Cancer is the abnormal growth of cells due to certain mutations in the DNA. It is alternatively known as malignancy and the cluster of the abnormal cells is called a tumor. Tumors are of two types—cancerous (malignant) tumors and noncancerous (benign) tumors. The benign tumors or the noncancerous tumors do not spread whereas the malignant cancerous tumors spread to other parts of the body.

Cancer is of several types and the treatments depend on the type and stages of cancer.

Causes of cancer
Some of the common causes of cancer have been listed below.

• Tobacco smoke is a main cause of cancer because tobacco cigarettes are made up of thousands of cancer-causing chemicals known as carcinogens. There are many radioactive materials present in tobacco smoke that cause lung cancers.
• Less physical activity and improper diet are also major causes of cancer. According to the Cancer Research Institute, around 20% of people diagnosed with cancer are either overweight or follow an unhealthy diet.
• Inflammation caused in the body due to infections can also cause cancer because it disturbs the immune system that fights cancer.
• Exposure to ultraviolet radiations causes skin cancer which is known as melanoma.

Symptoms of cancer
There are various signs of cancer and some of them have been listed below.

• Irregular bowel or unhealthy bladder functions are major signs of colon cancer.
• Abnormal changes in the breast or rashes near the nipples are a sign of breast cancer.
• Chest pain and lung infections are signs of lung cancer.
• Urine problem and lack of interest in food are also chronic signs of cancer.
• Tiredness that persists for a long time is a sign of cancer.
• Abdominal pains and vaginal bleeding are chronic symptoms of cancer as well.

If any of these symptoms are noticed, one should immediately consult a doctor. It is imperative to get it checked at the earliest as it will help initiate timely and proper treatment.

Treatment options for cancer
Cancer treatments are based on the category or stage of cancer that has affected the body and also on the health conditions of the patient. Treatments mainly aim at curing cancer through various advanced medical surgeries and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body. There has been much advancement in the process of treating cancer. Depending upon the type or stage of cancer, a patient is supposed to receive any one or more of the following treatments:

• Surgical treatments:  Surgery is mainly done if the cancer is confined at once place and the removal of cancerous cells is required. A biopsy is a common procedure that is done to test the overall nature of cancer.
• Chemotherapy:  This drug treatment is used for destroying cancer cells. Cancer patients necessarily have to undertake this systematic therapy. Millions of patients diagnosed with cancer who respond to this therapy tend to live a healthy and normal life.
• Hormonal treatments:  In the case of hormonal treatments, medications are used to control or block the abnormal spread of hormones in the body through the removal of hormone-secreting organs.