Cancer is a dangerous, complex malignancy characterized by unregulated, rapid and aggressive mitosis and the growth of defective undifferentiated cells containing mutated genes (which form tumors). It is able to invade surrounding tissues and metastasize to various organs and regions of the body (thereby producing different cancerous diseases inherent in certain regions of the body, such as lung cancer) using the bloodstream or the lymphatic and circulatory systems throughout the body (due to the lack of chemical adhesion molecules to anchor them to their growth site) to form new tumors that will interfere with normal body functions, destroy body organs, causing blockages in blood vessels and subsequently collapsing the immune system if left untreated. They are irregularly shaped compared to normal surrounding cells, are not encapsulated, and are not organized, making them difficult to remove. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayMalignant tumors are generally classified under either epithelial origin, such as renal cell carcinoma, or sarcoma, which originates from supporting tissues such as osteosarcoma. Common features of cancer include: Maintaining proliferative signaling where cancer cells produce internal autocrine signals using mutated oncogenes (which promote excessive cell growth) and genes tumor suppressors (does not stop cell proliferation.) despite receiving cellular signals from neighboring cells to stop their growth. Evasion of growth suppressors: Cancer cells modify tumor suppressor genes such that, even if the DNA is damaged, it continues to proliferate and lacks contact inhibition. Activation of invasion and metastasis: Cancer cells move away from their original location to distant regions and organs of the body with the help of blood vessels and invade surrounding tissues and vessels. to form new colonies and secondary tumors. "Enable replicative immortality: cancer cells escape senescence by lengthening their telomeric DNA using a telomerase manipulated at the end of the chromosomes which allows them to divide indefinitely (unlike normal cells whose telomeres shorten after each cell division until seizure - senescence) and avoid apoptosisInduce angiogenesis: cancer cells form new blood vessels by manipulating and sending molecular signals to normal cells surrounding the tumor which are capable of producing new blood vessels This helps them receive enough nutrients and oxygen and eliminate waste. Resist cell death: Cancer cells inactivate the tumor suppressor TP53 which detects abnormalities in cells and causes apoptosis or carries. defects in proteins involved in programmed cell death, thereby preventing it, which causes the accumulation of damaged cells. The etiology of cancer involves a mutation in genes that control the process of cell division, such as oncogenes (send molecular signals to cells to proliferate), which results in anaplasia (lack of cell specialization). Cancer risk factors include: Age: Individuals aged 55 and older are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer Patient lifestyle: Cigarette smokers have an increased risk ofcancerEnvironment: Acquisition of specific chronic infections/bacteria such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C which increase susceptibility to liver cancer, exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or ionizing radiation from medical imaging devices such as X, immunosuppressive drugs that reduce non -specific and specific immune functions increasing the risk of cancer development, exposure or consumption of carcinogenic substances that cause genetic activity such as benzene and mercury. Hereditary: People inheriting oncogenes that are cancer proliferation genes or having risk genes that require environmental stimulation to change them into a cancer such as basal cell carcinoma. Some symptoms of cancer include fever, unexplained weight loss, feeling tired or hyperpigmentation, persistent cough, or any changes observed in bowel or bladder function. Cancer diagnosis first begins with checking the patient's personal and family medical history and receiving their complaint to check for any signs or symptoms resembling cancer. Followed by a physical examination of the skin or other body structure to locate the tumor through palpation and auscultation to look for any abnormal sounds around areas of the body like the lungs or stomach. Then other diagnostic tests should be ordered, such as blood tests: to detect any abnormally high amounts of tumor markers (chemicals produced by cancer cells) in the blood. Diagnostic Imaging: X-rays – to look for potentially malignant tumors based on a photo taken from inside the body. , computed tomography (CT scan) - for a 3D cross-sectional image of the body's internal organs that displays any tumors with a dye injected into the patient to increase the contrast of the image, ultrasound - use of high-frequency sound waves to reflect on body tissues to produce sonograms, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to produce detailed cross sections of the body by causing the tissues to emit radio waves Biopsy: a surgically removed sample of the patient's tissue is examined under a microscope to check for it is benign or malignant. Cancers can be staged using their size or extent of spread using the TNM staging system for example (T tumor size and any growths in surrounding tissue, lymph node N lymph system cancer has spread , M cancer metastasis). It could also be evaluated to establish a prognosis of the disease on a scale of 1 to 4 (1 – tumor cells resemble surrounding tissues, 2 – slightly abnormal appearance of tumor cells, 3 – moderately abnormal tumor cells, 4 – tumor cells very abnormal). for cancer is vital and is based on the type of cancer, its stage and location with secondary factors such as the patient's general health and age taken into account to adjust treatment, such as doses of chemotherapy lower for older people in weakened health. Common treatments for cancer are: Chemotherapy: using drugs to target and kill cells that divide rapidly, such as blood or bone marrow cells. Surgery: Use of incisions to remove the tumor, surrounding tissue, and possibly lymph nodes to prevent cancer relapse. Radiotherapy: use of high energy rays. either externally (from a large machine in the cancer treatment areas) or internally (by placing low doses of).