What is Cancer? Cancer is the name for a group of more than 100 diseases. Although there are many kinds of cancer, all cancers start because abnormal cells grow out of control. Untreated cancers can cause serious illness and death. There is no known cure for any cancer, however there are multiple types of treatments. And Cancer can be overcome, it is just not 100 percent chance that it will be overcome every time. Normal cells grow, divide to make new cells, and die in an formattable way. During the early years of a person’s life, normal cells divide faster to allow the person to grow. After the person becomes an adult, most cells divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells or to repair injuries. This is how your body is supposed to work.
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For instance, colon cancer that has spread to the liver is called metastatic colon cancer, not liver cancer. In this case, cancer cells taken from the liver would be the same as those in the colon. They would be treated in the same ways too.
Tumors that aren’t Cancer A tumor is an abnormal lump or collection of cells, but not all tumors are cancer. Tumors that aren’t cancer are called benign. Benign tumors can cause problems – they can grow very large and press on healthy organs and tissues. But they can’t grow into other tissues. And they can’t spread to other parts of the body. These tumors are not often life threatening.
Living with Cancer Cancer usually lasts a long time, and people usually have to get treatment for many years. Sometimes, people close to the person with the disease are very involved at first with their treatment, but grow more distant as the treatment presses on. This is called getting “burned out”, and it is very common when supporting a person with cancer. However, people with cancer need emotional support throughout all of the time with the …show more content…
Encourage the person with cancer to let you know if you cross this line. Every person with cancer appreciates the friend or family member who remembers that they used to be a person without cancer, and that they had, and still have, strengths and weaknesses, interests, and parts of life that have nothing to do with cancer. Sometimes being the person in the “cancer patient’s” life who remembers the whole person is a special gift. So make sure to be extra supportive of their journey of getting cancer, treatment, and possible
For instance, colon cancer that has spread to the liver is called metastatic colon cancer, not liver cancer. In this case, cancer cells taken from the liver would be the same as those in the colon. They would be treated in the same ways too.
Tumors that aren’t Cancer A tumor is an abnormal lump or collection of cells, but not all tumors are cancer. Tumors that aren’t cancer are called benign. Benign tumors can cause problems – they can grow very large and press on healthy organs and tissues. But they can’t grow into other tissues. And they can’t spread to other parts of the body. These tumors are not often life threatening.
Living with Cancer Cancer usually lasts a long time, and people usually have to get treatment for many years. Sometimes, people close to the person with the disease are very involved at first with their treatment, but grow more distant as the treatment presses on. This is called getting “burned out”, and it is very common when supporting a person with cancer. However, people with cancer need emotional support throughout all of the time with the …show more content…
Encourage the person with cancer to let you know if you cross this line. Every person with cancer appreciates the friend or family member who remembers that they used to be a person without cancer, and that they had, and still have, strengths and weaknesses, interests, and parts of life that have nothing to do with cancer. Sometimes being the person in the “cancer patient’s” life who remembers the whole person is a special gift. So make sure to be extra supportive of their journey of getting cancer, treatment, and possible