Introduction of Cancer

Cancer is a scourge for all people, it is because the death rate from cancer is very high. Not only in Indonesia but also in various countries. In the United States, cancer is the number two cause of death. In 2003 there were an estimated 1,334,100 cases with 556,500 deaths by people. While in Europe there are also three new cancer cases each year with a mortality rate of two million. Life expectancy is only 60% of cancer patients compared with non-sufferers. Why cancer is very scary and dangerous? What exactly is cancer?

Origin of Cancer
Cancer is a condition in which the cells have lost normal control mechanisms, so that the growth of abnormal, rapid and uncontrolled. Cancer cells will continue to divide, and ignores the rule of law-breeding law. Cancer can occur from a variety of tissues in various organs, such as skin cells, liver cells, blood cells, brain cells, gastric cells, intestinal cells, lung cells, urinary tract cells, and various other body cells. In line with the growth and breeding, cancer cells form a mass of cancerous tissue to infiltrate nearby tissues (invasive) and can spread (metastasize) throughout the body. Established cancer cells from normal cells in a complex process called transformation, which consists of the stages of initiation and promotion.
In the initiation phase occurs a change in the genetic material of cells into malignant cells provoke. Changes in the cell's genetic material is caused by an agent called carcinogens, which can include chemicals, viruses, radiation (radiation) or sunlight. But not all cells have the same sensitivity to a carcinogen. Genetic abnormalities in cells or other material called a promoter, causing the cells more susceptible to the carcinogens. Even menahunpun physical impairments can make cells more sensitive to having a malignancy.
In the promotion stage, a cell that has undergone initiation will become malignant.
cells that have not passed the stage of initiation is not affected by the promotion. Therefore we need several factors to the occurrence of malignancies (combination of sensitive cells and a carcinogen).
When a cell becomes cancerous, the immune system can often spoil before the malignant cells multiplied and became a cancer. However, if the immune system does not function normally, the body tend to be susceptible to the risk of cancer, as occurs in patients with AIDS, people who are using immunosuppressant drugs and certain autoimmune diseases. But the immune system is not always effective, so that sometimes the cancer can still penetrate this protection even if the immune system to function normally.
In almost all types of cancer, the success rate of therapy is associated with stage at diagnosis and treatment. The higher the stage at diagnosis, the therapeutic efficacy will decrease with more aggressive treatment modalities.
Cancer Risk Factors
It is known that a set of genetic and environmental factors can increase the risk of cancer. Factors that may increase risk include:
1. Family History
Family history is one of the most important factors to remember cancer can be affected by genetic disorders. Some families may have a higher risk for certain cancers when compared to other families, such as a woman's risk for breast cancer increased 1.5-3 times if her mother or sister had breast cancer.
Some breast cancer associated with a genetic mutation characteristic, which is more common in some ethnic groups and families. Women with mutations in this gene have a 80-90% chance of developing breast cancer and 40-50% for ovarian cancer, such as those found in 1% of Ashkenazi Jewish women. Other cancers in families that tend to be inherited skin cancer and colon cancer.

2. Chromosome Abnormalities
For example, a person with down syndrome, which has 3 pieces of chromosome 21, has a 12-20 times higher risk of developing acute leukemia.

3. Environmental Factors
A number of environmental factors can increase the risk of cancer, the most important one is smoking. Smoking increases the risk of cancers of the lung, mouth, larynx (vocal cords) and the bladder.
Other environmental factors such as excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays, especially from the sun causes skin cancer.
Moreover, r adiasi ionization (which is carcinogenic) used in x-rays, generated from nuclear power plants and atomic bombs and can reach great distances, can also increase the risk of cancer. For example, survivors of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, have increased risk of developing leukemia. Exposure to uranium miners also increase the risk of lung cancer 10-20 years later, and this risk will be higher if the miners also smoked.

4. Food
Food is another important risk factor for cancer, particularly cancers of the digestive tract. For example, eating foods that contain lots of smoked and pickled foods (in pickled form) may increase the risk of gastric cancer. Alcoholics also have a higher risk for esophageal cancer.
When a person eats food that is high in fiber, it can reduce the likelihood of colon cancer. Reduce fat to less than 30% of total calories, will reduce the risk of colon cancer, breast and protat.

5. Chemicals
Many chemicals are known to cause cancer and many others are suspected of causing cancer. Exposure to certain chemicals may increase the risk of cancer after a few years later, for example, exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma (cancer of the pleura), and skin cancer are found in paint workers and workers who clean the chimney because of the content of hydrocarbons .

6. Residence
The risk of cancer also varies based on residence person. For example, the risk of colon and breast cancer in Japan is low, but the risk is increased in Japanese people living in America and in the end will have the same risk amount with the other Americans. Uniquely, the Japanese have the incidence of gastric cancer is very high: but the Japanese people who were born in the United States this figure is lower.
Geographic variation in cancer risk is presumably involves many factors, which is a combination of genetics, diet and environment.

7. Virus
Some viruses are known to cause cancer in humans and other virus suspected of causing cancer. These cancer-causing viruses called oncogenic viruses. For example, papilloma virus that causes genital warts is probably one of the causes of cervical cancer in women, causing Kaposi's sarcoma cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C can cause liver cancer, although a carcinogen or promoter is not known.
In Africa, the Epstein-Barr virus causes Burkitt's lymphoma, while in China this virus causes cancer of the nose and throat. Clearly, some additional factors (environmental or genetic), required for the cancers caused by the virus Epstein-Barr. Some human retro viruses, such as HIV, can cause lymphoma and other blood cancers.

8. Infection
Infection by the parasite Schistosoma (bilharzia) may cause bladder cancer due to chronic irritation of the bladder. but other chronic irritants do not cause cancer. Infection by Clonorchis, which primarily are found in the far east, can cause cancer of the pancreas and bile ducts.

9. Hormone
Hormones are substances produced by the body that berfungs regulate the activities of organs. Diethyl Stilbestrol, an artificial sex hormone that is commonly used to fatten livestock, proven as the cause of cervical cancer, breast cancer and other reproductive organs.
In some studies, it is known that certain hormone excess can cause cancer in the affected organs, such as breast, uterus, ovary and prostate. Effect of hormone that can lead to cancer can not be known with certainty.
Cancer Epidemiology
Over time, the cancer risk is also changing. Cancer that was often found now rare. For example, in America, in 1930 gastric cancer 4 times more common than it is now. Meanwhile, the incidence of lung cancer in America in 1930 is 5 out of every 100,000 people increased to 114 out of every 100,000 in 1990, and the incidence is higher in women soar. These changes are most likely a result of increased use of cigarettes, not to mention the women. Smoking also leads to increased oral cancer.
In an epidemiological study on cancer, is expected to increase 99% in 2010 patients in developing countries than in 1985. While in developed countries, an increase in the number of people estimated to be only 38%. This suggests that cancer is a serious problem in developing countries in the future.
In Indonesia, the problem of cancer seen an incredible spike. In the last 10 years, it appears that cancer ranks as the leading cause of death rose, from rank 12 to rank six. Every year there were an estimated 190 thousand new cases and a fifth will die from the disease. However, the death rate from this cancer could be reduced 3-35 percent, as long as the action prevalence, screening and early detection. For example, by doing a pap smear test for women who have been sexually active can reduce cervical cancer mortality. For the record, if someone is convicted of women with cancer that cancer disease in the category of stage one, the life expectancy of five years will reach 90 percent. Stage two, 65 percent, stage three, 15-20 percent, and a four-stage life expectancy of less than five percent.
Age is also an important factor in the occurrence of cancer. Some cancers, such as Wilms tumor, acute lymphocytic leukemia and Burkitt's lymphoma, a lot of attacking a young age. But most cancers are more common in the elderly. Prostate, stomach and colon, most likely occurs after the age of 60 years. In America, more than 60% of cancers diagnosed in people aged over 65 years.
Overall, the risk of cancer in the United States increased 2-fold every 5 years after age 25. Increased risk of cancer in the elderly may be a mix of rising and increases the length of time of exposure to a carcinogen and the weakening of the immune system due to age.
Always 'alert'
The earlier cancer is found, the greater the hope of healing. Identify and note the seven signs of danger in the ALERT. Further Consult your doctor if there is any sign below which do not heal within a few weeks. Signs to watch out and shortened to CAUTION is:

W: When small bowel or there is a change of habit or disorder
A: Tools disturbed digestion and swallowing difficulty
S: Hoarseness or a cough that will not go away
Q: Breast or anywhere else there is a bump
A: Andeng-Andeng (moles) are changed in character, becoming increasingly large and scratchy
D: Blood or abnormal mucus out of the body
A: There sores or ulcers that do not heal

In the early stages, the cancer to grow without causing any complaints or symptoms. This often leads to people who have cancer do not realize it. When you have symptoms or give complaint, normally the disease has continued. Therefore, when palpable lumps or other abnormalities such as found in WATCH although it did not bother, to watch and suspected cancer to prove that it was not cancer.
Sources:
- Www.medicastore.com, Disease Information: Cancer
- Supplements Medika AP, Tuesday, March 8, 2005, "EVERY YEAR IS 190 THOUSAND NEW PATIENTS"
- Health Plus magazine, October 2003 issue, "HOPE ON CANCER"
- Dr. Setiawan Dalimartha, "TRADITIONAL INGREDIENTS FOR CANCER TREATMENT", Series Agrisehat, spreader Governmental, Jakarta, 2004