Cancer: Q: What is Cancer?

A: Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body; Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.

Q: What are the symptoms of cancer?

A: Symptoms of cancer depend on the type and location of the tumor. For example lung cancer can cause coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain, Colon cancer can often cause diarrhea, constipation, and blood in the stool. These symptoms occur with most cancers: chills, fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, malaise, night sweats, and weight loss.

Q: What treatment is there for cancer?

A: Treatment also varies based on the type of cancer and its stage. If the cancer is confined to one location and has not spread, the most common goals for treatment are surgery and cure. This is often the cause with skin cancers, as well as cancers of the lung, breast and colon. If the tumor has spread to local lymph nodes only, sometimes these can also be removed. If surgery cannot remove all of the cancer, the options for treatment include radiation, chemotherapy, or both. Some cancers require a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Q: What are the causes of cancer?

A: There are many causes of cancer, including: Benzene and other chemicals, certain poisonous mushrooms and a type of poison that can grow on peanut plants, certain viruses, radiation, sunlight and tobacco. However the cause of many cancers is unknown.

Q: What are the most common cancers in the United States?

A: Among men the most common cancers are, Prostate cancer, Lung cancer, and colon cancer. Among women the most common cancers are, Breast cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer.