CANCER The word cancer means “crab” in latin and even today it still means the same and is the name of a constellation. Cancer also names a disease, one that threatens human health.

What is Cancer? Cancer is a disease in which cells grow and divide uncontrollably and damage the parts of the body around them. Cancer is not just one disease, there are over 100 types of cancer. It can occur in almost any part of the body and is often named by the place where it began in the body

How cancer begins Scientists believe that it begins when DNA is damaged and causes a mutation. This damage or mutation, causes the cells to function abnormally. Cancer disrupts the cell cycle, causing cells to divide in an uncontrolled way. As the cell divides over and over a tumor is formed.

Tumors This is a mass of abnormal cells that develop when cancerous cells divide and grow uncontrollably. They can take years to form, and sometimes parts break off and travel through the blood to other parts of the body. This is how cancer can spread to other parts of the body.

Treating Cancer There are 3 common ways to treat cancer – Surgery – Radiation – Drugs (chemotherapy) Scientists continue to look for new ways to treat cancer and even ways to stop cancer cells from multiplying