Cancer Information

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The immune system attacks and eliminates not only bacteria and other foreign substances but also cancer cells. A cancer cell is a cell not strange, it is a cell whose biological function has been altered so that does not meet the body’s normal mechanisms that control the growth and reproduction of it. The abnormal cells can continue to grow, turning into cancer.

In the immune system, a large part of the body’s defense against cancer is carried out directly by cells, rather than by antibodies circulating in the blood. For example, the presence of tumor antigens on cancer cells can activate certain white blood cells (lymphocytes and in a much lesser degree, monocytes) which perform an immune surveillance seeking and destroying cancer cells.
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The risk of cancer has changed over time. Some cancers that were once common have become rare. For example, 60 years ago in some countries, stomach cancer was four times more frequent than it is today, probably because people are now consumes far fewer smoked, spicy and outdated. Another example is lung cancer, which has increased a lot (20 times), especially in women. It is almost certain that these changes are the result of increased consumption of cigarettes. The snuff has also caused an increase in cancers of the mouth.

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A multitude of factors, genetic and environmental, increase the risk of developing cancer.

Family history is an important factor. Some families have a much higher risk of developing certain cancers than others. For example, the risk of developing breast cancer in women increases from 1.5 to 3 times if the mother or sister had this type of cancer. Some breast cancers are linked to a specific gene mutation more common in some ethnic groups and in some families.

Women with this genetic mutation have between 80 and 90 percent chance of developing breast cancer and 40 to 50 percent of ovarian cancer. Researchers have found that one percent of Ashkenazi Jewish women have this genetic mutation. Many other cancers, including some types of skin cancer and colon cancer, also tend to affect entire families. People with chromosomal abnormalities have an increased risk of cancer.
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Cancer cells develop from normal cells in a complex process called transformation. The first step is the initiation process in which a change in the cell’s genetic material prepares to become cancerous. This change is caused by an agent called a carcinogen (may be a chemical, a virus, radiation, or sunlight). However, not all cells are equally susceptible to carcinogens. A genetic defect in the cell or other agent, known as a promoter, including chronic physical irritation may increase the ability of cells to become cancerous.

The next step is to promote, in this way a cell that has begun its change becomes cancerous. The promotion has no effect on cells that have not undergone the initiation process. Thus, several factors, often a combination of a susceptible cell and a carcinogen, are needed to cause cancer.
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An article published this week reveals how researchers at Caltech have managed to “turn off” genes that force cancer cells to grow uncontrollably. This is the first time in humans is achieved using an RNAi therapy. As explained in immortal and perfect (p95, p217), the RNAi is small RNA able to specifically block the function of a gene. Are widely used in the laboratory but so far not been proven effective as therapy.

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Researchers in Texas have invented a chip that uses nanotechnology to detect cancers of the mouth. The technique allows to determine whether a lesion is malignant (or risk being) or should not worry. Seems to have a hit in the diagnosis of over 90%, and also makes it faster and with fewer complications than traditional techniques, which typically include a biopsy. Scientists are working on getting a cheaper and more accessible version of the chip can be apra widespread use.

We explained in Immortals and perfect (p34) that in recent years there has been a controversy around a patent by Myriad Genetics. American company is patented in its day two human genes associated with breast cancer (BRCA1 and BRCA2), which in practice means that only they can make their genetic tests to detect susceptibility to cancer.

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One of the main problems of classical chemotherapy are its terrible side effects. The drugs, which are fairly nonspecific poisons, kill cancer cells but also affect normal, which creates many problems for the patient. This is a serious condition by the fact that these drugs are often injected into the vein, and its effects end up being general. In some cancers, this could be avoided. For example, would greatly improve treatment efficacy in lung cancer if you could do to reach directly by airway.
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The truth is that smokers now and before, and non smokers are protected to varying degrees against lung cancer by eating more vegetables and other foods known for their power to prevent the disease.

Still, many researchers prefer not to mention it, not to downplay the dangers of smoking.
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What if you never smoked? eat as directed. ‘can also save from lung cancer in non smokers.

In a group of passive smokers (exposed to smoke of others) of New Jersey, the cancer risk was reduced by almost half with an additional cup of orange vegetables every day.
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