Basics on cancer
Cancer is a term that often sparks fear and confusion. It's a complex disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Simply put, cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrollable growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. These abnormal cells can invade and destroy normal tissue, impairing the function of organs and systems within the body. Normal cells in the body grow, divide, and die in a controlled manner as part of the body's natural processes. However, cancer cells behave differently. They grow and divide at an unregulated pace, forming masses of tissue called tumors. Not all tumors are cancerous; those that are considered cancerous are known as malignant tumors. Malignant tumors have the ability to spread to other parts of the body through a process called metastasis, which can make cancer particularly dangerous. The development of cancer typically involves a series of genetic mutations or changes that alter the normal functioning of cells. Thes...