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Cancer of the breast is the leading cancer among women in Western countries. It appears that this cancer is caused by one of several viruses and is increased in certain population groups. As mentioned before women who breast-feed their babies seem to be protected. Those with fibrocystic disease, a condition where the mammary glands enlarge and become engorged with sacs of fluid have an increased risk of breast malignancy.

Recent evidence points to the intake of caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, tea, and colas as factors in the production of this fibrocystic change. Beverage alcohol is believed to be one major risk factor in breast cancer. Men may also have breast cancer, but it is about 1/125th as common. Periodic selfexamination is an excellent aid to early detection of breast cancer, especially if it remains the same throughout the menstrual cycle.

A great deal of controversy is raging in the medical world concerning the best treatment for breast cancer. Some types seem to be adequately treated by locally excising the tumor. The removal of a portion of the breast obviously preserves normal anatomy and is far less mutilating than the more traditional radical mastectomy.

Many types of breast cancer are quite adequately treated and often cured by a modified approach removing the breast only, while preserving the muscles in the chest and dissecting the lymph glands in the arm pit only when the risk of metastasis is high. This to me seems like a much more “middle-ofthe- road” approach, avoiding the extensive mutilation and more serious complications of the radical surgery commonly performed.

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Cancer of the lung is the most common cancer in men and increasing rapidly among women. There are a number of types of lung cancer, but the most common is called bronchogenic, since it originates in the bronchial tubes. By far, the most common cause of lung cancer is tobacco smoking with the risk directly proportionate to the number of cigarettes smoked and the amount of inhaling. It appears that in the tobacco tar, we find not only benz-0-pyrene, but also dozens of other cancerproducing chemicals, as well as other substances that sensitize the tissues to the destructive action of these agents. Over a period of years the hapless smoker accumulates an increasing amount of tar, until some of the lining cells, which at first increase in number as a protective measure, finally become transformed into malignant cells, which invade local tissues and eventually metastasize.

Extensive research on tobacco was sponsored by The American Cancer Society. Also, momentous publications by the recent Surgeon General of the United States, especially his dynamic governmental Report on Smoking and Health, underscore clearly the detrimental effects of tobacco use and its potential for producing malignancy in vital organs. In spite of many medical and surgical advances in the treatment of advanced cancer, lung cancer still takes the lives of about 95% of its victims. Tragically, most cases are discovered too late for any hope of cure, although this disease is almost entirely preventable.

An individual developing cancer of the lung may have no symptoms at all until the cancer is far advanced. Others develop a cough that may be confused with the smoker’s cough of chronic bronchitis. At times the expectorated mucous may contain blood, a rather late sign in the development of this cancer. Some unfortunate cases have spread to involve vital blood vessels, the brain, or bones before adequate diagnosis has been made. Occasionally, the removal of the lung or part of a lobe may eradicate the tumor early enough to effect a cure.

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Benign tumor growths, although not true cancers, share some of their same characteristics, such as viral causation, transformation of cells, and autonomous growth. A number of specific viruses are known to cause benign tumors. They are by far the most common of any new growths a person might have.
Warts are benign tumors that occur in almost any location. They are very common on the hands. However, in spite of folklore rumors, they are not caused by handling frogs! A wart virus penetrates the skin and transforms dermal cells causing this unusual growth. When it occurs on the sole of the foot, around the nail beds, or in the genital organs, it may be difficult to eradicate, even quite painful.

Warts can usually be frozen with liquid nitrogen, or may be removed chemically, such as with strong acids. Many physicians prefer to destroy the wart with an electric current (cautery) after appropriately anesthetizing the skin. Many of these can be successfully frozen or removed at home, if appropriate antiseptic precautions are observed.

Skin tags and papillomas are growths that protrude from the skin or mucous membrane. Some of these can be tied off with a strong silk string, while others with a larger base require local excision, freezing technique, or chemical cautery. Soft lumps of varying sizes under the skin are often lipomas, fatty tumors that usually develop autonomously in the fatty tissue beneath the skin. Sometimes for cosmetic reasons these are removed by a simple surgical procedure done under local anesthesia. Fibrous tumors (fibromas) and various types of moles also can be removed to prevent cosmetic blemish, irritation, or the avoidance of further growth.

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The magnitude of the cancer problem may be appreciated by these few statistics. One in four Americans will develop cancer during his or her lifetime. More than 400,000 Americans died of cancer in 1990. Not only is cancer a momentous health problem, but the management and care of these patients is frequently quite complex and heartrending.

The much-feared word, cancer, is a term used to characterize an aberrant growth of cells, which ultimately results either in the invasion of normal tissues, or the spread to other organs, called metastasis. The degree of threat or malignancy (from the Latin roots malignus, and genus, meaning, “engendering harm”) of a particular cancer is based upon the propensity of its abnormal cells to invade surrounding tissues or spread to other organs. Cancer is not one disease. There are more than one hundred distinct forms of cancer with differing biological behavior and clinical manifestations. The natural course of some kinds progresses rapidly, and takes the life of the victim within weeks to months. Others are very slow growing and may metastasize to distant areas, spread rapidly, or extend the tumor locally and invade the surrounding tissues.

Some types of cancer are quite predictable in their behavior, while others are just the opposite. The factors that allow aberrant cancer cells to invade tissues are not well understood. Some individuals appear to be resistant to the invasion of cancer. Not only do they resist the disease, but also if they have a malignant growth they may undergo spontaneous remission leading to a complete cure.

Some of the basic types of cancer have general features that characterize their behavior. Carcinomas are cancers involving glandular or covering tissues, such as the intestinal tract, lungs, or skin. These are more apt to spread by invasion of the lymph vessels, initially involving the nearest lymph node. This is why the lymph nodes are carefully examined in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, for example. Sarcomas, on the other hand, are cancers of connective tissue, such as muscle, cartilage, or bone. These characteristically spread via the blood stream, and distant metastases to the lungs or brain are common.

Two properties of tumor cells probably contribute to their spread to distant sites. One is decreased “adhesiveness” of tumor cells to each other with the resulting ability of these clumps of cells to break off and enter the lymphatics of blood stream and to lodge in other tissues. The second is the elaboration of a “tissue angiogenesis factor,” which results in rapid development of local blood vessels, thereby feeding the growing tumor cell mass and hastening its development.

Common symptoms that are seen with most malignancies are those of weight loss, loss of appetite, and unexplained bleeding. The American Cancer Society has popularized the seven danger signals, which although helpful in early detection, at times show up too late for an actual cure by surgical removal. The change in a wart or mole, unexplained bleeding, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, a persistent cough, particularly with the production of blood, a lump developing in some part of the body, and a change in bowel habits these are the signs that should alert one to seek comprehensive investigation for the possibility of cancer.

Many causes of cancer have been suggested. A great deal of evidence has accumulated in recent years. For a long time, it was known that certain hereditary disorders might increase the risk of cancer. For example, if a relative of a patient has breast cancer, the risk increases 3-5 times in females. Individuals with multiple polyps in the colon, or other hereditary disorders, such as Down’s syndrome, have increased risk of developing certain cancers.

Viruses can cause development of cancer in almost every mammal, as well as fish, frogs, and other species. Some may be transmitted to humans through meat eating, milk, or eggs. These tumor viruses transform cells, but occasionally may lie dormant for many years without producing disease. It is felt today that many cases of breast cancer, leukemia, and other cancers of the lymph organs (lymphomas) are caused by viruses. One of these is the Epstein- Barr virus known to cause infectious mononucleosis.

Carcinogens are chemicals that can produce cancer. Most of these are present in the environment. They were first demonstrated by Dr. Potts in England, who linked the increased incidence of scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps with exposure to soot. We now know that it was creosote and tars, which adhered to the skin, that eventually caused skin cancer. Lung cancer is much more common today, caused by one or more of the dozens of cancer-producing chemicals present in mainstream tobacco smoke.

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WARNING SIGNS of CANCER

1. Unusual bleeding or discharge.
2. A lump or thickening in the breast, or elsewhere in the body, especially if new.
3. Discovering a sore that does not heal.
4. Any changes in bowel or bladder habits.
5. Indigestion, or difficulty in swallowing.
6. Hoarseness or cough, chronic & persisting.
7. Any decided change in a wart or mole.

This brings us to the next Categories. Study it carefully, not only to learn about the subject of cancer, but for means of prevention. That will be even better than cure!

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