Page 64 - Grasp English C1 (Student Book)

5 WELL-BEING

Cancer results from the uncontrolled growth and e
division of cells. Sometimes these cells cause visible
lumps, called tumours, while in other types of cancer, The one chosen depends on the type of cancer, its stage
such as leukaemia, the cell growth is not visible. at diagnosis and the patient's health. One common
treatment is chemotherapy, which kills cancerous cells
a
and helps to shrink tumours, but has severe side effects
Cells have specific functions and lifespans, and once like hair loss. Another treatment is hormone therapy,
their job is done, they receive instructions to die. which changes how hormones interact with the body
Cancerous cells, however, lack the components that and is a common treatment for prostate and breast
allow them to stop dividing and die. They build up, cancer. Immunotherapy strengthens the immune
using up oxygen and nutrients that other parts of the system's ability to fight cancerous cells, while radiation
body need, and impair the body's immune system. therapy targets cancer cells and shrinks tumours.
Stem cell transplants are beneficial for treating blood
b
cancers like leukaemia. Surgery is often used as an
Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, for example, intervention to remove tumours, and sometimes the
while other preventable risk factors include heavy lymph nodes which would otherwise allow the cancer
alcohol intake, poor nutrition, physical inactivity and to spread. Another treatment with great potential is
obesity.
precision medicine, which uses genetic testing to
c determine the best medication for an individual's
cancer.
Age, for example, is the biggest non-preventable risk
factor, with 87 percent of cancer cases in the USA f
diagnosed in people over fifty years of age. Also, about Advanced treatments mean that more and more
5–10 percent of cancer cases are hereditary. types of cancer are curable, and the number of cancer
diagnoses and fatalities are dropping every year due
d
to advances in diagnosing and treating the disease.
It is a person's genetic code which tells their cells To reduce the risk of developing cancer, people should
when to divide and die. Changes in the genes over make themselves aware of its symptoms; choose a
time can lead to faulty instructions which cause healthy lifestyle, and seek medical help whenever
cancer. Smoking and sun exposure can increase the they are concerned.
risk of these changes.

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