I’m educated enough to generally understand that cancer is the result of a gene mutation, which activates rapid cell reproduction, but what about this growing/spreading tumor makes it fatal? Why can’t we just periodically remove the tumor as it continues grow, thereby (almost) completely eliminating any possible death threat from cancer?
***EDIT: thanks for all the responses to my question! Some of them are really great, and perfectly answer my question. Frankly, I was not aware that cancerous cells and tumors have, in so many ways, “a mind of their own”.***
***I’m very lucky to have been of general good health my whole life, but the threat of cancer as I age scares the daylights outta me — it literally keeps me up at night, often. I’m slightly relieved to realize that so much is known about cancer and so many different treatment options exist, depending on the diagnosis and prognosis. And I recognize this wealth of knowledge, understanding, and treatment options is growing almost by the day with modern medicine — and this helps put me at ease a little too.***
***Here’s to ongoing good health for me and you…!***
In: 10
Our bodies only function based on the premise that we are comprised of many individual parts (organs and cells) that work together to keep the system alive (the body). Cells are basically cooperative, working together to provide services/benefits to those around them or throughout the body. Cancer cells are essentially parasitic, they act at their own benefit at the cost of the overall system. They draw nutrients needed for body function and us it to grow, allowing them to overtake healthy cells. If the cells composing your kidney are only 2% cancer, your kidney can still function relatively normally. However as the cancer grows and replaces the healthy cells, your kidney will lose some of its function, and could eventually shut down, which greatly affects your overall health. Some cancers can even spread throughout the body using the natural transport systems in your body, allowing them to be planted anywhere and spread. One spot of cancer is manageable, 10 growing at the same rate is 10 times the cancer in the same amount of time.
TL,DR: Cancer cells are parasitic, meaning once a cell becomes cancerous it effectively is no longer a part of your body and will take everything in your body until you die or it dies.
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