Cancer: know the symptoms, types and how to treat it

Definition

What is cancer?

Cancer (Cancer) is a disease that starts in one of the organs or tissues in the body as a result of abnormal cells growing out of control, attacking the surrounding area or spreading to other organs. This disease is recorded to cause the second most deaths in the world.

Basically, the body consists of trillions of cells scattered in every organ. These cells grow, develop, age and die, then are replaced by new cells. Unfortunately, cells can work abnormally without control.

Abnormal cells have errors in the system, so that damaged cells do not die on their own. Instead, cells continue to multiply and multiply aggressively as much as possible until the number can no longer be controlled.

This excess number of cells can build up, causing tumors. That is why cancer is also called a malignant tumor. However, benign tumors are different from cancer.

This abnormal cell disease has many types. So that there are various types of cancer based on the cells affected, including:

• Carcinoma: Abnormal cells that attack abnormal epithelial cells, namely cells that line the surface of the skin, blood vessels, urinary tract, and organs.
• Sarcomas: This disease originates from cells that form in the soft tissues of the body, such as muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels, nerves, and tissues around joints.
• Lymphoma: Lymphoma is a cancer cell that occurs in T cells or B cells, which are white blood cells that are part of the immune system.
• Leukemia: Abnormal cells that start in the blood-forming tissue in the bone marrow.
• Multiple myeloma: Multiple myeloma disease that starts in plasma cells, another type of immune cell.
• Melanoma: Melanoma is what occurs in melanocyte cells, which are the cells that make melanin (the substance that gives skin color).
• Brain and spinal cancer: Abnormal cells that form in the central nervous system.
• Other types of cancer: For example, cancer cells that attack eggs, sperm cells, cells that release hormones into the blood (neuroendocrine), and cells in the digestive system.

Is cancer contagious?

Diseases caused by abnormal cells are not contagious. In fact, if it occurs in pregnant women, most of it does not affect the fetus. Rarely, cases of melanoma in the mother can spread cancer cells to the placenta and fetus.

How common is this disease?

This disease is very common and affects all ages. According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Riskesdas data shows the prevalence of cancer in Indonesia has increased from 1.4 per 1000 population in 2013 to 1.79 per 1000 population in 2018.

The most common types of women are breast cancer and cervical cancer.

Meanwhile, in men, the most common types of attack are prostate cancer and lung cancer. Then, what often affects children is leukemia.

According to WHO data, the most common types of death are lung cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of cancer?

People who experience this disease, do not necessarily show symptoms at an early stage. Generally, symptoms will appear when the disease has entered an advanced stage, namely stages 2, 3, and 4.

Each symptom shown determines the type of cancer you have. The following symptoms of cancer in the body that are generally felt are:

• Weight loss for no reason.
• Fever that appears and recurs.
• The body is tired and it doesn't get better.
• Pain or soreness in certain areas of the body.
• The skin experiences a darker discoloration (hyperpigmentation), redness of the skin, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, and the skin is overgrown with hair.
• Sores in the mouth, penis, or vagina that won't heal.
• A cancerous lump appears that is red, enlarged, and causes pain.
• Coughing up blood, bloody stools, bloody urine, and unusual vaginal bleeding.

The above symptoms can appear in children, adults, and the elderly (elderly). However, specific symptoms such as vaginal bleeding only occur in women.

When to see a doctor?

If you experience the above symptoms and they don't get better in 1 or 2 weeks, see a doctor immediately. If the doctor suspects that the symptom is cancer, you will be referred to a specialist / oncologist or oncologist.

Clinically, oncologists are divided into several categories and what you need to know are:

• Medical oncologist who acts as the primary doctor during treatment.
• Radiotherapy oncologist who treats abnormal cells with radiotherapy.
• Surgical oncologist in charge of treating abnormal cells with surgical procedures.
• Gynecological oncology deals with abnormal cells associated with the female reproductive system.
• Pediatric oncologists specialize in the treatment of cancer in newborns up to 18 years of age.
• Hematology oncology is in charge of treating blood-related cancers in the body.

Cause

What causes cancer?

The main cause of this disease is a change in the DNA in the cell (mutation). The DNA in the cell contains a number of genes, each of which has a series of command systems for working, dividing, dying, and renewing.

However, the system goes into trouble and stops the normal function of the cells, so they become abnormal. The occurrence of this gene mutation error can be caused by genes inherited from parents and this is known as a common cause of cancer in children.

This problematic gene mutation can also be triggered by other factors. Starting from exposure to cancer-triggering chemicals (carcinogens), radiation, cigarette smoke, viruses, obesity related to unhealthy food choices and infrequent exercise, to other changes that affect hormones or the body's biological clock.

People who have cancer can have more than one type and this is called secondary cancer or metastatic tumors. This condition indicates that there has been spread to other organs, either simultaneously or even after the main type has healed.

The cancer is separated from the main types and spreads to other organs via blood vessels or lymph vessels (metastasis).

For example, a person with breast cancer as the primary cancer. Gradually, these abnormal cells can spread to other organs, such as the lungs. Even though, they are in different organs (lungs), these cancer cells are the same cells as those in the breast.

In Indonesia and other countries, the number of sufferers of this disease continues to increase. According to several studies, this increase is influenced by certain habits that trigger abnormal cells, such as smoking, foods with a risk of carcinogens, and infections.

Risk factors

What increases the risk of developing cancer?

There are various factors that make a person more susceptible to abnormal changes in the cells of his body. The following are risk factors for cancer are:

• Age.This disease may take some time for the body. Therefore, most are diagnosed at age 65 or older. Age also may cause the body's cells to experience system errors.
• Bad habits. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, excessive sun exposure, obesity, and unsafe sex can all be factors in the body's cells that are out of control.
• Family history. In most cases, abnormal cell problems are hereditary, which is passed down from the family.
• Health condition. Certain conditions such as inflammation of the intestine can cause cells in the intestine to become abnormally out of control.
• Environment. Exposure to chemicals, such as benzene at home or work, can increase the risk of this disease.

Diagnosis and treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is cancer diagnosed?

It is advisable to diagnose the disease as soon as possible to get the best chance for a cure, especially in its early stages. Doctors can use one or more approaches to diagnose this disease.

Some of the common tests doctors do to make a diagnosis include:

• Physical examination

In addition to checking for changes in the skin, the doctor may also check through the anus for any malignant tumors in the anus or prostate.

• Laboratory test

Blood tests may be needed to check the patient's overall health and detect any abnormalities.

• Imaging test

Various imaging tests such as PET scans, MRIs, x-rays, ultrasounds, and CT scans can be used to find out if abnormal cells have spread.

• Biopsy

A biopsy is done by removing a small piece of tissue to be examined under a microscope. The sample form is taken in a biopsy and then analyzed by a pathologist.

What are the ways to treat cancer?

Treatment basically depends on the type and stage of the disease, potential side effects, as well as the patient's preferences and general health. Here are some of the most common cancer treatments:

• Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses high-intensity chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in the body. Chemotherapy is most often used as a cancer drug, because these disease cells develop faster than normal cells in the body.

Chemotherapy drugs can be used alone or in combination. However, there will be chemotherapy side effects that are felt.

• Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy or radiation therapy is a method of treatment that relies on radiation using high-energy waves such as x-rays, gamma, protons, and electrons to kill cancer cells.

Although radiotherapy is most often used as a treatment, sometimes this therapy is also used to treat patients who do not have this disease, such as tumors and disorders of the thyroid gland.

• Biological therapy

Another cancer drug is to do biological therapy. Biological therapy works by directly or indirectly damaging abnormal cells by triggering an immune system reaction to attack these cells.

Biological therapy uses living organisms, either those produced from within the human body or engineered in a laboratory that are deliberately designed to fight the cells that cause this disease. Biological therapy includes immunotherapy, vaccines, and so on.

• Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is therapy that uses drugs or other chemicals to identify and specifically attack cancer cells without killing normal cells. The therapy used can be a combination of several therapies. These therapies include:

1. Monoclonal antibodies.
2. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
3. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors).

Consult with your doctor for treatment options and medications that are right for you. Each treatment for this disease has different side effects. Consider the risks of taking medication to stop abnormal cells in your condition.

What is the life expectancy of cancer patients?

A person who is sick with cancer has a big life expectancy because this disease can be treated. However, the life expectancy depends on the type, stage, and age.

Some types of cancer that have a high cure rate when detected early and treated appropriately are those that attack the breast, cervix, mouth, and colorectal (large intestine and anus).

From 1991 to 2017, the average death rate from this disease has shown a decrease of 29 percent, with the largest decrease in 2016 to 2017, namely 2.2 percent.

If described in terms of the actual population, this means that about 2.9 million cancer survivors are able to survive after being diagnosed. Here's the picture:

• Decreased mortality rate by 40% due to breast cancer (1989-2017).
• A 52% reduction in mortality due to prostate cancer (1993-2017).
• The decrease in mortality rate by 56% in men (1980-2017) and 57% in women (1969-2017) due to colorectal cancer.
• The fastest decline in mortality occurred in melanoma skin cancer, which was 7% per year during 2013-2017.

With the latest treatment approved in 2011, the life expectancy of patients with this disease for the next year, which was 42 percent, has even increased to 55 percent.

Home care

What are the lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat this disease?

To support treatment, you must adapt your lifestyle for cancer patients. Here are the lifestyle changes you need to implement:

• Maintain an ideal body weight and follow the doctor's medication

The goal is to reduce obesity if you have it and prevent low body weight. Try checking your ideal weight with a BMI (body mass index) calculator. Follow the medication rules, therapy schedule, and restrictions that your doctor tells you to.

• Eat nutritious foods

Following medication often has side effects that affect the body's nutrition. So, make sure you follow a diet that is according to the advice of your doctor or nutritionist.

• Manage stress and get used to positive thinking

Your emotional state greatly affects treatment. Therefore, don't let stress drag on and get used to positive thinking to help the healing process.

Prevention

How do you prevent cancer?

Although there is no sure way to prevent cancer, people who have recovered and who are healthy can apply the following tips:

• Quit smoking because the chemicals trigger inflammation and can cause cells in the body, especially the lungs, to become abnormal.
• Wear sunscreen to prevent exposure to sun radiation which can increase the risk of skin cells dividing uncontrollably.
• Eat healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts.
• You who are at risk are required to do screening to find out whether there are abnormal cells.
• Follow the HPV vaccine to prevent abnormal cells in the cervix in women.
• Spending 30 minutes of exercise every day can prevent you from obesity, a risk factor for abnormal cell work.
• Just like cigarettes, alcohol also contains substances that trigger inflammation. So, limit your intake especially if you already have certain health problems.