Cancer is a a very broad term. Cancer involves those diseases caused by cellular changes which lead to cells division and uncontrolled growth. Some of the cancer types lead to rapid cell growth, whereas others make cells grow and divide at a reduced rate. Some of the categories of cancer lead to visible growths known as tumors, while others do not. Many cells within the body serve certain functions and have a certain lifespan. Death of the cells is an important and natural occurrence part of the body known as apoptosis. A cell gets death instructions for the body to replace it with another one which is new with better functions.
Cancer cells have no components to instruct them to die and stop dividing. This leads to cells developing up within the body, through the use of nutrients and oxygen that would actually nourish other cells within the body. Cancer cells may destroy the immune system, cause changes that may hinder the regular functionality of the body and can also lead to the formation of tumors. Cancer may of various types and it has causes, symptoms and treatments. In this discussion, the focus ill be on colon cancer where we will get to know more about it. We will also focus on how the cell division process is involved in the cause of cancer. Colon cancer is characterized by various symptoms, causes, risk factors, prevention measures and stages. All these will be discussed below.
Topic : Cancer- Choose any type of cancer. Recently in the news it was reported that Chadwick Boseman died of colon cancer you can use this as an example of cancer and how the cell division process is involved in the cause of cancer. Introduction Cancer is a a very broad term. Cancer involves those diseases caused by cellular changes which lead to cells division and uncontrolled growth. Some of the cancer types lead to rapid cell growth, whereas others make cells grow and divide at a reduced rate. Some of the categories of cancer lead to visible growths known as tumors, while others do not. Many cells within the body serve certain functions and have a certain lifespan. Death of the cells is an important and natural occurrence part of the body known as apoptosis. A cell gets death instructions for the body to replace it with another one which is new with better functions. Cancer cells have no components to instruct them to die and stop dividing. This leads to cells developing up within the body, through the use of nutrients and oxygen that would actually nourish other cells within the body. Cancer cells may destroy the immune system, cause changes that may hinder the regular functionality of the body and can also lead to the formation of tumors. Cancer may of various types and it has causes, symptoms and treatments. In this discussion, the focus ill be on colon cancer where we will get to know more about it. We will also focus on how the cell division process is involved in the cause of cancer. Colon cancer is characterized by various symptoms, causes, risk factors, prevention measures and stages. All these will be discussed below. How the cell division process is involved in the cause of cancer Generally, cancer refers to various interlinked diseases. In every type of cancer, some cells of the body start dividing continuously and spread within the neighbouring tissues. Cancer can develop anywhere within the body, and is made up of many cells. Cancer comes from the unchecked cell division due to the breakdown of the mechanisms controlling the cell cycle. The breakdown starts with a change on the DNA sequence of a certain gene that codes for one of the regulatory molecules. A protein that does function as intended to, is caused by the faulty instructions. Disruptions within the monitoring system may enable more mistakes to be conceded towards the daughter cells. All successful divisions of the cell will lead to increment of the daughter cell with much more damage accumulation. At the end of it all, every checkpoint ends up being non-functional and quickly replicates crowds of cells from the normal cells, thus leading to a tumorous growth. Cell division, makes the cancer cells to break almost all the rules. Cancer cells are capable of dividing without the necessary external signals. Cancer cells normally does not display the contact inhibition. As many of the cells may tell when being crowded, by the neighbouring cells, the cancer cells no longer respond to this. The continuous growth of the cancerous cells stimulates the cells’ pilling up and tumor mass formation. Cancer cells divide without getting an all clear signal. As the normal cells stops dividing due to DNA presence, the cancer cells continues to divide. This leads to daughter cells that have an abnormal DNA or else abnormal number of chromosomes. The resulting mutant cells are normally much abnormal compared to the parent cell. As a result, the cancerous cells may develop to gradually being much abnormal. Continuous division of the cells leading to the growth of tumors. Genetic instability coming from the abnormal division of the cells causes drug resistance which is present in many cancers. Mutations in certain genes may interfere with the cells’ behaviour in such a way that contributes to much more growth of the tumor. Human body cells are ruled by various pre-programmed procedures referred to as the cell cycle which indicate the way cells develop and divide. Cell cycle abnormalities are the determiners of cancer growth. When cell cycle regulatory procedures and malfunctions do not correct cell division errors, this leads to unrestrained cell multiplication, which is the symbol of cancer. With time, the cells diverge more than the normal, thus much resistant to the regulatory procedures that eliminate errors to uphold a normal function of the tissue. As a result, this means that the disease has been established. Various mutation are linked to various types of cancer. It is currently acknowledged that some genes are much more mutated compared to others within the cancer cells. Colon Cancer Colon cancer is brought up by the growth of tumors within the large intestine. Colon cancer is among the most common types of cancer. Within the large intestine or else the colon, salt and water are sifted from the solid waste, where the waste moves trough the rectum and leaves the body via the anus. Colon cancer begins within the colon or the large intestine which is the last part within the tract of digestion. Basically, colon cancer affects the older adults , but it can also occur at any age. Colon cancer normally starts like small benign cell clumps known as polyps that develop within the colon. With time, many of the formed polyps may end up being colon cancers. Sometimes, colon cancer may also be termed as colorectal cancer, which is a joint term for both colon and rectal cancer, which starts its development within the rectum. The polyps may be of small size and may give few of the symptoms if available. As a result, doctors recommend that people, have to go regular screening tests to assist in preventing colon cancer through the identification and elimination of polyps before they end up being cancer. Where colon cancer grows, there are various treatments which can assist in controlling it such as drugs (chemotherapy, immunotherapy and the targeted therapy), radiation therapy and surgery. Symptoms of colon cancer A lot of people with colon cancer do not experience any symptoms within the disease’ initial stages. Once the symptoms start appearing, they may vary according to the size of the cancer and its location within the large intestine. As a result, colon cancer is linked to various signs and symptoms including; · Blood in one’s stool or else bleeding of the rectum. · Fatigue or weakness. · Tenacious change on the bowel habits, such as constipation, diarrhoea or else inconsistency in one’s stool. · Incomplete emptying of the bowel. · Inexplicable loss of weight. · Persistent discomfort within the abdomen like pain, cramps or gas. Once one notices any of the above signs and symptoms that may be worrying to them, they should meet the doctor for check up purposes. Causes of colon cancer Generally, doctors are not specific on what exactly leads to colon cancers. Basically, colon cancer starts once healthy colon cells start developing mutations or changes within their DNA. DNA of the cells has various instructions that direct the cell on what to do. The healthy cells develop and divide in an orderly manner to always maintain the normal functionality of the body. Once the DNA of a cell is tampered with or becomes cancerous, the cells end up dividing further, even when there is no need of new cells. As a result, this leads to the formation of a tumor. After a while, the cancerous cells may develop further to attack and destroy the regular tissues around. Cancer cells can move further to other body parts thus forming deposits over them known as metastasis. Colon cancer risk factors There are various risk factors that may increase the probability of one contracting cancer including; Older age; The diagnosis of colon cancer may be done at any age, however most people who are infected with colon cancer are over 50 years. Nevertheless, colon cancer rates in the people below 50 years has been increasing, but doctors are not sure why it is so. One’s polyps or colorectal cancer history; If one was once a victim of colon cancer or noncancerous polyps, they have a higher risk of contracting colon cancer in future. Provocative conditions of the large intestine; Chronic colon diseases like ulcerative colitis may increase one’s risk of contracting colon cancer. Smoking; Smoking increases the chances of getting colon cancer. History of colon cancer in a family; If you have one of your blood relatives who were or are victims of colon cancer, you are likely to develop it too. Alcohol; Heavy consumption of alcohol increases the risk of one getting colon cancer. Diabetes; Those people who are resistance to insulin or diabetic have high risks of contracting colon cancer. Sedentary lifestyle; Inactive people are much likely to get colon cancer as they don’t do physical exercises regularly. Obesity; Obese people are much likely to contract colon cancer and more risk of dying due to colon cancer infection compared to the normal weighted people. Prevention of colon cancer Screening of the colon cancer. Screening is where one goes for tests of colon cancer before the development of its signs and symptoms. Through the tests, the colon cancer can be diagnosed earlier enough when the available treatments may work out. Some screenings of colon cancer can also find and remove polyps within the rectum or else the colon. Though polyps are not cancer, with time the cancer can develop within the polyps. As a result, removal of the polys reduces cancer risks. Doing active exercises regularly and controlling your weight. Doing much more active exercises may assist one in minimizing the risks of contracting colon cancer. Through eating of healthier foods and improving your physical activity may assist one in controlling your weight. Avoiding alcohol and not smoking. Its is good to avoid alcohol at all costs. Nevertheless, if you have to drink alcohol, regulate your drinking to two drinks in a single day. Try to avoid smoking at any chance, and if you want to quit from smoking, it is good to seek help to enhance your quitting process successfully. Stages of colon cancer 0 Stage This is the initial stage of colon cancer and is where it has not grown beyond the mucosa, or else the the colon’s innermost layer. 1st Stage In this stage, the cancer developed within the innermost layer of the colon know as the mucosa, towards the next layer of the colon referred to as the submucosa. However, the cancer has not spread towards the lymph nodes. 2nd Stage In this stage, the infection is much advanced compared to the 1st stage and has grown past the colon’s mucosa and also the submucosa. The 2nd stage of colon cancer is additionally divided into 2A, 2B, and