All about cancer and its prevention and cure

Excerpts from http://www.fitnessmatter.com/update/health/all-about-cancer-its-treatment-cure-and-prevention/

You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone without some direct exposure to cancer, either through his or her own battle to overcome it or a loved one’s struggle. Cancer is second only to cardiovascular problems in causing people in the United States to fail to reach their unique Hayflick limit (the number of times their cells can divide and renew themselves). It is possible to develop cancer at any age. Certain types of this disease—lung, prostate, breast, colorectal, and skin cancer—are more common than others, but they vary by type with regard to how easy they are to treat and how soon you’re likely to return to a state of optimal health. What can you do to protect yourself from getting cancer? Some types can readily be prevented. Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, is largely preventable with avoidance of cigarette smoking and second hand smoke inhalation. Risk reduction for certain other cancers is more surprising. For instance, people with diabetes are more likely to develop colon cancer, leaving no doubt that you can lower your risk by achieving more effective control of blood glucose levels; you can also often prevent type 2 diabetes with lifestyle improvements to avoid raising your risk of this cancer at all.

What Causes Cancer and How Widespread Is It?

Cancer results when your own cells start reproducing at a faster rate than normal, usually due to an alteration in the cells’ DNA. As you live longer, you’ll experience a number of conditions that can increase the odds of getting cancer, such as declines in immune function, longer exposure to potential carcinogens, random gene mutations, a lesser ability to repair bodily injuries, and hormonal changes. Some cancers appear to run in families, but those types usually express themselves when people are younger. It still remains difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of most cancers. Although a diagnosis of cancer is still one of the most dreaded, nowadays cutting-edge advances in medicine allow many types to be treated and completely cured.