Cancer and carcinogen

• Lavender symbolizes cancer in general while the pink one, which probably the most familiar to you, symbolizes breast cancer.
• Carcinogens


  Any compounds that when a person is exposed to, may cause cancer. It is known as the "cancer-causing" agent
• Common carcinogens


  • Tobacco
  • Asbestos
  • Crispy, brown foods
  • Formaldehyde
  • Ultraviolet rays
  • Alcohol
  • Processed meat
  • Engine exhaust
  • Pollution
• Cancer


  A group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body
• How cancer starts


  Cancer begins when genetic changes interfere with this orderly process. Cells start to grow uncontrollably. These cells may form a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be cancerous or benign.
• How cancer spreads


  As a cancerous tumor grows, the bloodstream or lymphatic system may carry cancer cells to other parts of the body. During this process, the cancer cells grow and may develop into new tumors. This is known as metastasis.
• One of the first places a cancer often spreads is to the lymph nodes. They are located in clusters in different parts of the body, such as the neck, groin area, and under the arms.
• How to diagnose cancer

  A diagnosis begins when a person visits a doctor about an unusual symptom. But many people with cancer have no symptoms. For these people, cancer is diagnosed during a medical test for another issue or condition. For most cancers, a biopsy is the only way to make a definite diagnosis. A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for further study.
• Types of cancer


  • Carcinomas
  • Sarcomas
  • Leukemias
  • Lymphomas
• Carcinomas


  A carcinoma begins in the skin or the tissue that covers the surface of internal organs and glands. Carcinomas usually form solid tumors. They are the most common type of cancer.
• Sarcomas


  A sarcoma begins in the tissues that support and connect the body. A sarcoma can develop in fat, muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, blood vessels, lymph vessels, cartilage, or bone.
• Sarcomas


  • Gastrointestinal stromal tumors
  • Osteosarcoma
• Leukemias


  Leukemia is a cancer of the blood. Leukemia begins when healthy blood cells change and grow uncontrollably.
• Types of leukemia


  • Acute lymphocytic
  • Chronic lymphocytic
  • Acute myeloid
  • Chronic myeloid
• Lymphomas


  Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and glands that help fight infection.
• Types of lymphomas


  • Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Hodgkin's lymphoma


  A type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's germ-fighting immune system. In Hodgkin's lymphoma, white blood cells called lymphocytes grow out of control, causing swollen lymph nodes and growths throughout the body.
• Symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma

  • Feeling very tired all the time
  • Fever and chills that come and go
  • Itching all over the body that cannot be explained
  • Loss of appetite
  • Drenching night sweats
  • Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin (swollen glands)
  • Weight loss that cannot be explained
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma


  Generally involves the presence of cancerous lymphocytes in your lymph nodes. But the disease can also spread to other parts of your lymphatic system. These include the lymphatic vessels, tonsils, adenoids, spleen, thymus and bone marrow. Occasionally, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involves organs outside of your lymphatic system.
• Signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

  • Swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin
  • Abdominal pain or swelling
  • Chest pain, coughing or trouble breathing
  • Persistent fatigue
  • Fever
  • Night sweats
  • Unexplained weight loss