Cancer

Cancer is defined as a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells according to Washburn University KN 198 Lifetime Wellness textbook. Although everyone knows what cancer is, there are so many types and risks associated with cancer.

This is a table of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in the United States as of 2010 from the same textbook.

Photo courtesy of Washburn University KN 198 Lifetime Wellness textbook.

There are so many ways to get any type of cancer. Anyone can have cancer. There are some patterns of risks that are associated with cancer. There are two ways cancer is divided into two risk categories. The first is lifetime risk, which is the probability of developing or dying of cancer in one's lifetime. The other way is relative risk, which is the relationship between a risk factor and a specific kind of cancer. An example is how smoking tobacco can give you lung cancer.

Risks for cancer are higher if:

• you have someone in your family with cancer
• you are older (cancer increases with age)
• smoke or drink more than two drinks a day
• if you are overweight, inactive and have malnutrition
• exposed to radiation
• exposed to sunlight, tanning lamps and booths

Also a good thing to know is that half of all men are diagnosed with cancer. One third of women are diagnosed with cancer. The best way to avoid getting cancer is to avoid all the risk factors and live a healthy lifestyle.