What is Cancer – quick intro

The question behind what is cancer, is not an easy question to answer.

Cancer is a group of more than 100 different diseases that are due to abnormal growth of body cells. The human body is made up of billions of tiny cells that reproduce themselves by dividing. A cancer cell is analogous to motor vehicle driver who is driving a car with his foot continuously on the accelerator and complete loss of his brake function. The DNA changes in cancer are often a consequence both of inherited genetic abnormalities and environmental induced damage to the DNA. Prostate cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, which is a gland found only in men. The prostate is about the size of a walnut and lies below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that allows urine to pass out of the body.

In some types of cancers, when cells grow out of control they usually form a mass, called a tumor . These tumors not only enlarge locally, but also have the potential to invade and destroy the normal tissue around them and to spread to distant parts of the body. When this gene is in its normal state, its main function is to give damaged cells time to repair themselves and not progress to cancer. However, when the gene is altered, it becomes unable to perform this function, and cancer can result.

You can find more info about What is Cancer here , or even about What is lung cancer to what is brain cancer .