What is cancer?
Cancer is a group of diseases with one thing in common; cells become abnormal, dividing too often and without any order. When cells divide without control, they form too much tissue. The mass of extra tissue, called a tumor, can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are not cancer. They do not spread to other parts of the body and are seldom a threat to life. Benign tumors can usually be removed by surgery, and they are not likely to return. Malignant tumors are cancer. They can invade and damage nearby healthy tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away from the tumor and enter the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. That is how cancer spreads and forms tumors in other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis. Cancer of the esophagus is also called esophageal cancer. Each year, about 11,000 Americans find out they have cancer of the esophagus. Cancer can develop in any part of the esophagus. If the cancer spreads outside the esophagus, it usually shows up
Cancer is a disease of the body’s cells. Normally cells grow and multiply in a controlled way, however, if something causes a mistake to occur in the cells’ genetic blueprints, this control can be lost. Cancer is the term used to describe collections of these cells, growing and potentially spreading within the body. As cancerous cells can arise from almost any type of tissue cell, cancer actually refers to about 100 different diseases. Cancer cells that do not spread beyond the immediate area in which they arise are said to be benign ie. they are not dangerous. If these cells spread into surrounding areas, or to different parts of the body, they are known as malignant – commonly referred to as cancer.
Cancer occurs as a result of changes in the chromosomes (DNA) of cells causing them to reproduce abnormally. These damaged cells continue to grow and multiply, resulting in tumors. Some tumors are benign, or non-cancerous while others are malignant or cancerous. Only a biopsy, or examination of a small piece of the tumor, can confirm the diagnosis of cancer.
