what is Cancer

Cancer:is a large group of diseases with one thing in common They happen when normal cells become cancerous cells that multiply and spread

your genes send instructions to your cells like when to start and stop growing for example Normal cells follow these instructions but  cells ignore them.


Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the U.S But fewer people are dying of cancer now than  20 years ago Early detection and innovative treatments are curing cancer and helping people with cancer live longer.

Types of cancer

There are over 100 types of cancer Healthcare providers categorize them according to where they start in your body and the type of tissue they affect there are three broad cancer classifications:

• Solid cancer: This is the most common type of cancer making up about 80% to 90% of all cases This includes carcinoma that forms in epithelial tissue like your skin breast colon and lungs and sarcoma that forms in bone and connective tissues.
• Blood cancer : These are cancers that start in your blood cells or lymphatic system Examples include leukemia lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
• Mixed :  that involve two classifications or subtypes Examples include carcinosarcoma and adenosquamous carcinoma.

How common is cancer

Cancer is the second most common cause of death worldwide Researchers estimate that in 2025 over 2 million people living in the U.S will receive a  diagnosis and over 611.000 people will die from the disease.

About 1 in 4 people will develop cancer at some point during their lifetime. The most common  in the BNG are

• Breast cancer
• Lung Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Blood cancers

Anyone can develop cancer but cases vary based on race and sex According to the 2025 Annual Report on the disease.

• Affects slightly more men than women
• Affects people over 60 more than any other age group
• Affects more Black men than those in other racial groups
• Affects more women who are American indian or Alaska Natives than those in other racial groups

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of ?

Symptoms of  vary from person to person They depend on what type ofyou have and how advanced it is

General symptoms may include.

• Fatigue
• Fever that occurs mostly at night
• Loss of appetite
• Night sweats
• Persistent pain
• Skin changes particularly moles that change shape and size or new moles
• Unexplained weight loss in some cases  may cause additional organ specific symptoms these include.
• Blood in pee or in your stool
• Changes in the shape color or size of a skin mole
• Coughing up blood
• New lumps or bumps.

this isn’t an exhaustive list and having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily you have

is a complicated disease Different types cause different symptoms lt’s also possible to have  for years without knowing it Other times it can cause obvious symptoms that get worse very quickly.

A good rule of thumb is to let a healthcare provider know any time there’s a change in your body that lasts for more than two weeks.

What causes Cancer

a genetic disorder but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s inherited it happens when genes that manage cell activity mutate change they create abnormal cells that divide and multiply eventually disrupting how your body works.

These cells createclusters or tumors Cancerous cells may break away from tumors and travel to other areas of your body through your lymphatic system or bloodstream Healthcare providers call this metastasis

For example a tumor in your breast to your lungs making it hard for you to breathe in some types of blood can your bone marrow makes abnormal blood cells that multiply uncontrollably Eventually the abnormal cells crowd out normal blood cells.

According to medical researches inherited genetic mutations changes you can’t control cause about 5% to 10% of all rnce More often  occurs as an acquired genetic mutation change that means it happens over the course  of your life Medical researchers have identified several risk factors that increase your chance of developing

Risk factors

There isn’t one single cause for c Rather certain things can increase your chance of developing it like.

Family history lf you have close biological family members parents siblings grandparents who have can you have a higher risk of developing.