Cancer (a neoplasm or malignant tumour) is a type of illness characterised by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells.
It can kill due to a destructive invasion of normal organs by these cells, by direct extension or distance spreading, which can be through blood, lymph or serosal surface.
The abnormal behaviour of carcinogenic cells is generally reflected by genetic mutations, expressions of ontologic features or abnormal secretion of hormones and enzymes.
Every cancer has the potential of invasion or metastasis, but each specific type has clinic and biologic characteristics that have to be studied to reach an appropriate diagnosis, treatment and accompaniment.
Cancer in men:
• The most common type is Prostate Cancer
• 13,000 new cases each year
• 3rd major cause of death every year
• Warning signs:
- Difficulty urinating
- Pelvic pain
• Prevention:
- PSA exam
- Manual examination
Cancer in women:
• The most common type is Breast Cancer
• 11,000 new cases each year
• 2nd major cause of death every year
• Warning signs:
- Colour and texture variation on the skin surface
• Prevention:
- Breast self-examination
- Yearly mammography from 35-years-old on
Cancer in children:
Why is a child or a teenager, with all his/her innocence and a whole life ahead of him/her, a victim of cancer?
Until about 20 years ago this diagnosis would be a sentence of death, but with all the medical progress this is changing.
When the illness is suspected or diagnosed, children and teenagers must be taken to a specialized centre with experience in cancer treatment from early stages as fast as possible.
Cancer treatment in teenagers is different from cancer treatment in adults. In adults, the age and the tumour stage is taken into account and the quality and extension of life are emphasized.
In the treatment of childhood cancer, the total healing of the illness is always the final objective.
This explains why the conventional therapies are more aggressive on children, even in an advanced case diagnosis of the illness. However, when all of this fails, everything is focused on guaranteeing them a good quality of life. We want them to grow, work, build a family, live the life, make their dreams come true.