Cancer and Tumor
March 21st, 2010 | 
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What is cancer?
Life always begins inside a cell that divides and multiplies before specializing. The normal cells work together synchronously and harmoniously. They assemble to form well differentiated tissues that will form their own organs. The disease occurs when cancerous part of the normal cells begin to transform and divide in an uncontrolled manner to become malignant or dangerous. If the body’s defense mechanisms are not able to destroy the diseased cells, their number continues to grow to form a tumor, first of all clearly defined.
Over time, however, the tumor will invade neighboring tissues to destroy them gradually. Cancer cells can also use the lymphatic system or blood to reach areas of the body very far from their point of departure, where they form new tumors called metastases. The word “cancer” is a generic term for almost 150 different types of tumors affecting the various organs of the body, the myeloid tissue (bone or marrow) that makes blood cells and the lymphatic system.
If cancer is the second leading cause of death in Switzerland, closely following cardiovascular disease, it is not always fatal, since more than half of 30,000 people each year recover completely. Be aware also that the chances of recovery are increasing in all cases where the tumor is still well defined. Therefore it is essential to detect and treat cancer diseases at an early stage.
How is a tumor?
Cells are the basic units that make up all living organisms. They multiply and gather in specific tissues, which in turn form organs. Normal cells work in harmony with each other. Tumors occur when healthy cells begin to proliferate uncontrollably. Sometimes the immune system can eliminate these malignant cells. If this is not the case, they begin to grow still further and eventually form a tumor at a given location in the body. If the tumor is not treated in time, cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body via the lymphatic channels and blood. They then form small new tumors called metastases. Some tumors, which did not give rise to local tumors are called metastases. They grow to where they appeared and invade the surrounding tissue. Tumors that invade local lymph nodes are called neighbors locoregional tumors.
Often, the disease can be controlled, since half of the 30,000 people affected annually by a cure for cancer. The chances of curing a tumor are significantly higher when it is still very limited. It is therefore important to detect cancer at an early stage and treat in time.