Understanding Cancer: Background, Clinical Trials, Research, and Prevention

Cancer is not a single disease, but rather a collection of related diseases that can occur almost anywhere in the body. At its core, cancer arises from changes in the genes that regulate how our body's cells function. Genes control how cells work; however, alterations in these genes can lead to cells malfunctioning-causing them to grow and divide uncontrollably or avoid programmed cell death. These abnormal cells can become cancerous. Understanding how genetic changes contribute to cancer is one way to grasp the disease, while analyzing cancer statistics provides another perspective. Symptoms and treatments vary depending on the type and stage of cancer. Common approaches include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, while some treatment plans may also involve hormone therapy, immunotherapy, biologic therapy, or stem cell transplantation.