What Is Cancer?

Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells in the body are rapidly divided, at a faster rate, then these abnormal cells spread and grow into a lump or tumor.

Cancer is one of the highest causes of death in the world, and sometimes its victims suffer excruciating pains and discomfort before they die. Cancer is usually in four stages.

The stage of your cancer determines how serious it is. When a doctor performs his tests and diagnosis, a number will be given to the result. The higher the number, the more cancer has eaten deep into your system. There are the four stages of cancer below:

Stage 1: The cancer is still confined to a small area and hasn’t spread to other tissues.
Stage 2: Cancer has matured but hasn’t spread yet.
Stage 3: Cancer has matured and has probably started spreading.
Stage 4: Cancer has started spreading. This is the highest stage of cancer.

Symptoms of cancer

The symptoms of this disease depend on the affected part of the body, but there are some general symptoms associated with cancer:

• Fatigue
• Swollen or thickening lump that can be felt in the skin.
• The coloration of the skin, like yellowing, darkness, or redness.
• Sores or injuries that won’t heal.
• Changes in bowel or bladder routine.
• Having trouble breathing.
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Constant undue fevers and night sweats
• Constant undue muscle or joint pain

What causes cancer?

Cancer is often caused by mutations or a change in your DNA structure. This mutation can be generic or it could happen as a result of environmental factors during birth. Either way, below are some of the most common causes of cancer:

• Tobacco use
• High alcohol consumption
• Too many sugary drinks, salty snacks, refined carbohydrates, and processed grains.
• Lack of physical activity
• Exposure to air pollution
• Exposure to radiation
• Direct exposure to UV light                                                                                                            

Also, the risk of developing cancer increases as you get older. The risk continues to increase as you’re approaching 70 to 80 before you’re no longer at risk.

Prevention of cancer

Below are some ways to reduce the risk of developing cancer. They include:

1. Stop smoking: Smoking is quite harmful to your health and it also causes cancer of the lungs and other types of cancer. If you’re already a smoker, stop. And if you’re thinking of starting, don’t.                                                                                               
2. Avoid excessive UV light: The harmful rays from the sun can cause skin cancer. Either you protect your skin with protective clothing and sunscreen, or you stay out of the sun’s rays as much as possible.                                                                                                                                       
3. Maintain a proper and balanced diet: Choose your food wisely. Avoid eating too much junk and eat more lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables.                                                                                                                              
4. Exercise regularly: Try to do some exercises regularly, even if it’s not every day of the week. At least 30 minutes per session is okay per day.                                                                                                                                     
5. Watch your weight: People who are obese or overweight have a higher chance of developing cancer. So watch what you eat, but don’t starve yourself. Just eat well, work out more, and maintain a healthy body.