Symptoms caused by cancer depending on the affected part of the body

Cancer refers to any disease among a large number of diseases characterized by the abnormal development of cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissues. Cancer often has the ability to spread throughout the body.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. But survival rates are improving for many types of cancer thanks to improvements in  cancer  detection, treatment and prevention.

Symptoms of cancer

Signs and symptoms caused by cancer vary depending on the part of the body affected. Some general signs and symptoms associated with, but not specific to, cancer include:

• The feeling of burning in the body.
• A lump or thickened area that can be felt under the skin.
• Weight changes, including unintentional weight gain or loss.
• Skin changes, such as yellowing, darkening or redness, sores that don't heal, or changes in existing moles.
• Changes in bowel habits, persistent urination, or trouble breathing.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Hoarseness.
• Persistent indigestion or feeling uncomfortable after eating.
• Unexplained persistent pain in the joints or muscles.
• Continuous fever or night sweats for no known reason.
• Bleeding or bruising without a known cause.

when to see a doctor

Make an appointment if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you. If you don't have any signs or symptoms but are concerned about your risk of developing cancer, discuss your concerns with your doctor. Ask him about the appropriate cancer screening tests and procedures for you.

causes of cancer

Cancer is caused by changes or mutations in the DNA within cells. The DNA within a cell is assembled into a large number of individual genes, each of which contains a set of instructions that tell the cell what functions to perform, as well as how to grow and divide. Errors in these instructions can cause the cell to stop functioning normally and may allow the cell to turn cancerous.

What do genetic mutations do?

A genetic mutation may direct a healthy cell to:

• Allow rapid growth. The genetic mutation may cause the cell to grow and divide faster. This results in many new cells that all contain the same mutation.
• Failure to stop abnormal cell growth. Normal cells know when to stop growing so that you have the correct number for each cell type. Cancer cells lose the controls (tumor suppressor genes) that determine when to stop growing. The mutation within the tumor suppressor gene allows cancer cells to continue to grow and accumulate.
• Make mistakes when fixing DNA errors. DNA repair genes look for and repair errors in a cell's DNA. A mutation in a DNA repair gene could mean that other errors are not correct, leading to cancer in cells.
• These mutations are the most common and most common cancer-causing mutations. But many other genetic mutations can contribute to cancer.

2. What causes genetic mutations?

Genetic mutations can occur for several reasons, for example:

• Genetic mutations you are born with. You may be born with a genetic mutation that you inherited from your parents. This type of mutation is responsible for a small percentage of cancers.
• Genetic mutations that occur after birth. Most genetic mutations occur after birth and are not hereditary. A number of factors can cause genetic mutations, such as smoking, radiation exposure, viruses, cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens), obesity, hormones, chronic infections, and lack of exercise.
• Gene mutations occur frequently during normal cell development. But cells have a mechanism that can recognize when an error has occurred and fix it. However, this mechanism may fail to recognize errors from time to time. This can cause the cell to become cancerous.

3. How do genetic mutations interact with each other?

Gene mutations that you are born with or acquire during your life interact with each other to cause cancer. For example, if you have inherited a gene mutation that predisposes you to cancer, it does not mean that you are certain that you will have cancer. But you may need one or more other gene mutations to have cancer.

 An inherited genetic mutation may make you more likely to develop cancer when exposed to a certain carcinogen. It is not clear how many mutations must form in order to cause cancer. This will likely vary depending on the type of cancer.

risk factors

Although doctors have an idea of ​​what might increase the risk of developing cancer, the majority of cancers affect people who do not have any known risk factors. Factors known to increase the risk of cancer include:

life

Cancer can take decades to complete, which is why most people with cancer are age 65 or older. Although cancer is more common in the elderly, it is not limited to adults, and cancer can be diagnosed at any age.

your surroundings

Your environment may contain harmful chemicals that can increase your risk of developing cancer. Even if you don't smoke, you may be exposed to second hand smoke if you go somewhere where people smoke or if you live with someone who smokes.

your health conditions

Certain chronic conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, may greatly increase the risk of certain cancers. Talk to your doctor about how severe it might be.

complications

Cancer and its treatment can cause many complications, including the following:

• Pain. Cancer or its treatment can cause pain, although not all cancers are painful.
•  Cancer sufferers feel overwhelmed, but they can often be treated.
• breathing difficulties. Cancer or its treatment may cause shortness of breath. Treatments may relieve this problem.
• nausea. Some types of cancer and its treatments may cause nausea.
• Diarrhea or constipation. Cancer and its treatment may affect your intestines and may cause diarrhea or constipation.
• weight loss. Cancer and its treatment can cause you to lose weight, steal food from normal cells, and deprive them of nutrients.
• Chemical changes in your body. Cancer can disrupt the natural chemical balance in your body and increase your risk of serious complications.
• Brain and nervous system problems. The cancer may press on nearby nerves and may cause pain and loss of function of a part of the body.
• Abnormal reactions of the immune system to cancer. In some cases, the body's immune system may react to the cancer by attacking healthy cells.
• spread of cancer. As the cancer worsens, it may spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Where the cancer has spread depends on the type of cancer.
• Cancer return. Cancer survivors are at risk of cancer recurrence. Some types of cancer are more likely to recur than others. Ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk of cancer recurrence.

protection

Doctors have identified several ways to reduce the risk of developing cancer, such as:

• If you smoke, stop smoking.
• Avoid excessive exposure to the sun.
• Eat a healthy diet. Choose a diet rich in fruits. Choose whole grains and lean sources of protein. Reduce your intake of processed meat.
• Work out most days of the week.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Schedule a cancer screening test. Talk to your doctor about the types of cancer screenings that are best for you based on your risk factors.