05 Mar, 2025
05 Mar, 2025
This article is medically reviewed by Dr. Bhaskar Singh, Consultant - Surgical Oncology, HCG Cancer Centre, Nagpur
Cancer is a condition involving uncontrolled division of cells, which have the potential to invade other tissues. Cancerous cells spread to other organs through the blood and lymphatic system. In patients with cancer, the cells ignore the cellular cues to stop dividing and die when necessary. This leads to an uncontrollable division of cells and causes tumor formation in the tissues or organs or the blood, in the case of hematological cancers. These malignant cells interfere with the normal functioning of healthy cells.
The effects of cancer during the early stage of the disease are primarily on the organs or tissues in which the tumor has developed. In this stage, the tumor is localized. For instance, breast cancer results in changes in the breast skin, nipple discharge, or the formation of lumps, whereas bladder cancer causes pain and difficulty in urination.
At a later stage, the disease spreads to nearby and distant parts of the body (metastasis). In this stage, commonly observed symptoms are loss of appetite, weight loss, and persistent fatigue.
The technologists precisely combine the metabolic information obtained from the PET scan and the anatomical information from the CT scan to deliver a comprehensive imaging report.
Over 200 types of cancer exist, and they are classified in four different ways. These include classification by the tissue, organ, or system in which it was initially developed; classification by specific type; classification according to the World Health Organization; and classification based on the Node Metastasis (TNM) system.
Some of the common types of cancer in men are:
Some of the common types of cancer in women are:
Some of the common types of cancer in men and women are:
It is a significant cause of cancer-related mortality in men and women. Males are at higher risk for developing lung cancer than women. Gender differences have also been reported in therapeutic responses for lung cancer. The gap between men and women related to the incidence of lung cancer is reducing with a reduction in men and an increased rate of lung cancer in women.
Bladder cancer is the cancer of the urinary bladder, an organ of the urinary system. The most frequent bladder cancer is urothelial carcinoma, and the risk factors include chemical exposure, smoking, and chronic bladder inflammation. Patients with bladder cancer are presented with microscopic or gross hematuria, pelvic pain, and altered urinary frequency. The treatment options are intravesical chemotherapy, transurethral resection, radiation therapy, laser ablation, chemotherapy, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin bladder treatments, and surgical interventions.
Appendix cancer is the cancer that develops in the appendix. This cancer is most often detected incidentally during appendix resection. Reports suggest that around 0.5% to 1% of the appendices that underwent appendectomies are malignant. The patients with this cancer commonly present with acute appendicitis because of the lumen obstruction.
It is essential to detect cancer early. Individuals, especially those at high risk of cancer, should undergo screening programs and be aware of the initial symptoms of a particular cancer. Key advantages of early cancer detection are increased chances of long-term survival, reduced treatment cost, improved quality of life, reduced recurrence risk, and higher cure rates. Screening programs help detect cancer, either precancerous or at an early stage. These programs also improve awareness about cancers and their symptoms and risk factors.
Some of the preventive measures for cancer are:
A healthy diet helps prevent cancer. Studies have reported that consuming a diet rich in fruits, whole grains, legumes, and non-starchy vegetables and avoiding processed foods and red meat reduces the risk of cancer.
Tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption increase cancer risk. Cancer risk in smokers and non-smokers may be lowered by maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding consumption of excessive alcohol. Studies reported that reduction in alcohol consumption reduces cancer risk in smokers, while weight control has a beneficial effect on non-smokers in terms of cancer risk.
Studies have reported that regular exercise lowers the risk of cancer. Further, exercise also has beneficial effects in those diagnosed with cancer, especially with breast, prostate, or bowel cancer. Moderate or vigorous exercise (150 minutes/week) helps in reducing cancer risk.
HCG Cancer Centre is a leading cancer center in India. The hospital has advanced facilities for the diagnosis of cancer. The diagnostic facilities include CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and PET-CT scans. We also have state-of-the-art operation theaters with advanced systems. The hospital's medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists are experts in delivering the best cancer care with optimal outcomes.
There are over 200 types of cancer. Some are common, while others are rare. Anyone, irrespective of age, can get cancer. Some types are more common in men, while others are more common in women.
It is important to diagnose the cancer and its stage precisely for planning effective treatment. Screening is important for early diagnosis, which improves outcomes. Preventive strategies like a healthy diet, an active lifestyle, regular screening, refraining from tobacco and alcohol consumption, adopting healthy sexual practices, and reducing exposure to harmful chemicals and radiation can help reduce the risk of various types of cancer.
Dr. Bhaskar Singh
Consultant - Surgical Oncology
MBBS, MS (Surgery), FMAS, DNB (Surgical Oncology)
Dr. Bhaskar Singh is a highly skilled and experienced surgical oncologist at the HCG Cancer Centre, a leading cancer hospital in Nagpur. He specializes in the management of gynecological, breast, gastrointestinal, head and neck, orthopedic, and thoracic cancers. He is adept at performing both open and minimally invasive surgeries, based on the stage and other diagnostic parameters. Dr. Bhaskar emphasizes providing a patient-centric approach to treatment and strives to provide the best care and outcome for his patients.
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