lump.

This lump increases rapidly causing ulcers. It causes serious complications in the body. These abnormal cells first destroy the organ and then the whole body. These cells utilize the total food of the body. So the affected person becomes weak, looses his weight and ultimately dies. The tumors, enclosed in connective tissue are called benign tumor and when the tumors grow, it is called as malignant.

Types of Cancer:

Cancer can be divided into different types:

1. Sarcoma:

The cancer which occurs in muscles, cartilages, bones, blood vessels, connective tissues are known as sarcoma.

2. Carcinoma:

This type of cancer originates from skin or cells which lines the internal organs.

3. Lymphoma:

It is the cancer of lymph glands and lymph nodes.

4. Leukemia:

It occurs in blood forming organs, specially the bone marrow. It is found that no organ of body and no species is free from cancer.

Causes of Cancer :

The real cause of cancer is not yet known.

The following aspects can be attributed to the cause of cancer:

1. Excessive smoking has been found to be associated with lung cancer, cancer in urinary bladder, mouth, throat, larynx etc.

2. Chewing of tobacco, betel nuts etc. are believed to be the cause of cancer in mouth, throat, oesophagus etc.

3. A large number of dyes, chemicals, heavy metals can cause cancer.

4. Ionic radiations like X-ray, gamma ray etc. can cause cancer.

5. Alcohol is thought to be the cause of cancer in stomach, liver, gall bladder etc.

6. Pollutants like chemicals, smoke, dust may be responsible for cancer. Though the exact cause of cancer is not known, the above described substances are mutagens which can cause mutation in genes. The mutant genes have no control over normal functioning of the cell. So it may lead to cancer.

Sites of Cancer :

Though cancer can develop at any part or organ of the body, it mostly develops in some organs like liver, alimentary canal, larynx, pharynx, tongue, lips, gall bladder, lungs, uterus, urinary bladder, lymph nodes, bones etc.

Primary Symptoms of Cancer :

1. Presence of any persistent lump or thickening of tissues in lip, tongue or breast.

2. Any wound that does not heal.

3. Unusual bleeding or discharge of blood.

4. Persistent indigestion, difficulty in swallowing.

5. A regular change in bowel movements.

6. Rapid change in rate of growth, colour and form of mole or wart.

7. Change in the voice.

8. Unusual loss of weight of the body.

How Cancer Spread?

Cancer spreads inside the body rapidly and infects other organs, called metastasis:

(i) Cancer cells grow through the walls of blood vessels.

(ii) Cancer cells are carried by the blood stream to other parts of the body.

(iii) Cancer cells pass through lymphatic vessels and lymph glands.

(iv) Cancer cells spread from tissues to tissues.

Behaviour of Cancerous Cells :

Normal cells of the body have a control over the division. The controlling factor is present in the DNA. The DNA directs the cells to divide and stops the division when not required. In cancerous cells the controlling factor is not present, probably due to mutant genes. Due to absence of controlling factor, the mitosis continues uncontrolled and forms cancer. It is believed that these cells carry certain cancer causing genes, called oncogens. These oncogenes remain inactive. Certain conditions initiate these genes to multiply and destroy the normal controlling factor of the cells.

Suspected Involvement of Virus in Cancer :

The role of virus is strongly suspected now. Some retrovirus, which causes tumor may be involved in this process. It is known that these viruses have RNA as genetic material. These RNA have the capacity to integrate with the host DNA. By the process of “reverse transcriptase”, these RNA make copy of the DNA.

This DNA acts as viral oncogene. The viral oncogenes may interact with the oncogenes of the cell, called proto-oncogenes and take control of the cell function. The DNA, which have been transcribed from viral RNA, transcribe back the viral RNA through normal transcription processes forming large number of new retroviruses.

Treatment of Cancer:

Cancer is curable, if it is detected at the early stages. The patient enjoys full life without recurrence of the disease.

Cancer is treated in three ways:

(i) Surgery:

Some of the infected organs are removed from the body by surgery: Example-Uterus, breast etc.

(ii) Radiotherapy:

The affected organs are irradiated to kill the cancerous cells and prevent them from spreading.

(iii) Chemotherapy:

Strong chemicals are used to kill the cancerous cells and isolate these cells from other organs. Sometimes all these three methods are applied to cure cancer. This dreaded disease can be cured fully, if it is detected at the preliminary stage. So social consciousness should be developed for early detection.

Oncogenes :

Oncogenes (Gk. Onkos meaning cancer) were initially identified as genes carried by viruses that cause transformation of their target cells. A major class of Oncogenes, the oncogenes present in acute transforming retroviruses, has homologues in animal genomes; these cellular counterparts are called Proto- oncogenes.

Proto-Oncogenes :

Proto-oncogenes participate in normal cell function, and in certain cases, a mutation or aberrant activation of a Proto- oncogenes causes tumour formation. So far trans membrane proteins to transcription factors.

Viral Oncogenes :

Transformation represents a gain-of-function in which a Proto- oncogene is activated either because of its acquisition by a retrovirus (this generates a viral oncogene or v-onc) or its activation by mutation or by association with new regulatory sequences due to recombination, leading to its expression where it is usually not expressed or an over expression in the tissue of its usual expression (this generate cellular oncogenes or (c-onc). Oncogenic development results from either increased expression of the oncogene or an alteration in the activity of the oncoprotein. Oncogene in such cases therefore is dominant over its Proto- oncogene counterpart.

Tumour Supressor Genes :

There are a group of genes whose inactivation (loss-of -function) by mutation, including deletion leads to tumour formation; these are known as Tumour Suppressor Genes. These genes usually impose some restriction on the cell cycle or cell growth.

Therefore a loss-of- function for such genes is tumorigenic. In such cases, tumour development is recessive to normal development, and both the alleles must be inactivated by mutation or deletion to allow oncogenesis.

Related Articles:

• Essay on the Causes of Cancer (962 Words) | Cancer
• Cancer: Causes, Types and Treatment of Various Types of Cancer | Essay
• Short Notes on Oncogenes | Gene
• Viruses and Cancer

Cancer cases could increase 77% as global population balloons. These types are most common.

The release of 2022 cancer data gives the latest look into which types of cancer are most prevalent around the world as population growth expects to drive global cases as much as 77% by 2050.

There were nearly 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths from cancer in 2022, said the study published Thursday in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians , part of the American Cancer Society Journals. Findings were also disclosed by the World Health Organization in February.

Those numbers indicate that an estimated one in five people will be diagnosed with cancer in their life, and that will lead to death in one in nine men and one in 12 women, according to the report. Keeping the rates the same and projecting into the future with population growth and aging, the study says new cancer cases will increase 77% to 35 million by the year 2050.

"The overall scale of cancer and the diversity of cancer profiles by world region and human development level reemphasize the need for a global escalation of targeted cancer control measures ," the study concludes. "Investments in prevention, including the targeting of key risk factors for cancer...can avert millions of future cancer diagnoses and save many lives worldwide."

Americans have 40% chance of cancer: Who's most at risk and how can you prevent it?

Publication reveals most common types of cancer

The publication utilized the GLOBOCAN  database to study 36 types of cancer in 185 countries in 2022. The following are the overall most common types of cancer for both sexes combined, though within the sexes there are notable differences. For example, breast cancer amongst females is more common than lung cancer, a flip from the general population ranking.

• Lung cancer - 12.4%
• Female breast cancer - 11.6%
• Colorectum - 9.6%
• Prostate - 7.3%
• Stomach - 4.9%

The 10 leading cancer types account for approximately two thirds of the total cases globally. Liver, thyroid, cervix uteri, bladder and non-Hodgkin lymphoma make up the rest of the top 10 leading cancer types amongst both sexes.

Likelihood of cancer changes based on where you live

The prevalence of cancer, mortality rates and leading cancer types change country by country. Here is the breakdown by geographic region, according to the study:

• Asia - 49.2% of new cases, 56.1% of deaths
• Africa - 5.9% of new cases, 7.8% of deaths
• Oceania - 1.4% of cases, 0.8% of deaths
• Europe - 22.4% of cases, 20.4% of deaths
• Americas - 21.1% of cases, 14.9% of deaths

A country's economic and societal development also changes the likelihood someone will be diagnosed with cancer. The higher a country's Human Development Index (HDI) level, which is measured by human health, longevity and standards of living, the more likely its residents are to develop cancer, the report states.

Cancer to increase 77% by 2050 globally

The report says that the world's growing population will be the biggest driver in cancer cases, and countries with high HDIs will see a large increase in actual numbers. But low HDI countries stand to see a remarkable relative increase of new cases, 142%, by 2050.

Lung cancer, already the leading cause of cancer mortality globally, could further increase in occurrence rate among less developed countries. The report attributes this to the "stage of the tobacco epidemic" in any given country and its link to lung cancer rates. For example, the lung cancer rates in the U.K. and the U.S. declined after prevalence of smoking waned in those countries, but not until 20-25 years later. But in countries undergoing economic transition and seeing a greater uptake of smoking, the lung cancer rates are likely to continue to climb for the next few decades without mitigation.

The study concludes that targeting risk factors, including smoking, obesity and infections is needed to not only save lives, but provide economic and societal benefits.

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• National Cancer Awareness Day: Empowering Hope and Health

Coveted as one of the most notorious diseases in the world, cancer has known to be one of the leading causes of death across the world. Cancer in any form is life-threatening and people often shy away from discussing it. However, cancer awareness can be of great benefit to the common people.

Long Essay on Cancer

In this long essay on cancer, we are providing you with cancer meaning, speech on cancer awareness. Go through this cancer essay to get a complete overview of this deadly disease.

In a recent study conducted in 2018, it was found that around 9.5 million people died that year owing to cancer. The World Health Organisation has revealed that cancer is the second leading cause of death across the world. The statistics in India are also no better and as per recent figures about 1300 people die every day owing to cancer of different types. Cancer types and causes have seen a steady increase in the past decade which does not bode well for the world population.

Meaning of Cancer

Before we proceed in this essay on cancer, we must understand cancer's meaning or what exactly is cancer? Cancer is the term given collectively to any and all forms of unregulated cell growth. Normally, the cells inside our body follow a definitive cycle from generation to death. However, in a person suffering from cancer, this cycle is unchecked and hence the cell cycle passes through the checkpoints unhinged and the cells continue to grow.

Types of Cancer

Now, that we have a preliminary understanding of the meaning of cancer, let us proceed to the cancer types or specifications. Cancer types are usually named after the area they affect in the body - usually like skin, lung, pancreas, blood, stomach among the others. However, if classified biologically, there are primarily five types of cancer. These include - leukemia, melanoma, carcinoma, sarcoma, and lymphoma.

Leukemia is the type of cancer that originates in the blood marrow and is a cancer of the blood. In this cancer type, no tumors are formed. Melanoma is regarded as one of the most dangerous types of cancer as in this, the skin coloring pigment or melanin becomes cancerous in nature. Carcinomas are cancers of the various types of glands or organs such as the breasts, stomach, lungs, pancreas, etc. Cancers of the connective tissues such as the bones, muscles, etc are classified as sarcomas. Lymphomas, on the other hand, are cancers of the white blood cells. Among the most diagnosed types of cancers are carcinomas.

Cancer Causes

In the present day living environment, a number of factors are liable to cause cancer. However, in many cases, one single factor cannot be attributed or held responsible for causing cancer in an individual. The substances that are known to be cancer-causing or increasing the risks of cancer are known as carcinogens. Carcinogens can range from anything from pollutants to tobacco to something as simple as processed meats.

The effect of carcinogens, however, on different individuals is different and it is also dependent on a number of factors, be it physical, lifestyle-choice, or biological. The physical factors enabling the effect of carcinogens include exposure to different environmental conditions such as UV rays, X-rays, etc. Cancer among mining workers because of their constant exposure to asbestos and fine silicone dust is common. Biological factors generally include hereditary factors, such as the passing of a mutated BRCA1 or 2 mutations from mother to daughter in case of breast cancer. In addition, they also include factors such as age, gender, blood type, etc. Lifestyle choice refers to habits such as smoking, drinking, radiation exposure, etc, which can act as triggers for carcinogens.

Cancer Treatment

In this segment of our essay on cancer, we will discuss the various types of cancer treatments involved and their applicability. The most commonly applied cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Often, these treatments are given in a combination of one with the other. Surgery is usually performed in the case of benign tumors usually followed by a short cycle of preventive chemotherapy. The treatment of chemotherapy includes a combination of drugs targeted to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy, on the other hand, makes use of radiations to kill cancerous cells. All these treatments are usually known to have side effects, so after-care for cancer survivors is also equally important.

The kind of treatment best suited for a patient is usually determined by the physician. The most important aspect of cancer treatment is early diagnosis and immediate medical intervention. The chances of surviving or beating cancer increase by a paramount value if diagnosed in the early stages.

Cancer Awareness

In India, and many other countries, speaking or discussing cancer is still considered taboo and this perception is in dire need of a change. Always remember cancer awareness is the first step towards cancer prevention. You must come across survivors sharing their journey by means of speech of cancer awareness. It can be of great benefit to know about the disease beforehand as it will keep you wary of any signs or symptoms you might come across and bring the same to the notice of your physician immediately. This will help in preventing or fighting cancer more effectively.

Short Essay on Cancer

To provide you with a grasp on the subject matter, we have provided a short essay on cancer here. Cancer is a disease in which the cells in specified or different parts of the body start dividing continuously. Cancer is usually caused by specific substances that affect several factors in our body. These specific substances are called carcinogens.

Cancer can be caused owing to exposure to pollution, radiation, harmful substances, poor lifestyle choices, etc. Cancer is best treated when detected early. Usually, surgery as well as other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc. are used to treat cancer.

Cancer awareness is one of the best means that help in preventing and fighting the disease.

Points to Remember About Cancer

Students are recommended to remember the point of facts so it can be helpful for the students to write an essay with ease. Below are listed a few quick points for the convenience of students who are opting to write an essay on Cancer—

Cancer is a condition in which the cells divide in vast numbers uncontrollably which results in impairment and other damage to the body.

Excessive alcohol consumption, poor nutrition or physical inactivity and, excess weight of the body are some of the causes of Cancer. 

Genetic factors can be responsible for the development of cancer. 

Some genetic malfunctions occur after birth and factors like exposure to the sun and smoking can increase the risks. 

A person can also inherit a certain predisposition for a particular type of cancer. 

Chemotherapy is one of the treatments for cancer that targets the dividing cells, it can cure cancer but the side effects can be fatal. 

Hormone Therapy is another way for treating cancer where the medication targets certain hormones that interfere with the human body. Hormones are essential in breast cancer and prostate cancer. 

Immunotherapy is another way where the medication and treatment target the immune system to boost it.

Personalized medication is one of the newer developments where the treatment is more personalized depending on the person’s body and gene. It is believed that this kind of treatment can cure all types of cancer. 

Radiation therapy is the treatment in which a high dose of radiation is given out to kill the cancerous cells. It can be used for shrinking the tumors before the surgery. 

Stem cell transplant is essential for blood-related cancer like leukemia and lymphoma. In this treatment, the blood cells are removed that are destroyed by chemotherapy and radiation and then the cells are put back into the body after being developed by the doctors. 

Surgery is also a part of the treatment. 

Leukemia, Breast cancer, thyroid cancer, melanoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, pancreatic, endometrial, colon, liver, and bladder cancer are the types of cancer that people are diagnosed with every year. 

The most common types of cancer are lung cancer and melanoma.

Cancer is classified by doctors in two ways. 

First, by the location of the cancerous cells. 

And secondly, by the tissues that are affected by it. 

Metastasis is a condition where cancerous cells spread to different parts of the body. 

Improvements in the rate of cancer have been seen over the years after a significant drop in tobacco consumption and smoking. 

The outlook of cancer depends on the severity, type, and location of the cancerous cells.  

Some cancer can exhibit symptoms while others don’t so it is always advised to report anything to the medical expert if something is wrong. Cancer doesn’t exhibit many symptoms unless it is in an advanced stage so it is usually better to go for regular checkups. 

Tumors can be caused in the brain and spinal that can be cancerous in nature. 

Germ cell tumors give rise to sperm and eggs in the body and it can be caused in any part of the body. 

Quick Ways to Remember and Write an Essay on Cancer

Do the research

It is essential to write the valid points and present them in this essay as it is based on Cancer. An essay on Cancer must be comprehensive and should ideally contain the context related to this topic hence, it is very important for a student to know about this topic thoroughly in order to write the essay brilliantly. 

Analyze the question

A student must understand the intention of the essay and know the terms that are needed to be used. It will clearly form an essay that consists of all the valid points related to cancer. 

Remembering the information on Cancer

Cancer as a topic is vast because there are several types of Cancer and writing about all of them is not possible in a condensed essay so it is important to understand and remember the points which are more essential than the others to be mentioned in the essay.  

Defining the terms and theories

It is essential for a student to explain the terms being used in the essay. For example, writing the names of the types of Cancer is not enough, it also has to be explained by the student on how it affects and how it may be treated. 

Organize a structured essay 

Students must write the essay in a coherent manner which must begin with the introduction to cancer, followed by the body of the essay that must contain the types of cancer, treatment, and other information regarding the topic of Cancer. It must be well concluded later to tie everything up neatly. 

Cancer is, undoubtedly, one of the most life-shattering diseases. Together, let us make an effort to take on this disease with more care and hope.

FAQs on National Cancer Awareness Day: Empowering Hope and Health

1. Differentiate Between Cancerous and Non-Cancerous Tumours.

The unregulated cell mass inside the body is known as a tumour and can be specified to a particular area or the uninhibited cell growth may spread to the surrounding tissues. Based on this, tumours are majorly classified into two types:

Benign Tumours: This type of tumours are usually regarded as non-cancerous as they are specified to a particular area and can be surgically removed without causing damage to the surrounding tissue.

Malignant Tumours: These tumours, on the other hand, have broken free from their site of origin and spread to other tissues, usually through the bloodstream. These tumours are cancerous in nature and usually require other treatments.

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What really matters at the end: perspectives from a patient, a family member and an oncologist

It is not uncommon for physicians to write about what “they think” matters to patients. This essay explores “what really matters” from the perspective of a patient, a family member of another patient and an oncologist. The patient was a 58-year-old woman with recurrent metastatic small bowel cancer. The family member is the spouse of a 48-year-old man who had advanced gastroesophageal cancer. The medical oncologist is a mid-career clinician–scientist who cared for both patients.

The perspectives presented in this essay evolved from conversations that occurred initially between the oncologist and each of the other authors individually; eventually, the three authors met to discuss writing an essay. The three sections were written independently to ensure that they accurately reflected each author’s personal perspectives.

A patient’s perspective

After my diagnosis, I had to accept that I am not invincible. Once diagnosed with cancer, you will never be treated the same again. You will be perceived as fragile, weak and frail. Unless they have walked your path, others cannot know how tired, cold, weak, painful or anxious having cancer can be.

At this juncture, it would be well advised to accept that this is your diagnosis, your life, your death and that you must own it. The cancer trail will be less burdened by accepting the impermanence of the human condition. We are truly equals with the same conclusion no matter what our wealth, status or privilege. Without fear of death, we can live as full a life as possible. I chose to live joyfully and not accept just to exist!

In walking my cancer trail, I have been blessed to cross paths with some amazing people. It is imperative to have a medical team that is competent, attentive, efficient and compassionate. Doctors with minimal egos. Doctors who have ears for listening. These doctors know the difficult art of listening, have the ability to stay focused and to make my concern important. Good listeners know how to make me understand their perspective and give me time to process; this makes me feel worthy and important. These doctors are very aware that waiting breeds anxiety and distrust. The diagnosis of cancer quickens time and patients lose patience; the good doctor will realize this. My experience has been superb, blessed with staff who never left me worried if the test has been booked, the diagnosis delayed or my symptoms untreated.

As a patient, we too have obligations to our doctors. We must give our doctors permission to be honest. Sometimes with this honesty comes words of pain, but this in turn facilitates an understanding so that if the patient says, “no thank you,” the doctor will understand. This honesty comes not from ego or extended education; it comes from the heart. Honesty builds trust, and trust leads to better communication, better symptom management and an enriched quality of life. I have always felt like my voice is heard. I often see a flush of relief from the young doctor who realizes that I understand where this race stops, so he need not find words to mask the seriousness of the situation. I encourage these doctors to speak openly.

Some of my friends were amazed that I declined chemotherapy. It was the correct decision for me; I have had three plus years and a gifted life. Treatment becomes an addiction for some patients who become terrified to stop and lose their support team. I pay close attention to “appointmentitis.” My team understands that each day is precious and make every effort to stack my appointments.

Having loving friends and family, and a stable home make cancer bearable. Having physical touch reinforces that “someone still thinks I am worthy of touch.” The warmth of hands relieves anxiety and offers connection. To be hugged or held reminds the patient that they are loved. I have relied on calming activities such as gardening, walking, music and working the farm. I seldom think about cancer unless I am at the clinic. I now pay close attention to and appreciate my many blessings.

A family member’s perspective

I became a widow at 42 years of age. I lost my husband after a 16-month battle with metastatic gastroesophageal cancer. Cancer is a word no one ever wants to hear, especially if it is preceded by the word incurable. It is amazing how two words together can have such a big impact. Our epicentre comprised three people: my husband, his oncologist and myself. We were anchored together as a team within moments of his diagnosis. In this context, the process of “team-building” is full of paradox and irony. Patients and families seek out the best and most compassionate care, to build a “dream team,” all within the “nightmare” of cancer. We all know where this path ends. It is just a matter of negotiating the time between the start and the finish.

As the primary caregiver, my role was to listen, interpret and organize information in a way that was digestible and honest while looking for hope. This was the most difficult task. “Making lemonade out of lemons,” as my husband would say. I sought to make each day the best possible for my husband and my family; to free them from emotional pain, physical discomfort and anxiety. Most days, this was easier said than done. I discovered early on that the “system of care” was not a system at all. “System” implies connection between parts forming together as a whole. What I encountered was, for the most part, contrary to this definition. A set of binders containing all necessary health and care information became my constant companions. This enabled collaboration among parts of the system where there was none.

We did have glimmers of hope and cause for celebration. The first line of palliative chemotherapy gave us nine months within which to make happy memories. We planned activities to make the most of our time together. We pushed the boundaries for travel while doing our best to mitigate risk.

It was hard to know what to hope for. The most hopeful scenario would be to get better and never look back. Without that option available, the guiding light for me was to balance the desire for more time with quality of life. I had the good fortune of reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. This book in some way influenced my every decision. Our decision-making was framed within a context of humanism and compassion as we balanced “curative” versus “care-ative” approach to treatment options.

In the darkest of days, there is opportunity for learning and growth. Despite finding ourselves in a scenario we could never have imagined, our team became a cherished relationship characterized by compassion, hope, care, comfort and understanding. Perhaps that is the key to success as a caregiver, to seek out the people who and things that contribute to the best possible life in the face of death. It is all any of us could hope for under the circumstances.

An oncologist’s perspective

I gravitated to oncology because of the rich doctor–patient relationships. I knew I would cherish these privileged conversations throughout my career. During my training, I was surprised by the magnitude of “benefit” associated with many standard palliative therapies. Although some treatments offer substantial benefit to patients, I was struck that many standard treatments extend life by only a number of weeks. These initial impressions were formed when I was more layperson than oncologist; years later, I still wonder to what extent patients understand how marginal some of our treatments are. Despite limited benefits of many standard regimens, I learned how oncologists can make a real difference through compassion and symptom management. Having been in practice for a decade, I now retain a healthy skepticism about how much our drug therapies actually benefit patients. In caring for the two patients described in this essay, I struggled with how to balance discussions of benefit and harms, and trying to strike a balance with hope and realism.

I worry that technology-driven medicine has led to a decline in our traditional “art” that emphasized caring and compassion. The quality-of-life “cost” of new therapies to a patient and the associated financial costs to society make it increasingly important to discuss these issues. However, I have learned that no two patients are alike in how they balance the pros and cons of treatment for incurable cancer. What remains uniform across all patients is the need for honest communication and compassion. For a number of reasons, including the fear of taking away hope and emotional discomfort, these conversations may not happen as often as they should.

Although I try to communicate clearly these issues to my patients, I know I could do a better job. Many tests and treatments are done because they represent “standard care,” even though the extent to which they align with the values of each patient is not clear. I struggle with questions such as how to explain the absolute benefit of therapies better? How to help patients find hope in incurable cancer? At what point is “hope” helpful and at what point is “false hope” harmful? Is there intrinsic value in “doing something?” What really does matter to my patients? Although careful research might provide insight to some of these questions, the most powerful lessons will come from our patients and their families.

Putting it together

Patients and families facing incurable cancer will have unique goals, preferences and needs. What unifies us is the search for hope and meaning, when from the outset, there appears to be none. We all hope for long lives filled with joy and meaning. When that time is cut short, we must shift our hope toward care that is focused on a life that is free from as much pain, discomfort and anxiety as possible, and a death that comes as peacefully and humanely as possible.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Gord Sinclair and Duncan Sinclair for their input on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

We lost Penny just before the submission of this article. We offer these perspectives as a tribute to the many lessons we learned from her. We hope that our combined voices will provide comfort and support to others on similar journeys.

CMAJ Podcasts: article reading at https://soundcloud.com/cmajpodcasts/171285-enc

This article has been peer reviewed.