Cancer

Cancer is basically a disease where some of the body’s cells start growing out of control. Normally, your cells grow, divide, and die in a very organized way. But with cancer, that system gets messed up. Some cells start dividing uncontrollably, and they don’t die when they should. Over time, these rogue cells can form lumps or masses called tumors (though not all cancers form tumors—like leukemia, which is cancer of the blood). It’s like a group of cells going rogue and ignoring all the rules.

What makes cancer tricky is that it isn’t just one disease—it’s a whole collection of diseases. There are over 100 different types of cancer, and each one can behave differently depending on where it starts and how aggressive it is. For example, breast cancer, lung cancer, and skin cancer all start in different places and have unique traits. Even within one type, like breast cancer, there are subtypes that respond differently to treatment. That’s why cancer treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all; it really depends on the exact kind of cancer someone has.

At the root of it all, cancer comes from changes in DNA—mutations. These mutations can be inherited, caused by environmental exposures (like smoking or UV rays), or just random errors when cells divide. Some mutations turn genes on that shouldn’t be active (like those that make cells divide), or they switch off genes that normally stop cell growth. When enough of these changes build up in the same cell, it can go from normal to cancerous.

The danger comes when cancer spreads—this is called metastasis. If the abnormal cells stay in one place, they might be easier to treat. But cancer cells are sneaky; they can break away from the original tumor, travel through the blood or lymph system, and start growing in other organs. That’s when things get really serious. This ability to invade and spread is what makes cancer one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Still, early detection and advances in treatment are improving outcomes for many types..

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