So What is Cancer?

 Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells divide and grow abnormally. Healthy cells need certain triggers to divide and multiply and when they get old or are damaged these cells die. Healthy cells do not invade other parts of the body. But cancer cells continue to divide without needing signals from the body and do not die when they are old/abnormal.  This excessive growth causes them to invade surrounding tissue and this can cause issues with normal bodily functions.

Cancer occurs when there are changes to the genes that tell your cells how to divide and grow. Damage to these genes typically happens in one of three ways-while the cell is dividing, when DNA is damaged from toxic substances, inherited from parents. Normally, our bodies can tell when a cell’s genes have been damaged and eliminate that cell but as we age our bodies ability to do this declines.

1 in 3 people will get cancer in their lifetime but there are more treatments than ever before and MANY people continue on to live healthy and happy lives while and after they have been treated. Please reach out to me if you or your family member is struggling with this diagnosis.

“What Is Cancer?” National Cancer Institute, https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer. 

“What Is Cancer?: Cancer Basics.” American Cancer Society, https://www.cancer.org/treatment/understanding-your-diagnosis/what-is-cancer.html.