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Health
Problems Cancer
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What is Cancer?
The organs and tissues of the body are made up of cells most of which
are continually renewed through life. Old and damaged cells die and are
replaced by new cells.
Normally, this turnover of cells takes place in a controlled way. If,
for some reason, the process goes out of control, the cells are produced
more rapidly, developing into a lump which is called a tumour.
Tumours can be benign or malignant.
In a benign tumour the cells do not spread to other parts of the body
and so are not cancerous. If they continue to grow at the original site,
however, they may cause a problem by pressing on the surrounding organs.
A malignant tumour consists of cancer cells which have the ability to
spread beyond the original site. If the tumour is left untreated, it may
invade and destroy surrounding tissue. Sometimes cells break away from the
original (primary) cancer and spread to other organs in the body through
the bloodstream or lymphatic system. When these cells reach a new site
they may go on dividing and form a new tumour, often referred to as a
secondary or a metastasis.
Doctors can tell whether a tumour is benign or malignant by examining a
small sample of cells under a microscope. This is called a biopsy.
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Types of
Cancer
- Brain
Tumour
- Breast
Cancer
- Cervical
Cancer
- Leukaemia
- Lung Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Skin Cancer
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Reducing
the Risk
The World Cancer Research Fund has published a report on "Food,
Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer" which states how we can
reduce the risk of developing
cancer.
The key messages of the report
were:-
1. Eat a varied, mainly plant-based
diet including whole, unrefined, unprocessed starchy foods. 400-800g, or
more than 7 portions of cereals and pulses should be eaten daily.
2. Reduce your intake or avoid completely the following:
(a) fatty foods
(b) refined sugar
(c) red meat ( if meat is eaten, no more than 80g should be eaten daily,
(d) salt ( a maximum of 6 grams daily)
(e) alcohol
(f) charred, barbequed, smoked or cured meats.
3. Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
4. If work activity is sedentary, take a one hour brisk walk or do some
similar exercise daily, as well as vigorous exercise for at least one hour
every week.
5. Keep your body-mass index between 18.5 and 25.
6. Limit any weight gain in adulthood to no more than 5 kg. The Lancet,
Vol 350, p.1007 (reported in the International Therapist, Jan/Feb 98)
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This page was last updated on 04 December 2006 21:53:06
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