What causes cancer

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Malignant tumors such as carcinoma or sarcoma, lymphoma or leukemia originate from a cell or a group of cells in a multicellular organism that has several distinct properties:

evading apoptosis
Unlimited Growth Potential
self-sufficiency of growth factors
insensitivity to anti-growth factors
increased cell division rate
altered differentiation (specialization) ability
no ability for contact inhibition
ability to invade neighbouring tissue
ability to build metastases
ability to promote blood vessel growth (angiogenesis)

Cancer is, ultimately, a disease of genes. Typically, a series of several mutations is required before a cell becomes a cancer cell. We distinguish between oncogenes, which promote cancer when "switched on" by a mutation, and tumor suppressor genes, which prevent cancer unless "switched off" by a mutation. These mutations can have various causes: radiation or chemicals called carcinogens; some inherited predisposition is not uncommon; some viruses that can cause cancer have also been described. Usually, they carry in their genome some oncogene or tumor suppressor inactivating gene. In about 15% of all cancers, viruses seem to play a role; Bacteria, like Helicobacter pylori, also induce carcinogenesis by a process of chronic inflammation. Finally, damage by free radicals, which are a natural by-product of oxygen metabolism, can cause mutations in the DNA.

Treatment of cancer typically involves surgery to remove tumors and nearby lymph nodes to which the cancer may have spread, combined with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. The latter two target cells in the body that are rapidly dividing. This includes the cancer cells but also certain healthy ones, which is the reason for the severe side effects of these treatments.

CancerNausea.com
Presents information to help manage nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
DIPEx: Cancer
Includes audio and video interviews of patient experiences.
Ladies Home Journal: Cancer
Links to articles about skin and breast tumors.
Manage CINV
Offers patients and professionals information about chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
InteliHealth: Cancer
Medical information, articles and news covering a variety of tumors and related issues.

What causes cancer