Oncology
ONCOLOGY
Oncology is the study of cancer and tumors; onco means cancer or tumors, and logy means study. Cancer might just be one of the most feared and dreaded diseases. Globally, cancer is responsible for the deaths of nearly 9.5 million people in 2018. It is the second leading cause of death as per the World Health Organization. As per studies, in India, we see 1300 deaths due to cancer every day. These statistics are truly astonishing and scary. In the recent few decades, the number of cancer cases has been increasingly on the rise.
Cancer comes in many forms and types. Cancer is the collective name given to the disease where certain cells of the person’s body start dividing continuously, refusing to stop. These extra cells form when none are needed, and they spread into the surrounding tissues and can even form malignant tumors. Cells may break away from such tumors and go on to form tumors in other parts of the patient’s body.
Types of Cancers
As we know, cancer can affect any part or organ of the human body. We have all come across various types of cancer—lung, blood, pancreas, stomach, skin, and so many others. Biologically, however, cancer can be divided into five specific types: carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, and leukemia.
Among these, carcinomas are the most diagnosed type. These cancers originate in organs or glands such as the lungs, stomach, pancreas, breast, etc. Leukemia is the cancer of the blood, and this does not form any tumors. Sarcomas start in the muscles, bones, tissues, or other connective tissues of the body. Lymphomas are cancers of the white blood cells, i.e., the lymphocytes. And finally, melanoma is when cancer arises in the pigment of the skin.
Causes of Cancer
As we know, cancer can affect any part or organ of the human body. We have all come across various types of cancer—lung, blood, pancreas, stomach, skin, and so many others. Biologically, however, cancer can be divided into five specific types: carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, and leukemia.
Among these, carcinomas are the most diagnosed type. These cancers originate in organs or glands such as the lungs, stomach, pancreas, breast, etc. Leukemia is the cancer of the blood, and this does not form any tumors. Sarcomas start in the muscles, bones, tissues, or other connective tissues of the body. Lymphomas are cancers of the white blood cells, i.e., the lymphocytes. And finally, melanoma is when cancer arises in the pigment of the skin.
Treatment of Cancer
Early diagnosis and immediate medical care in cancer are of utmost importance. When diagnosed in the early stages, the treatment becomes easier and has more chances of success. The three most common treatment plans are either surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
If there is a benign tumor, then surgery is performed to remove the mass from the body, thereby removing cancer from the body. In radiation therapy, we use radiation (rays) to target and kill the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is similar, where we inject the patient with drugs that target and kill the cancer cells. All treatment plans, however, have various side-effects. And aftercare is one of the most important aspects of cancer treatment.