| Cancer information for laymen | | | | started. Doctors called this 'localized |
| | | | disease'. As the cancer grow, they will |
| 28th February 2007 | | | | spread into the lymph nodes in the body. |
| | | | Doctors called this regional spread. If there |
| Author: DR SOON | | | | is further spread beyond the lymph nodes to |
| | | | other organs, doctors refer to this as |
| Cancer has been a taboo in human society. | | | | distant metastasis. This degree of spread is |
| Cancer often causes fear and hopelessness. | | | | known as staging. This is important for |
| This explains why faith healing is so much in | | | | doctors to plan treatment. |
| demand by cancer patients. Cancer is not a | | | | |
| single disease. It is a clinical syndrome | | | | Investigation are also important to find out |
| referring to group of diseases which have | | | | whether the cancer has spread to other parts |
| different causes. As such, one person's | | | | of the body. Treatment will then be tailored |
| cancer cannot be compared with another. | | | | to the clinical stage of the disease process. |
| | | | A diagnosis of cancer are very often |
| Our bodies are made up of hundreds of | | | | confirmed by biopsy. Blood tests will provide |
| different types of cells. Any of these cells | | | | more information to doctors. Other tools that |
| theoretically may become abnormal, leading to | | | | doctors use are ultrasounds, x-rays, CT |
| various types of cancer. The cause of cancer | | | | scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and |
| is complex. The cancer disease process occurs | | | | Positron Emission Tomography. |
| when some of our body cells start to behave | | | | |
| in an uncontrolled way destroying our own | | | | If you have questions related to this article |
| body tissues. | | | | you may e-mail me at quoting the contents of |
| | | | the article. Alternatively, you may post your |
| In the early stages, cancerous growths | | | | question on the bulletin board. |
| usually remain in the organ where the cancer | | | | |