Cancer is a condition that begins in cells and affects the functioning of the whole body, overtime. The basic nature of a cancer owes to abnormal duplication of cells which happens uncontrollably. The end result is formation of a mass of excess cells called tumors. While tumors can be of two types, only malignant ones are cancerous. The other type is called benign meaning non cancerous.

The malignant cancer cells usually divide rapidly invading other nearby tissue and organs which jeopardizes the normal functioning of the body. The cancerous cells also can get in to the bloodstream or the lymphatic system to form new tumors elsewhere.

Classification of cancer is usually done according to the place in which it starts. Therefore cancer types vary accordingly as lung cancer, bone cancer, breast cancer and so on. If a lung cancer spreads to the brain, it is still called a metastatic lung cancer because it is caused by cancerous cells that came from the lungs.

The four most common cancer types are breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer. Breast cancers are usually diagnosed through annual mammograms or through identified lumps in the breasts or through discharges from the nipples. While treatment for breast cancer does not always end up in surgery, in extreme cases patients are advised against settling for other options such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormonal therapy.

Colon cancers on the other hand are usually accompanied by symptoms such as weight loss, bowel habit changes, discomfort and pain in abdomen, as well as, fatigue. While the causes of colon cancers are not clear cut, it is known that genetic mutations that are passed down generations can act a risk factor.

Similarly, risk factors for lung cancer too can run in genes. However the deadliest cause of lung cancer for most sufferers is tobacco smoking, marijuana, exposure to radon and recurring inflammation of the lungs due to conditions such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. The common treatments for lung cancer are none other than chemotherapy, radiation therapy and sometimes surgery.

When it comes to prostate cancer, the treatment options vary according to the stage of the illness. For stage I prostate cancer, internal/external radiation as well as radical prostatectomy may be the ideal. For stage II, radiation therapies and hormonal therapies may work out. For stage III and IV, patients may want to move in to clinical trials of chemotherapy or continue radiation therapy along with hormone therapy. While risk factors for prostate cancer cannot be pinned down easily, many scientists agree that it may owe to dietary habits, family history, age and even one’s race.

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