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How to prevent cancer? The death toll that tumors collect could be less, if we took care of ourselves, we systematically examined ourselves. It is really possible to win against cancer and other cancers! Where does cancer come from, how is it detected and treated? How to prevent cancer?

Nowotworyare revealing more and more of their secrets. Tumors (including malignant ones, e.g.cancer ) are being treated more and more often, and scientists are constantly working on deciphering our enemy number one. We learn about new methods of treatment almost every year. And although we are not able to prevent neoplastic diseases at the moment, in many cases we are able to detect cancer at an early stage of its development and effectively treat ourselves.

Where do cancer and other cancers come from?

We are attacked by nearly 200 different cancers. Almost each of them has a different background and develops differently. Scientists are still trying to find out why and how the body creates the first cell different from the others, which gives rise to a cancerous tumor. There are many theories. Most scientists focus on genetic research. In their opinion, it is likely that a defective cell will appear in the body is due to damage at the DNA level (deoxyribonucleic acid - a spiral-shaped molecule that forms a chromosome; contains the complete code for the structure of the entire body).

Cancer is a term that is often used to describe cancer. Meanwhile, cancer is one of the malignant neoplasms.Remember - all cancer is cancer, but not all cancer is cancer.

Our cells are constantly dividing. With each division, the old ones die off, but earlier they pass on their genetic information to the new ones. This means that they will perform the same functions as their predecessors. Sometimes errors occur in these processes. Some errors cause changes in the behavior of the daughter cell. This change in hereditary genetic material is called a mutation. For example, it can cause a cell to divide more often and faster than normal and give rise to cancer. Mutations can be inherited, so descendants of people with cancer are prone to cancer.

Unfortunately, we also act to our own detriment, e.g. we inhale exhaust fumes, cigarette smoke, we often eat smoked products, and thisanything can damage DNA and make you more likely to develop cancer. In addition, doctors are sure that some viruses can also turn a he althy cell into a cancerous one, for example, infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) contributes to the development of cervical cancer.

Neoplasms include non-malignant (benign) and malignant ones. A benign neoplasm (benign - neoplasma benignum) is clearly demarcated from the surrounding tissues or is encysted. His cells cannot get into the blood. It never rolls over.

Malignant neoplasms (neoplasma malignum) are lesions that infiltrate surrounding tissues, and their cells enter the blood and lymphatic systems. They travel throughout the body, spreading the disease. There are several types of malignant neoplasms - cancer, sarcomas, lymphomas, tumors of the central nervous system, melanoma.

Worth knowing

Cancer is one of the malignant neoplasms that develops from epidermal cells or epithelial cells from various organs of the body, such as the skin, gland, mucosa, lining of the digestive system, thyroid gland and pancreas. The terms "brain cancer" and "bone cancer" are incorrect as there is no epithelial tissue present.

Cancer prevention - essential research

Every woman has to examine her breasts on her own every month - from the moment of the first menstruation until the end of her life. However, self-examination can detect the tumor only when it is approx. 1 cm in diameter. Much smaller changes are detected by mammography and breast ultrasound. In order to detect cervical cancer early, you need to have a Pap smear every year.

The chances of defeating cancer largely depend on how early it is found. The vast majority of cancers detected in the so-called pre-invasive (zero) stage of development is completely curable. At this stage of the disease development, we are not able to notice any lesions ourselves. For this reason, we should systematically undergo preventive examinations.

Men over 40 should have a prostate (prostate) examination every year. Rectal examination - through the anus - allows the doctor to detect changes in the size and consistency of this gland. If they are suspicious, your doctor may refer you for additional tests, e.g. blood PSA antigen testing.

In turn, the early stage of colorectal cancer allows the detection of a fecal occult blood test (people with a family history of bowel cancer should do this test every year, and everybody - every year in their 50s). If you are at risk or have a polyp (it often develops cancer), more soa valuable test is a colonoscopy, i.e. viewing the inside of the intestine with a speculum.

Smokers or people at risk should have a chest X-ray every year. Such a test may be helpful in the diagnosis of lung cancer. A more detailed examination, however, is bronchoscopy (the so-called bronchoscopy - viewing them with a speculum or fiber optic endoscope).

It is also worth having an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity every 1-2 years. This simple test often detects even small tumors in the abdomen.

Bump under the magnifying glass

When a tumor is found, doctors usually want to get a closer look. Such tests as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or positron emission tomography allow you to accurately check the location of the tumor, determine its size and structure, and find out if it has already metastasized.

Sometimes we also have to undergo a biopsy. It consists in puncturing the tumor with a special needle (usually under ultrasound control) and collecting the tissues for microscopic examination. The specialist then looks at the collected tissues (the so-called sample) and can assess the nature of the tumor: whether the lesion is benign or malignant.

Blood markers

If someone in our immediate family has had cancer, we may be at a higher risk. We are more prone to getting sick, which does not mean we will get sick. Sometimes a simple blood test is enough to allay your fears and sleep more peacefully.

Cancer markers, also called neoplastic markers, are chemicals of various structures that are produced in the tissues of our body. In he althy people - there are extremely few of them. However, when cancer does occur, the level of cancer increases sharply.

Markers can take the form of antigens, proteins, enzymes, or hormones. They get into the blood and circulate through the body with it. Unfortunately, one tumor can produce several markers. Moreover, one type of cancer can produce markers characteristic of other tumors. For example, the presence of the marker CA 125 in the body may indicate ovarian cancer, but also pancreatic cancer. However, some markers may strongly suggest the presence of a specific tumor, e.g. PSA marker can detect prostate cancer at a very early stage of development.

Since markers are not homogeneous substances, the doctor usually orders us to perform the so-called a marker panel (a set of labels) that allows you to determine the type of ongoing neoplastic process. Markers are determined from a collected blood sample. However, not only their presence is important, but also the amount above the permissible standard. If the standard is significantly exceeded, noit always means developing cancer ( although it usually is). The elevated level of some markers may also be associated, for example, with a very serious inflammation of the liver, pancreas or kidneys.

If the markers are high, genetic-oncological interpretation of the results is necessary. Only after that, the doctor can order further tests, e.g. mammography, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Almost 90 percent cancer incidence is not related to the family's past. The gene for "cancer predisposition" cannot be detected in about 90 out of 100 people who come to the test. However, if the same neoplasms often appear in the family, it is worth visiting a genetic clinic and asking for appropriate tests. You do not need a referral from your GP.

Genetic testing for cancer

If the first interview shows that we may have a right to fear for our own he alth, we will find ourselves in a specialized preventive program. We do not pay for any research here. Among other things, tumor markers, but also looks for genes that may predispose to the disease. For example, in women - the BRCA1 gene (responsible for the tendency to breast cancer); when the ancestors suffered from colorectal cancer - the CHEK2 gene. People who have colorectal cancer but do not have gut polyposis are looking for repair genes that can repair the defective DNA fragment. Stimulating these genes can h alt the progression of the disease.

Everyone who comes to a genetic clinic at the first meeting determines with a doctor which family member should start looking for genetic mutations. If possible, a person who has already suffered from cancer is usually selected. Thanks to it, it is easier to find the gene that is the cause of unhappiness in a given family. When it is tagged, it is searched for among other members. Those who have it go to the so-called groups of maximum risk and are subjected to other specialized examinations. On the other hand, those in whom the "culprit gene" was not found, remain only under the supervision of the clinic (then the controls must report for specific tests within the prescribed time limits).

Genetic counseling

There are over 20 of them in Poland. They operate at all oncology centers. Most genetic clinics test for hereditary cancer susceptibility free of charge. Their addresses can be found on the website: http://www.genetyka.com/

Advance cancer

Sometimes we do not have cancer, but specialist research has confirmed that the risk of developing the disease is very high.Then the doctors offer us preventive actions and treatments. Sometimes they are very drastic - in the case of hereditary colorectal cancer, it may be a colectomy, i.e. prophylactic removal of the large intestine. It is performed when (apart from the defective gene) numerous polyps (there are hundreds of them) are detected in the intestine and it is only a matter of time before the cancer develops. Due to the fact that during the operation a part of the small intestine can be made into a special reservoir, it is possible to maintain the natural way of defecation.

In turn, carriers of the gene responsible for the occurrence of medullary thyroid cancer are offered to remove the thyroid gland. Even in childhood, because many years of observations have shown that 100 percent. Carriers of this gene later develop cancer. So early removal of the thyroid gland just saves lives. Prophylactic surgeries can now be offered to, for example, women at risk of uterine, ovarian and breast cancer. The condition is the birth of already planned children.

Cancer treatment

So far, the most effective weapon in the fight against cancer is surgery. But it is not always enough to remove the tumor by itself. Sometimes, complementary therapies are needed, and over time, some changes can degenerate into cancer. This is the case with colon polyps, some thyroid nodules or unusual pigmented lesions on the skin. You can anticipate cancer and remove lesions before they become malignant. However, such actions are not always possible and then we have to fight the intruder.

Cancer surgery

If the tumor is detected at an early stage of development, then it is often enough to remove the tumor with the surrounding tissues (this is the so-called safety margin). Sometimes, however, it is necessary to excise an entire organ (e.g. the breast) to get rid of all mutated cells and prevent the disease from recurring. If doctors suspect that the cancer is at a more advanced stage, they also remove nearby lymph nodes. As a result of surgical intervention, doctors manage to save about 25% of lives. sick.

The operation to remove the tumor does not have to be the same as a surgical incision. Often doctors use:

  • Endoscopy - it is used for surgery inside the pleural cavity (thoracoscopy) or in the peritoneal cavity (laparoscopy). This technique avoids a large scar.
  • Ultrasound - this method uses a special knife that is vibrated at high frequency by ultrasound. It allows for almost bloodless removal of e.g. parts of parenchymal organs (e.g. kidney or liver).
  • Laser - is used to treat changes in the skin and mucosa of the ductdigestive, respiratory and genitourinary systems. Removal of neoplastic changes with a laser is especially useful in the treatment of changes in the esophagus, trachea and large intestine.
  • Cryotherapy - to remove small, mild, superficial lesions (e.g. on mucous membranes), a cryoprobe cooled with liquid nitrogen to -180 degrees C is used. Cold destroys diseased cells.
  • Electrosurgery - it is used to treat small, superficial and benign lesions. Special electrodes of various shapes are used, heated by high-frequency current. High temperature has a destructive effect on diseased cells.

Cancer treatment - radiation therapy

It is most often complementary to surgical treatment. If doctors think there may be some "survivors" of cancer left, they try to destroy it with radiation - most often x-ray or gamma radiation. When the patient is irradiated from a certain distance - it is teleradiotherapy. If the radiation source is placed directly in the tumor or in its vicinity - brachytherapy.

Radiotherapy, like any other method, is not without unwanted side effects. It kills cancer cells, but it also weakens the body and destroys some of the he althy cells at the site of illumination. The effects of the so-called We may experience radiation sickness with some delay, e.g. nausea and vomiting may occur several hours or days after radiotherapy. When these symptoms subside, the unfavorable changes continue in the bone marrow, e.g. the number of erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white cells) and thrombocytes (platelets) decreases in the peripheral blood, which reduces immunity and reduces blood clotting. In some cases, where the irradiation area was extensive, we may experience loss of appetite, we may have fever and diarrhea. Occasionally, tissue necrosis and erythema (and even ulceration) occur at the irradiation site. After the end of therapy, most of these symptoms disappear without leaving any traces.

Worth knowing

Cancer statistics

  • 40 million people live with cancer in the world.
  • Data from the Polish Cancer Union shows that every day 300 people in Poland find out that they have cancer.
  • 220 of them will probably die. About 30 percent can be cured permanently. sick.

Women in the early 1960s suffered from cervical cancer most often, followed by breast cancer. Breast cancer is now more common, followed by lung cancer, followed by cervical cancer.

Men in the early 1960s most often suffered from stomach cancer, followed bylung cancer. Now lung cancer is leading the way, followed by prostate cancer and stomach cancer in third.

Cancer treatment - chemotherapy

Cancer cells can divide constantly. Knowing this property, scientists develop drugs that act cytostatically, i.e. inhibit cell division. They are taken orally or in the form of drips. The drip usually has to be taken in hospital. It takes minutes or even hours. If cytostatics are taken frequently and for a long time - doctors can implant a plastic container under the skin from which the drugs are administered. Chemotherapy is selected individually for each patient. Taking cytostatics also has its side effects. First of all, it has a negative effect on the bone marrow. This can result in anemia, fatigue, and drowsiness. Immunity also drops, so the risk of infection increases. During chemotherapy, you need to check the blood picture (perform a blood count) and, if necessary, undergo a transfusion or take preparations that speed up the renewal of the bone marrow. Chemotherapy can also cause other temporary side effects: hair loss, brittle nails, sensitivity to ultraviolet (you cannot sunbathe and use a solarium), digestive problems - constipation or diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite.

Cancer incidence increased by 46%. And it has to be even worse

The effectiveness of cancer treatment in Poland is worse than in most other EU countries. Malignant neoplasms are the second most common cause of death in Poland. Since 1999, the number of cases has increased by 46% and the number of deaths by 23.2%, according to the NIK report from 2022.

"Poland, along with Hungary and Croatia, is in the top three EU countries with the highest mortality from malignant neoplasms. In Poland, lung and colon cancer turns out to be the most dangerous, in addition, prostate and bladder cancer among men, and among women breast and ovarian cancers "- informed the Supreme Audit Office.

And it has to be even worse. According to specialists, by 2025 the incidence of oncological diseases will increase by over 25%, and cancer will then become the main cause of death in Poland.

The Minister of He alth, in response to the NIK report, announced an increase in spending on oncology.

Source: Availability and effects of cancer treatment [2018] https://www.nik.gov.pl/plik/id,15932,vp,18449.pdf

Cancer treatment - hormone therapy

Some cancers (e.g. breast, prostate) are called hormone-dependent, ie their development may be influenced by certain hormones. Then, in addition to chemotherapy,hormone treatment is often used. This increases the effectiveness of the entire therapy. For women, the fight against breast cancer sometimes requires blocking the function of the ovaries or even removing them. This decision is then made by the doctor and his patient.

New methods of cancer treatment

Every day, scientific laboratories deal with cancer. Scientists are competing in the search for a cancer killer. Sometimes they hit the fence like a bullet, but sometimes they make discoveries tailored to the Nobel Prize. Therapies used until recently by oncologists weakened us by destroying sick but also he althy cells of the body. They also caused a number of side effects. Currently, thanks to the understanding of the structure of cancer cells, especially the receptors on their surface, scientists have developed the so-called targeted therapies. Oncological drugs used in their framework destroy only diseased cells with extreme precision. How do they work? Well, on the surface of cancer cells there are projections called receptors. It's like a socket for plugs. The plugs are chemicals that give a signal for the nucleus to divide, that is, for the tumor to grow. The latest oncological preparations are like false plugs. They block receptors (sockets) and thus prevent the exchange of information between the cell surface and its nucleus. This is how the process of division dies and the cell dies.

Starving cells

The second group of cancer drugs blocks receptors on the surface of cancer cells, but only those that secrete substances that trigger the development of blood vessels that supply the tumor with nutrients and oxygen. This prevents the development of a dense network of arterioles and veins, which causes the "hungry" cancer cells to die.

Stem cells

As it turns out, they can be obtained not only from umbilical cord blood, but also from adults, e.g. from bone marrow or adipose tissue. When properly prepared, they can transform into any tissue in the body, such as heart, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and even the retina of the eye. Unfortunately, stem cells do not cure cancer, but after its removal, they can regenerate the damaged organ to some extent.

Gene therapies

Doctors believe gene therapies will be widely used in humans in 8-10 years. Now scientists can introduce a gene into the tumor that increases the concentration of the drug administered in cancer cells. This allows you to reduce the doses of chemotherapeutic agents, as well as limit the adverse effects of these drugs on the surrounding, he althy tissues. Currently, clinical trials are underway in several centers around the world to determine the effectiveness of this method.

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Oncology