by Ou Young Foon

Created on: March 19, 2010

Cancer is a disease whereby abnormal cells grow out of proportion and uncontrollably, impairing normal body functions and can lead to death.  Cancer comes in many types and forms and can affect different parts of our body.  Some cancers are a result of chronic infections.  For example, the hepatitis B virus causes liver cancer.  Cancer cells are very mobile.  They can travel from one part of our body to another through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.  A mass of cancer cells is called a tumour.  Not all tumours are cancerous.  Benign tumours do not harm our body like cancerous ones, though they may hinder proper body functions like blocking the internal walls of intestines.

Since cancer can occur at different areas of our body, different symptoms will appear for various types of cancer.  People diagnosed with breast cancer may have unusual discharge such as blood from the nipple or sore at the breast that will not heal.  They may detect lumps in their breasts.  If you have lung cancer, you may have blood in your phlegm and experience persistent cough.  Bladder or kidney cancer patients will have symptoms such as blood in the urine, while colon cancer patients will have symptoms such as tiredness, sudden change of bowel patterns like unusual constipation and diarrhoea.  Cancer of the cervix or endometrium may occur if there is vaginal bleeding, whereas a lump felt in the testicle or lymph node may be associated with cancer of the testicle or lymph node respectively.  A change in the frequency  of urination accompanied by pain may indicate bladder or prostate cancer.  Sores in the mouth may indicate oral cancer.  Besides having sores, skin cancer patients may detect a change of size of colour in their mole.  Hoarseness of voice may be a symptom of a larynx or thyroid cancer.  If you have difficulties swallowing or suffer from indigestion frequently, you may have oesophagus, stomach or throat cancer.  Cancer of the brain and nose may cause a person to have difficulties hearing or hearing a noise that will not go away.  Sometimes, a person can even faint suddenly due to brain tumour.  Generally, most cancer sufferers tend to lose weight, feel pain and tired.

Diagnosis of suspected cancer cases is done through various procedures.  Some methods such as X-rays, ultrasound and computed tomography take images of the affected organs in our

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