Health Education for Cancer Patients and Their Families

- Overview of Cancer

Cancer is defined as an abnormal growth of cells. Cancerous cells are characterized by their abnormal shape and functional disruption, as well as their rapid growth compared to normal cells in the body. These cells can also spread to other parts of the body. In other words, cancer occurs when the body loses control over cell growth. It is essentially uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body, where old cells form new abnormal ones. This contradicts the normal process of cell growth regulation, which calls for the death of old cells. As a result, the excess abnormal cells accumulate, forming a mass of tissue that the body cannot control, called a tumor. It is worth noting that cancer is not always associated with the formation of a tumor, as cancer can develop without any tumor formation, as seen in blood cancers.

Tumors are classified into malignant (cancerous) and benign tumors. Malignant tumors are characterized by their rapid growth, ability to spread to different parts of the body, and invade surrounding tissues, destroying them. On the other hand, benign tumors grow in a specific area of the body and have a lower growth rate.

Carcinoma in situ: Although the term "carcinoma in situ" sounds like it refers to a type of cancer, it is not actually a cancer type, despite its severe nature. These cells do not have the ability to spread to adjacent tissues but can develop into cancerous cells in some cases. Therefore, most cases of carcinoma in situ are treated to prevent their development into full cancer.