What is Cancer?
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If this process is not controlled, it can result in death. Cancer develops by influence from both external (chemicals, radiation, and viruses) and internal (hormones, immune conditions, and inherited mutations) factors. These factors may act together to initiate or promote the abnormal growth of cells.
Tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumors tend to grow slowly and do not spread. Malignant tumors can grow rapidly, invade and destroy nearby normal tissues, and spread throughout the body.
Cancer is not just one disease but rather a group of diseases, all of which cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Cancers are classified either according to the kind of fluid or tissue from which they originate, or according to the location in the body where they first developed. In addition, some cancers are of mixed types.
Cancer is treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormones and immunotherapy.
For more information, please call the Center For Cancer Care in Tampa, Florida, at (813) 615-7238.
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