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There are over one hundred different kinds of cancer. They are all unique and
affect the body differently. Some cancers include lung cancer, skin cancer,
cervical cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer. The following will discuss the
causes and risk factors of cancer, the symptoms, and possible treatment for
different types of cancer. What are the risk factors for cancer? Many people
don't realize cancer is preventable in a number of common ways. One risk factor
is tobacco. Smoking causes over 30% of all cancer deaths in the United States,
and is responsible for 87% of all cases involving lung cancer. By quitting
smoking it immediately decreases your chances of cancer.
Another huge risk factor is unsafe sex. By having unsafe sex, you are
increasing your risk of catching over 100 viruses known as HPV, or Human
Papillioma Virus. HPV increases your chances of getting numerous cancers. Some
for example include cervical, anal, and vaginal cancer. A test for HPV involves
scrapping of cervical cells, and then sending the sample to the test lab. The
HPV vaccine is recommended for 11-12 year-old girls, and can be given to girls
as young as 9. The vaccine is also recommended for 13-26 year-old girls/women
who have not yet received or completed the vaccine series.
Even though a number of cancers differ greatly when it comes to risk factors,
however, they still have some of the same symptoms that cancer patient's
experience. One common symptom is fatigue. It usually occurs when the cancer is
in stages. Unintentional weight loss is one of the first symptoms experienced
with cancer. Losing ten pounds without dieting is very common. A fever can occur
as the cancer progresses. This could be due from the disease affecting your
immune system, the cancer itself, or response to treatment. Skin can also change
from redness, dark marks, and pain, which occurs during cancer with a lot of
patients.
Is there any treatment for cancer? That's a great question. Your physician
will develop a method of treatment that fits your stage of cancer. Chemotherapy
is the use of anti- cancer drugs. It is given by pill, IV, injection, or applied
to the skin, depending on the type of cancer. The first choice of treatment
preferred by many physicians is surgery. This is usually used to remove tumors
or masses. Some cancer patients seek radiation therapy. This is to help burn the
cells and reduce the size of the cancer. Lastly, Immunotherapy/Biological
Response Modifiers (BRM) is used by the cancer patient to help their own immune
system to fight the cancer.
In conclusion, there is a wide variety of cancers. All cancer is not the same
and because of that, each cancer creates different symptoms that are caused by
different risk factors. They all have some way of treatment to help you fight
the cancer.
http://cancer.about.com/od/causes/Cancer_Causes_and_Risk_Factors.htm
cancer.org
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_
What_are_the_signs_and_symptoms_of_cancer.asp?sitearea=.
National
Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/treatment/types-of treatment
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