Why does cancer occur

February,4 Kathmandu.According to a study published in the scientific journal Nature, there were 1.25 crore cases of breast cancer in India in the year 2021. This means that about 1% of the total population of India was suffering from breast cancer. 99% of these cases were of women. Breast cancer caused an economic burden of about Rs 69 thousand crore on India in 2021. With the speed at which breast cancer cases are increasing, it is estimated that by the year 2030, it will cause an economic burden of Rs 1 lakh 20 thousand crore on India.

If we talk about all types of cancer, then according to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 14.1 lakh new cases of cancer were reported in India in the year 2022 and a total of 9.1 lakh people died.

What is cancer?

There are approximately 30 trillion or 30 lakh crore cells in our body. All of them grow in a controlled manner in a certain pattern and after some time they get destroyed on their own. New cells come in their place. When cancer occurs, these normal cells turn into cancer cells and start multiplying in an uncontrolled manner.

Why does cancer occur?

According to the World Health Organization, smoking or consumption of tobacco in any form is the main cause of cancer. Smoking is responsible for one-third of cancer cases in America. Apart from this, unhealthy food and low physical activity are also major causes of cancer.

Cancer is divided into 4 stages

Cancer is divided into four stages based on which part of the body a person has cancer and how much it has spread. The method of treatment is decided based on the stage. In case of cancer, the sooner it is detected, the greater are the chances of the patient's recovery. Also, the cost of treatment is also less.

Advanced screening makes it easier to identify cancer

Most cases of cancer are detected in the third or fourth stage. Therefore, treatment becomes difficult and the patient's chances of survival also decrease. If screening tests are done on time, most cases can be detected in the early stages. Everyone should get these screening tests done according to their age and gender.

How is cancer detected?

If the doctor sees symptoms of cancer, then in most cases a biopsy is done. Apart from this, tests like blood test, CT scan, MRI and X-ray can also be done.

Is it possible to prevent cancer?

Yes, cancer can be prevented. The best way to prevent it is to have a good lifestyle, avoid bad habits like cigarette and alcohol, avoid toxin exposure and get cancer screening tests done after a certain age.

What are the necessary lifestyle changes that should be made to prevent cancer?

Incorporate the following things in your daily life–

What is chemo, a therapy often given in the treatment of cancer?

Chemotherapy is a type of systematic treatment. With its help, rapidly growing cancerous cells in the body are destroyed. Depending on the health condition of the patient and the stage of cancer, sometimes only chemotherapy is given, while in some cases surgery, radiation or hormone therapy is also required along with it.

 Do patients die due to the side effects of chemotherapy?

This is a myth. All medicines have some side effects. When paracetamol used for normal fever has side effects, thenchemotherapy can also have side effects.

Since this is a therapy given for the treatment of a serious disease like cancer, its effects can also be serious. Doctors decide whether chemotherapy is right for a patient or not, keeping in mind the patient's age and overall health.

Is cancer always fatal?

No, cancer is not always fatal. If cancer is detected in the early stages, it can be cured with the right treatment.