Is cancer a disease? A virus?
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A disease marked by the uncontrolled growth of cells, often with invasion of healthy tissues locally or throughout the body. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S, after the cardiovascular diseases. In 2003 the American Cancer Society estimated that about 560,000 Americans died of cancer, and twice that number were newly diagnosed with one form or another of the disease. The most common cancers in the U.S. are lung, breast, colon, prostate, and skin. Because most cancers occur in patients who are age 65 or older, the incidence of cancer is expected to increase as the population ages. More than 200 kinds of cancer have been identified. Cancers that arise from epithelial tissues are called carcinomas; from mesenchymal tissues, sarcomas; from lymphatic cells, lymphomas; from blood-forming cells, leukemias. Cancer cells have several reproductive advantages over normal cells. They can make proteins that stimulate their own growth or that stimulate new blood vessels to bring them nourishment. They can produce enzymes that prevent their chromosomes from aging. They can invade the bloodstream and find places to grow in new tissues. Usually, as cancer cells proliferate, they become increasingly abnormal and require more of the body's metabolic output for their growth and development. Damage caused by their invasion of healthy tissues results in organ malfunction, pain, and, often, death.
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Cancer is not just one disease, but a large group of almost 100 diseases. Its two main characteristics are uncontrolled growth of the cells in the human body and the ability of these cells to migrate from the original site and spread to distant sites. If the spread is not controlled, cancer can result in death.\n\n\n  Description\n\n\n\nOne out of every four deaths in the United States is from cancer. It is second only to heart disease as a cause of death in the states. About 1.2 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer annually; more than 500,000 die of cancer annually.\n\n\nCancer can attack anyone. Since the occurrence of cancer increases as individuals age, most of the cases are seen in adults, middle-aged or older. Sixty percent of all cancers are diagnosed in people who are older than 65 years of age. The most common cancers are skin cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer (in women), and prostate cancer (in men). In addition, cancer of the kidneys, ovaries, uterus, pancreas, bladder, rectum, and blood and lymph node cancer (leukemias and lymphomas) are also included among the 12 major cancers that affect most Americans.\n\n\nCancer, by definition, is a disease of the genes. A gene is a small part of DNA, which is the master molecule of the cell. Genes make "proteins," which are the ultimate workhorses of the cells. It is these proteins that allow our bodies to carry out all the many processes that permit us to breathe, think, move, etc.\n\n\nThroughout people's lives, the cells in their bodies are growing, dividing, and replacing themselves. Many genes produce proteins that are involved in controlling the processes of cell growth and division. An alteration (mutation) to the DNA molecule can disrupt the genes and produce faulty proteins. This causes the cell to become abnormal and lose its restraints on growth. The abnormal cell begins to divide uncontrollably and eventually forms a new growth known as a "tumor" or neoplasm (medical term for cancer meaning "new growth").\n\n\nIn a healthy individual, the immune system can recognize the neoplastic cells and destroy them before they get a chance to divide. However, some mutant cells may escape immune detection and survive to become tumors or cancers.\n\n\nTumors are of two types, benign or malignant. A benign tumor is not considered cancer. It is slow growing, does not spread or invade surrounding tissue, and once it is removed, doesn't usually recur. A malignant tumor, on the other hand, is cancer. It invades surrounding tissue and spreads to other parts of the body. If the cancer cells have spread to the surrounding tissues, even after the malignant tumor is removed, it generally recurs.\n\n\nA majority of cancers are caused by changes in the cell's DNA because of damage due to the environment. Environmental factors that are responsible for causing the initial mutation in the DNA are called carcinogens, and there are many types.\n\n\nThere are some cancers that have a genetic basis. In other words, an individual could inherit faulty DNA from his parents, which could predispose him to getting cancer. While there is scientific evidence that both factors (environmental and genetic) play a role, less than 10% of all cancers are purely hereditary. Cancers that are known to have a hereditary link are breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer. Besides genes, certain physiological traits could be inherited and could contribute to cancers. For example, inheriting fair skin makes a person more likely to develop skin cancer, but only if he or she also has prolonged exposure to intensive sunlight.\n\n\nThere are several different types of cancers:\n\n\nCarcinomas are cancers that arise in the epithelium (the layer of cells covering the body's surface and lining the internal organs and various glands). Ninety percent of human cancers fall into this category. Carcinomas can be subdivided into two types: a
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A disease (Cancer) that affects the Pancreas.\n\nRead the link below for additional information.
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A Hypothesis of Cancer and "Cancers"\nCancer is still a mystery, especially since many new cancers are found nowadays. The mere word "cancer" scares people and they think of death. Are we the victims of some unseen creatures that cause cancer?\n\nSome research has been done with an electric camera, the Tesla-Kirlian camera. In the book Rainbows of Life by Mikel Davis and Earle Lane, cancer energy is documented on p. 49, which is very different from other types of energy. Dr. Loveland reported that she came across this book and then saw Tesla-Kirlian photographs of 9 people, medically diagnosed with cancer - none had cancer energy. She thought that may be Candida, a fungus, would be mistakenly called "cancer," and did research in a hospital. In the medical books, Candida was called harmless and deadly, and everything in-between. Furthermore, under the microscope the cancer cell looked so different from the Candida cells that they could not be confused. What was happening here concerning cancer?\n\nIt is likely that a microorganisms is involved in regard to cancer, and that the results of Candida or other microbes are called "cancer" for their fast growth rates they can produce. Yet, whatever microorganism may be involved in true cancer, the body has an immune system, and when this functions properly, no virus, bacteria or fungus can even get close. They are repelled by our life energy like raindrops from a raincoat, which was shown on a Tesla-Kirlian photograph. Obviously, microorganisms do not just attack any life form, but merely those with a weak immune system are their task. The microorganisms help decay the weak system even faster and thus help cleanse the earth. They are not involved, when the life energy is strong! \n\nThere has been a debate between Professor Virchow of Berlin and Professor Pasteur of Paris. Virchow claimed that when the "millieu" (environment, body tissues and liquids) is sick the microorganisms come in. Pasteur claimed that the microorganisms attack also the healthy body! It had been reported that Pasteur admitted on his deathbed in 1895 that Virchow was right. But unfortunately, this has not yet reached our schools, which still teach Pasteur's position he once held.\n\nFrom a higher level, it seems that mankind wanted to be frightened of the unseen bacteria, viruses and fungi, in order to unload their fear of the unknown: God, the devil, death and disease, even fear of life. Thus people chose to fight the unseen microorganisms with harsh chemicals and radiation. There may not be any statistic to show how many cancer or "cancer" patients have died without or with treatment, to see if the cancer treatments commonly given may be adequate to heal the life energy.\n\nExample: a woman was diagnosed with breast cancer, but she had no cancer life energy. Nevertheless, she had the "cancer" taken out but refused mastectomy and the urged chemotherapy or radiation. These treatments were said to be necessary for the cancer not to come back. An intuitive woman "tuned in" and found that the woman had had a fatty tumor, which then was confirmed by the woman's physician. A fatty tumor may be called "cancer," but does not show as cancer energy on life-energy photographs. Where did the woman get the fatty tumor from? Eating cheese with hydrogenated fat - for years! She discontinued cheese altogether and  the "cancer" never came back, in 10 years now!\n\nExample: another woman had sausages for breakfast, almost every day and she often dined in restaurants. Sausages and restaurant food may contain preservatives and hydrogenated fats, which the body cannot break down. These fats get stuck in pocket areas, e.g. at the breasts or lymph nodes, for this fat is not made for the body, but simply to prolong shelf life of a product, for the hydrogenated fat does not get rancid. Finally, the woman found lumps in her breast.
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Heart disease, cancer, Arthritis, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Diabetes, Sickle cell anemia, lupus\n\nBasically anything that orginates in your body, not from bacteria and viruses.
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Even though our understanding of cancer has made leaps and bounds, we have still yet to find a sure-fire treatment.  This has to do with the number of cancers out there, as well as the complexity of the problem.  Cancer is the result of a number of factors, including a cells ability to ignore death signals, anti-growth signals, as well as telling itself to continuously grow.  With all these problems compounded, cancer is a harsh nemesis.
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Cancer, ruled by the moon :)
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its not the cancer thats contagious...its a virus that can be passed thru sexually that can cause the cancer...check the facts before u start whinning
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Cancer is not one disease, but many different diseases with different causes. For that reason, one breakthrough "cure for cancer" is probably not likely to come along.
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Cancer in all forms.  It claims so many lives everyday.  I am currently watching my Papaw die from this horrible disease.  His has metastasized to his entire body, and watching him waste away and lose weight, have so much pain, and suffer absolutely kills me too.  I have also had many other friends and family members suffer with cancer, including my mother who had breast cancer.  I pray every day that a cure will be found for it.
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Talk to your doctor.  The HPV virus can lead to cancer, but it is not cancer.  Also, HPV can take up to ten years to lead to cancer.  It sounds like you need more information from your doctor.
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Its not a cancer .Its an abnormality of the vascular system that is the tortousity and dilatation of the veins.
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I wouldn't say that it causes cancer, specifically, but it doesn't exactly promote good health, either. Psychosomatic illness is no joke, and an unsound mental outlook can potentially weaken the body, which could lead to an increased susceptibility to disease.
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All over; it is a disease, not a food dish. Come on now.
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cancer is the most common cause of death of all animals.  cancer has been here since the dinosaurs.  there are cancer tumors in the dinosaur bones.  cancer is more a process than a disease.  After saying all that stomach cancer is a terrible condition and i hope you are just curious.
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Carcinogenic viruses. SST almost got it right.\n\n_____________________\n\nOpite said "FYI, cancer is not caused by a virus"\n\n\nOpite, before correcting people it is always well worth checking your facts. It saves embarassement and it prevents you misinforming people.\n\nIn this case had you simply typed "carcinogenic virus" into a search engine you owuld have found that cancer can be and commonly is  caused by viruses.\n\nIt is particularly  worrying that a young woman is ignorant of this fact. One of the more common cancers of young women is cervical cancer. It is caused almost exclusively by the human papilloma virus, which is passed on through sexual intercourse. \n\nYou really should be aware of this fact for the sake of your own health. Please follow the link provided below for more information.
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My opinion is that everything causes cancer now days.  It seems as if there is nothing healthy out there.  I am going to continue to use my cell phone, smoke cancer sticks, and drink cancer causing sugar substitues in my tea.   I mean really, what can we do.