Catch it early save your life.

Overview

My friend was diagnosed with cancer. I’m curious.  What is cancer?

That’s a good question. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Let me explain what cancer is.  Cancer is a disease of cells in your body that become abnormal.  Your body contains trillions of cells.  Cells are like building blocks for your body.  For example, cells group together to make your heart, your eyes, your brain and your lungs. Normal cells within your body do not create any problems.  Your body makes new cells when one cell makes identical copies of itself.  Sometimes a cell makes a mistake when it copies itself and produces a damaged cell.  These damaged cells can divide quickly and create a group of damaged cells called a tumor. Sometimes those damaged cells or tumors will spread throughout the body.  If that spread is not controlled, it can lead to death.  This occurs because the tumor interferes with normal cell functions.

Is there more than one type of tumor?

Yes.  There are two different types of tumors.  One is called a benign tumor.  It is not cancer, nor is it dangerous, but most of the time this will need to be removed because it can interfere with your body's normal functioning.  The second type, the malignant tumor, is dangerous and can spread throughout the body and grow uncontrollably.  If allowed to grow, it will cause death.  This second type of growth is cancer.