Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide yet many people do not know much about it. Marked by the uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells in the body, cancer is a potentially life-threatening disease that is progressive in nature. There are many questions related to cancer, that often go unasked, either because people think that these do not concern them or they are too shy to ask. In this blog, we have answered the most common questions related to cancer with the help of experts specialising in the best cancer treatment in Gurgaon.
Can anyone get Cancer?
The answer to this question is yes, cancer can affect anyone, irrespective of age, gender or ethnicity. Although there are individual risk factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits, that can increase a person's chances of developing cancer, there are other factors that could be environmental or linked to your workplace. There are over 100 different types of cancers and while some cancers are more common in adults others are mostly found in children. Some cancer can also be gender specific like:
Ovarian and cervical cancer in females
Prostate and penile cancer in males
How does Cancer originate?
A body is made up of trillions of cells, each capable of growing and multiplying. When a cell grows old, it tends to die and is replaced by a completely new one. This happens at a healthy pace, ensuring there is no overproduction of cells. However certain genetic mutations in the cells can cause them to grow uncontrollably. As per the beat surgeon in Gurgaon, these abnormal cells have a longer life span than the healthier ones and continue to accumulate in the body, replacing all the normal cells and progressing to other areas as well.
Is Cancer linked to our genes?
Although many people do not know this cancer is a genetic disease and the reason behind this is that it is triggered by certain genetic mutations in the DNA of the cells that are present in our body. It is these mutations that compel the cells to grow uncontrollably. Unfortunately, such mutations can be passed down from the parents to their children and even grandchildren and in fact, this happens in nearly 5 to 10 per cent of all cases of cancer. In the rest of the cases, the mutation could be a result of external factors that a person is subjected to during the course of their lifetime. It is due to this very reason that people who have a family history of cancer are often recommended to go for regular cancer screenings because there are significantly high chances of them developing the same.
Can Cancer be transmitted from one person to another?
There are some people out there who would prefer keeping their distance from cancer patients because they tend to believe that cancer is contagious, but this is completely false. As we discussed in the last answer, cancer is a genetic disease and although it can be passed through generations it is not communicable. So if you come in contact with someone who has cancer you are not going to catch it.
Can Cancer be prevented by vaccination?
Wish it would be possible but the answer to this question is no. There is no vaccine, as of now, that can negate your risks of developing cancer. However, the best oncologists in Gurgaon suggest that certain viruses like HPV and Hepatitis B, which have been linked with the increased risks of certain types of cancer, can be prevented with the help of vaccination.
Is it possible to cure Cancer?
There is a common misconception that there is no cure for cancer however, the reality is that cancer can be cured in some cases. Cancer is progressive in nature and the longer you wait to get the treatment the more time it gets to progress in spread to other parts of the body, giving rise to complications that make the treatment difficult. Early detection and timely treatment can help to completely cure the patient but despite winning your fight against cancer there are chances that it might return. This is commonly referred to as cancer remission. Hence it is always advisable to go for regular checkups even after you have been cured. Also, you need to understand that a complete cure is not possible in the later stages of cancer and the focus is majorly on alleviating the symptoms and adding some more years to the patient's life.
If you have some more questions or queries related to cancer, you can conserve the expert from the best hospital in Gurgaon for all the assistance you need.
Dr. Sunny Garg, Head of Department and Senior Consultant
Medical Oncology
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