Cancer is a dangerous, complex malignancy characterized by unregulated, rapid and aggressive mitosis and the growth of malfunctioning undifferentiated cells containing mutated (tumor-forming) genes. It is capable of invading surrounding tissues and metastasizing to various organs and regions of the body (thus producing several tumor diseases inherent to the body region such as lung cancer) using the blood flows or lymphatic and circulatory systems throughout the body (due lack of chemical adhesion molecules to anchor them to their site of growth) to form new tumors that interfere with normal body functions, destroy body organs, cause blockages of blood vessels and subsequently collapse the immune system if left untreated. It has an irregular shape compared to normal surrounding cells, is not encapsulated and is not organized, making it difficult to remove. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Malignant tumors are commonly classified by epithelial origin, such as renal cell carcinoma, or sarcoma that originates from supporting tissues such as osteosarcoma. Common characteristics of cancer include: Supporting proliferative signaling in which tumor cells produce internal autocrine signals using mutated oncogenes (which promote excessive cell growth) and tumor suppressor genes (do not stop cell proliferation) despite receiving cellular signals from neighboring cells to stop growing. Evasion of growth suppressors: Cancer cells alter tumor suppressor genes such that, despite having damaged DNA, they continue to proliferate and have no contact inhibition. Trigger invasion and metastasis: Cancer cells move away from their original location to move to distant regions and organs of the body using blood vessels and invade surrounding tissues and vessels to form new colonies and secondary tumors.'Enable immortality replicative: cancer cells escape senescence by lengthening their telomeric DNA using manipulated telomerase at the end of the chromosomes which allows them to divide indefinitely (unlike normal cells with shortened telomeres after each cell division until crisis - senescence) and avoid apoptosis. Induction of angiogenesis: Tumor cells form new blood vessels by manipulating and sending molecular signals to normal cells surrounding the tumor and which are capable of producing new blood vessels. This helps them receive sufficient nutrients and oxygen and remove waste products. Resist cell death: Cancer cells inactivate the tumor suppressor TP53 which detects abnormalities in cells and cause apoptosis or carry defects in proteins involved in programmed cell death by avoiding it, which causes the accumulation of damaged cells. The etiology of cancer involves a mutation in genes that control the process of cell division such as oncogenes (send molecular signals to cells to proliferate) which causes anaplasia (lack of cell specialization). Cancer risk factors include: Age: Individuals aged 55 and older are more susceptible to being diagnosed with cancer Patient Lifestyle: Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of cancer Environment: Contracting specific chronic infections/bacteria such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C which increase susceptibility to liver cancer, Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or ionizing radiation from medical imaging devices such asspecifics that specifics by increasing the risk of developing cancer, exposure to carcinogens, or consumption that cause mutations in genetic activity such as benzene and mercury. Hereditary: Individuals who inherit oncogenes that are cancer proliferation genes or who have risk genes that require environmental stimulation to alter them into cancer such as basal cell carcinoma. Some symptoms of cancer include fever, unexplained weight loss, feeling tired or hyperpigmentation, persistent cough, or any changes noticed in the functioning of the bowel or bladder. The diagnosis of cancer first begins with checking the patient's personal and family medical history and receiving the complaint filed to check for any signs or symptoms resembling cancer. Followed by physical examination of the skin or other body structures for tumor location by palpation and auscultation to examine any abnormal bruits around areas of the body such as the lungs or stomach. Then, further diagnostic tests such as Blood tests should be prescribed: to detect any abnormally high amounts of tumor markers (chemicals produced by tumor cells) in the bloodstream. Diagnostic imaging: X-rays: To check for potentially malignant tumors from a still image taken from inside the body. , computed tomography (CT) – for 3D cross-sectional images of internal organs of the body showing any tumors with dye injected into the patient to increase contrast in the image, ultrasound – using high frequency sound waves to reflect from body tissues to produce ultrasound scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to produce detailed cross-sections of the body by forcing tissues to emit radio waves. Biopsy: A surgically removed sample of patient tissue is examined under a microscope to see if it is benign or malignant. Tumors can be staged using its size or extent of spread using the TNM staging system, for example (T tumor size and any growth in surrounding tissues, N lymph node cancer has spread, M-cancer metastasis). It could also be graded to make the prognosis of the disease on a scale of 1 to 4 (1 - tumor cells resemble surrounding tissues, 2 - slightly abnormal appearance of tumor cells, 3 - moderately abnormal tumor cells, 4 - highly abnormal tumor cells ). for cancer is vital and is based on the type of cancer, its stage and its location, with secondary factors such as the patient's general health and age to be taken into account to adapt treatment, such as lower chemotherapy doses for elderly people with health problems. The most common cancer treatments are: Chemotherapy: Using drugs to target and kill rapidly dividing cells, such as blood or bone marrow cells. Surgery: Using incisions to remove both the tumor, surrounding tissues, and optionally lymph nodes to prevent cancer recurrence Radiotherapy: Using high-energy beams either externally (from a large machine in the cancer treatment areas) or internally (placing low doses of radiation within specific tissues of the patient's body) to cause damage to both the cancerous cell DNA and surrounding DNA, thus disrupting cell division and growth. Hormone therapy: Providing hormone drugs to patients to suppress hormone synthesis and block hormone action for tumors that require hormones to grow. Nonspecific immunotherapy: using monoclonal antibodies to attach to tumor cells and stimulate the immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells or.).