Why are People so Afraid of Cancer?
Cancer of the Breast, Lung Cancer & Prostate Cancer

This Information is Provided by The Canadian Cancer Society and The Family Health Guide Medical Encyclopedia

The reasons vary, but they usually include some of the following:

• Despite the progress that has been made in regard to this disease, old attitudes persist that little if anything can be done about it.
• Even today, cancer is the second greatest killer among disease.
• Cancer can attack people of all ages - men, women, and children. It can affect almost any part of the body.
• The disease seldom issues clear and obvious warnings. There is no general test that can definitely rule out all possibility of cancer.
• Most of the causes of cancer are not know, and we tend to feel helpless when facing a mysterious adversary.

What is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in some organ or tissue go out of control, growing and increasing in numbers. Normal cells reproduce themselves throughout life, but in a orderly and controlled manner. Normal growth occurs, worn out tissues are replaced and wounds heal. When cells grow out of control and form a mass, the mass is called a tumour. Some tumours grow and enlarge only at the site where they began and these are called benign tumours.

Other tumours not only enlarge locally but also have the potential to invade and destroy the normal tissue around them and to spread to distant parts of the body. Such tumours are called malignant or Cancer. Distant spread of a cancer occurs when malignant cells detach themselves from the original (primary) tumour, are carried to other parts of the body through blood or lymphatic vessels and establish themselves in the new site as cancer. A tumour that has spread in this manner is said to have metastasized and the secondary tumour (or tumours) is called metastasis (or metastases).

Cancer of the Breast
Each year, more then 17,000 Canadian women will develop breast cancer. Breast cancer is most common type of cancer in women. It rarely affects men. Because it tends to occur earlier in life than other cancers and than other major causes of death, such as heart attacks and strokes, it has been shown to be the greatest cause of years of life lost by Canadian women. Clearly it is a major health problem.

Cancer of the breast can have all the features which are characteristic of cancers in general. The tumour usually arises from the cells of mild sacs or milk ducts, although malignant tumours occasionally arise from the supporting structure. Even a cancer arising from the sacs or ducts may show variation. It may grow into the duct canal and signal its presence early with bleeding from the nipple. Alternatively, it may grow into breast tissue as a mass which is usually very hard, but may with some kinds of tumours be soft. It is however, far more common to be a hard mass in the breast and most often, but not always, painless. Very occasionally a serous or bloody nipple discharge can herald the onset of cancer. Cancer of the breast occurs almost exclusively in women -- it is one hundred times more common in women than men. It is rare in women under 30 years old, and becomes more common after age 50.

Self - Examination

1. Painless lumps in the breast.
2. Bleeding or discharge from the nipples.

Cancer of the breast is the most common cancer in women. It is found most frequently in women over the age 40. Only 1 in 100 develops cancer, and these cases can be cured if detected early. Women can train themselves to find early, curable tumours by self-examination of their breast once a month, as follows:

• Immediately after the menstruation period has ended, when the breasts are normally soft, look into a mirror and rise both arms over your head so that the sides of the breast are visible. Study your breast carefully, noting whether one breast looks higher than the other or whether one breast seems larger than it was the previous month. Also check for any slight depressions or dimpling of the skin over the breast.
• Using the right hand on the left breast and left hand on the right breast, one at a time, push the breast back gently against your chest and feel for any small lumps.
• Feel the armpits for any swelling.

Not every lump in the breast means cancer. Many are harmless formations due to glandular functioning. Let your doctor decide.

Lung Cancer
Smoking of cigarettes, pipes, or cigars is a medically risky habit.

Chief indications of Lung Cancer are:

• A cough that does not let up after two weeks, or a change in an old cigarette cough. Wheezing or other noises in the chest.
• Coughing up blood or bloody sputum that looks rusty, pink, or blood-streaked.
• Shortness of breath without cause, such as running or climbing.
• Chest ache or pain.

Lung cancer is now one of the best known and feared of all diseases. There are good reasons for this reaction. Every year an alarming number of Canadians are diagnosed with lung cancer. However, this situation can change in the coming years - primarily through decreasing the number of cigarette smokers.

Although other substances such as asbestos and coal tar products can cause lung cancer, about 85% of the disease is related to smoking. The other inhaled cancer-producing substances increase the risk for the smoker. Not only does smoking contribute to lung cancer but also to other cancers (mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas), to cardiovascular disease, an even greater killer of Canadians, and to other chronic lung diseases such as emphysema.

Lung cancer is largely preventable, and the best protection is never smoking. For those who do smoke quitting is the best course of action. The risk of lung cancer relates to the duration of smoking. The sooner a smoker stops smoking, the sooner the risk will cease to increase. Passive absorption of smoke (second-hand smoke) also increases the risk of lung cancer, even in non-smokers.

Today lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in men and women. Therefore, it is vital that both public and professional efforts be directed at effectively controlling this "epidemic".

Prostate Cancer
The prostate is a sex gland in men. It is about the size of a walnut. It is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds part of the urethra, the tube which carries urine from the bladder. The prostate makes a fluid that carries the sperm.

The most common prostate problem is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Hyperplasia means too much growth, so BPH is an enlargement of the prostate. It can cause discomfort and problems urinating. In Canada, more than half the men over 50 have BPH. It is not cancer, but its symptoms are similar to those of prostate cancer. If you have an enlarged prostate, your PSA level may be high.

Symptoms
Many prostate problems share the same symptoms. Whether the problem is caused by benign enlargement of the gland, bacterial infection or cancer, you may notice:

• Frequent, difficult or painful urination.
• Dribbling urine.
• Blood in the urine.
• Pain in the lower back, pelvic area or upper thighs.
• Painful ejaculation.

If any of these symptoms occur, it is important you visit a doctor to determine the cause. It is important to have regular checkups. A rectal examination or other tests, such as a PSA blood test, can detect cancer before you notice any symptoms. There are many unanswered questions about prostate cancer. No one is sure how much such factors as diet, heredity or physical activity increase your risk of developing it. We do know that the older you are, the more likely you are to develop prostate cancer.

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