Cancer
Description:
Cancer is one of the major causes of deaths all over the world where communicable diseases have been controlled.
Cancer can occure in any part or any tissue of the body and can involve any type of body cells.
Common types of cancer are oral cancer, oesophageal cancer, cancer of cervix uteri, lung cancer, stomach cancer, gall bladder cancer, hepatic cancer, breast cancer etc.
It mostly due to habit of smoking and tobacco chewing.
Causes of Cancer:
Cancer is caused due to
→ An abnormal and purposeless multiplication of cells in size and mass more than they should.
→ The ability to infiltrate to the adjacent tissues or distant organs.
→ Because cells are not dying when they should.
→ If the tumour has developed to such an extent that it can't be removed successfully then ultimately death of the patient will be the result.
Sign and Symptoms:
The following are the danger signs of cancer:
→ Any sore that does not heal.
→ Formation of lump, tumour or thickening in the breast or else where in the body.
→ Unusual bleeding or discharges from any part of the body.
→ Difficulty in swallowing and persistent indigestion.
→ Persistent cough or hoarseness of voice.
→ Any sudden changes in skin and outgrowth of skin like wart and mole.
Prevention and Control:
Cancer can be prevented if following measures are adopted :
→ Try to avoid consumption of alcohol and tobacco in any form.
→ Try to avoid and protect against known carcinogenic agents such as chemicals, drugs and radiations.
→ Ensure personal hygiene to prevent the cervix and penile cancer.
→ Persons should be immunised against hepatitis B virus to prevent liver cancer.
→ Food, drugs and cosmetics should be tested for their carcinogenic activity.
→ Early detection and treatment of precancerous lesions should be done.
For this purpose cancer detection centres should be established.
→ Breast cancer should be detected at an early stage through mammography and steps taken to control breast cancer.
Millions of women today suffer from this deadly disease. Moreover the number of such cases are increasing day-by-day. The changing life style correlates with delayed child bearing (after 30) the early onset of menstruation (before 12) and late menopause (after 50) are the risk factors for breast cancer.
→ After cure, rehabilitation of cancerous patients should be kept in view.
Treatment:
For the treatment of cancer surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy are needed. Now-a-days instead of giving one therapy a combination of two or more than two therapies are given to control cancer and this has become the general practice in cancer centres all over the world. The latest technique for treating cancer is the laser therapy i.e. Interstitial Laser Photocoagulation in short form known as ILP.
The patients who cannot be treated by above mentioned therapies and have crosses the curable stage, they must be provided with some pain killers so as to give relief from unbearable pain.
Source- Hand Book of Health Education and Community Pharmacy.
