Cancer: Cancer and Liver Function Tests Essay

Submitted By taherah13
Words: 2275
Pages: 10
Open Document
Cancer is a genetic disease because it can be traced to alteration within specific genes, but in most cases, it is not an inherited disease. The genetic alterations that lead to most cancers arise in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of a somatic cell during the lifetime of affected individual. Because of these genetic changes, cancer cells proliferate uncontrollably, producing malignant tumour that invade surrounding healthy tissue. As long as the growth of tumour remains localized, the disease can usually be treated and cured by surgical removal of tumour. But malignant tumours tend to metastases, that is, to spawn cells that break away from the parent mass, enter the lymphatic or vascular circulation, and spread to distant sites in the body where they establish lethal secondary tumours (metastases) that are no longer amenable to surgical removal. Despite, various exogenous and endogenous factors are known to affect the normal pattern of cell growth, by which cell becomes a cancerous. Species specificity and identity of biological organisms maintain by the unchanged genomic structure throughout their life period. The ratio of cell growth and cell death is strictly balanced through developmental and homeostatic processes in multi-cellular organisms (Bolsover et al, 1997).
1.1 Historical Backgrounds
Rig Veda, an ancient Indian scripture compiled five thousand years ago, and records the science of healing. A Fatal tumor in the throat is described in Atharva Veda (Mehta and Bansal, 2004). The Egyptians (c.1600BC) were the first to realize that tumors arising in various parts of the body differ in their behaviors and therefore, should be treated in different ways. References were also made to the treatment of such tumors by excision and with arsenical compounds (Mehta and Bansal, 2004). The origin of word “cancer” is credited to Greek physician Hippocrates, (Greece, c.460-370BC) divided tumor into two broad groups, according to their behavior: a) the “innocuous” and b) the “dangerous”. He also coined the terms “Karkinos” for non-healing ulcerating tumors and “Karkinoma” for solid tumors. Both terms are derived from Greek term “Karkinos” meaning crab (Mehta and Bansal, 2004). It was Aurelius Celsus (c 30 AD), who gave a much clearer description of cancer, separating inflammatory swelling from neoplasm. Galen (AD 131-201) considered a tumour to be an entity that existed contrary to the law of nature, representing a true “new growth”. Galen was also apparently aware of the phenomenon of metastasis. The term “cancer” appeared in literature much later, derived from the Latin term “cancrum”, also meaning a “crab”. Recamier coined the term “metastasis” in 1829, when he demonstrated secondary tumors in the brain of patient with breast cancer. However, the thoughts that metastasis spread by a liquid dominated during this period (Mehta and Bansal, 2004). Development of microscope in the 17th century, helped in establishing the specificity of histology, which culminated in the introduction of a revolutionary new concept by Virchow (1821-1902) that new cells were continuously being formed the basis of classification of tumors today (Mehta and Bansal, 2004).
1.2 Definition
No satisfactory complete definition of neoplasia exists. The definition of Wills (1952), however remain one of the most widely cited and useful. “A neoplasia is an abnormal mass of tissue, the growth of which exceeds and is uncoordinated with that of the normal tissue and persists in the same excessive manner after cessation of the stimuli which evoked the change”.
1.3 Etiology of cancer
The major insights into etiology of cancer can be obtained by epidemiological studies that relate to particular environmental (agents acting on the body from outside), and genetic (acting within the body) factors. Some of the causative factors are as follow:
Chemical substances
Chemical substances of certain types have a propensity for causing mutations. For instance, various
Show More

Related Documents: Cancer: Cancer and Liver Function Tests Essay

Biliary Cancer Research Paper

Biliary cancer or bile duct cancer is a type of cancer which affects the lining of the bile ducts of the body. The bile ducts are responsible for collecting the bile produced by the liver which is essential for digestion and transporting it to the small intestine through the gallbladder. Bile duct cancer usually affects three parts of the bile duct which includes the intrahepatic part of the bile duct or the duct found within the liver; the extrahepatic part of the bile duct located at the notch…

Words 645 - Pages 3

Medical Underwriting Research Paper

there is separate table for them. Overweight is a risk factor for Diabetes, Cardiac, renal and other degenerative diseases. Underweight may indicate anemia, acute infections, TB and respiratory diseases. Sudden decrease in weight may be due to cancers. Hence checking change in weight within 6 months along with BMI is a must. BLOOD PRESSURE Higher value in BP denotes Systolic blood pressure and lower denotes Diastolic blood pressure. The readings must be taken thrice. Any deviation from the…

Words 1068 - Pages 5

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (Nafld)

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) | Symptoms, Causes and Treatment | Amy Kay | In current times, childhood and adult obesity is on the rise. Obesity poses a risk on many levels and one in particular is a disease called NAFLD or also known as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. This disease tends to develop in overweight or obese people or those with diabetes and is caused by extra fat building up in the liver cells. NAFLD is one cause of fatty liver and happens when fat is deposited…

Words 1519 - Pages 7

Neuroblastoma Research Paper

body functioning. The process maintains a certain speed to function, but with cancer, the balance is thrown off. Cells begin to grow out of control and develop the potential to invade other tissues in the body. Usually when DNA is damaged like this, the body can usually repair it, but when cancer is present, this is not possible. There are many types of cancer, but they all start out the same way: Uncontrollable growth. Childhood cancer is the number…

Words 1682 - Pages 7

Hepatitis A (HBV)

inflammation of the liver. The liver filters toxins in the body. Also, the liver helps digest food and stores vitamins and glucose. Viruses cause most cases of hepatitis. Drugs and alcohol are other causes. Autoimmune hepatitis is rare but possible. There are 5 types of hepatitis and they are named after the virus. 3 types are blood borne and the two others are water borne. There are some forms of Hepatitis that are mild, while others can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of liver heart) or liver cancer. Some forms…

Words 997 - Pages 4

Essay on Cancer: Cancer and Radiation

As you most likely know cancer is a very mysterious and deadly disease, but what is cancer really? Cancer is a disease which forms when abnormal cells divide without control. These cells are able to invade other tissues. There are over one hundred different types of cancer. Each different type of cancer is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected. Although there are many great advancements of technology to treat and prevent cancer, cancer is still the number one leading cause of…

Words 955 - Pages 4

Essay on Cancer profile

Cancer Strategy #7: An Overload Of Toxins Causes Cancer... Reducing Toxic Overload Vital For Eliminating Cancer An eminent German oncologist says that cancer is caused by environmental toxins. Others agree. While there are obviously other issues, fungus, viruses, genetics, etc., the major change in the world that could have lead to the explosion of cancer over the last 100 years has been the introduction of tens of thousands of chemicals into the environment. Chemicals that we had never been…

Words 3214 - Pages 13

Wilsons Disease Research Paper

requires certain minerals and vitamins. However, too much or too little can be extremely harmful. Copper is one of these necessary substances. Normally, copper is regulated and the excess is removed via the liver. When the liver fails to process out the copper, it begins to build up in the eyes, liver, and brain. Wilson’s disease is an inherited genetic disorder that results in the buildup of copper. The body uses copper for growth and development of bone, the heart, the brain, and other organs.…

Words 1063 - Pages 5

Drugs: Caffeine and Drugs Essay

larger risk of diabetes and abnormality in liver enzyme tests. Thalidomide: According to wikipedia, the definition of Thalidomide is 'a drug formerly used as a sedative, but withdrawn in the UK in the early 1960s after it was found to cause congenital malformation or absence of limbs in children whose mothers took the drug during early pregnancy. ' Pros: It was once used to soothe morning sickness of pregnant women. Possible anti-cancer agent. Cons: Thalidomide was classified…

Words 1340 - Pages 6

Cancer Research Paper

Marieb defines cancer as “A logical, coordinated process in which a precise sequence of tiny alterations change a normal cell into a killer”. The cells that divide uncontrollably are called neoplasm, or a tumor, and there are two types of neoplasm, the benign and the malignant. The benign neoplasm is the less hazardous of the two for it is a slow growing compact mass of cells. Once removed it usually does not recur. In contrast, the malignant neoplasm is more alarming for it grows quickly and…

Words 1191 - Pages 5