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Cancer is a disease that occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably. So how will cancer cause life-threatening complications? Can you die from cancer? This is a question that many people are interested in right now. Keep reading to learn more about how cancer progresses, how it kills, and what treatments can slow the progression of cancer complications.
1. What are cancer complications?
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. But survival rates are also improving for many types of cancer, thanks to improvements in cancer screening, treatment and prevention.
When detected and treated early, cancer does not cause life-threatening complications. Cancer becomes life-threatening when it affects major organs and their ability to function.
Cancer kills by trusting vital organs, nerves or blood vessels and interfering, impairing their function. It can start in almost any human cell.
Normally, new cells form through the process of growth and division. Cells die when they become too old or damaged, and new cells form to replace them.
Cancer will interrupt the process of cell destruction and renewal. As a result, new cells (cancer cells) become increasingly abnormal and old cells live when the body should destroy them.
Cancer is caused by changes (mutations) to the DNA in cells. The DNA inside the cell is also packaged into a large number of individual genes, each of which contains a set of instructions that tell the cell what functions it needs to perform and how to grow and divide. Errors in instructions can cause cells to stop working properly and can allow cells to become cancerous.
2. Cancer stages and symptoms
With early treatment, the early stages of cancer usually do not cause serious symptoms or lead to death.
However, untreated, later-stage cancers tend to cause severe symptoms and have a higher chance of death.
The sections below look at early-stage cancer in more detail.
2.1. Stage 0 This means that the cancer or tumor is "in place" or where they originally developed. It means they have not spread. This stage is often highly curable, often through surgical removal of the tumor or cancerous cells.
2.2. Stage 1 Often referred to as early-stage cancer, stage 1 cancer or tumors are small and have not penetrated into surrounding tissues. They also do not spread to other parts of the body or the lymphatic system.
People with stage 0 or 1 cancer may not notice any symptoms. Others may experience symptoms or notice changes in their body, such as:
Unusual lumps, bumps, stiffness or swelling Skin changes, such as new or growing moles changes, itch, scabs or becomes dimpled, discolored, darkens, wrinkled, or inflamed Cough or hoarseness does not improve Nipples or genitals unusual discharge or changes Difficult or pain when urinating Blood in urine or stools Unexplained bruising Change in bowel habits Abdominal pain Nausea and vomiting Decreased appetite Difficulty eating or swallowing Ợ Sour or indigestion that does not improve No resolution comfortable, severe exhaustion that doesn't improve Unexplained fever or night sweats Bleeding and pain or numbness in the mouth or lips Headaches and seizures Changes in vision and hearing White or red patches on the tongue or in the mouth Sores that do not heal Jaundice of the skin and eyes Unexplained weight loss or gain 2.3. Stages 2 and 3 Stage 2 and 3 cancers and tumors tend to be larger and have grown deep into surrounding tissues. They may also have spread to other parts of the body or the lymphatic system.
2.4. Stage 4 Stage 4 is also known as metastatic, or advanced, cancer. At this stage, the cancer or tumor has spread to other parts of the body.
People with late stage cancer experience different symptoms, depending on the type and location of their cancer. No one can completely predict factors such as:
Some people die from cancer fairly quickly, especially if there are unexpected complications or the cancer is very advanced. In other cases it can take months or years.
3. When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor right away if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that concern you.
If you don't have any signs or symptoms, but are concerned about your cancer risk, discuss your concerns with your doctor. Ask about which cancer screening tests and procedures would be right for you.
4. What are the consequences of cancer?
These consequences may be due to primary cancer starting in an essential organ, such as brain cancer. Or it is possible that the cancer has spread from one area to another. For example, breast cancer that has spread to the lungs.
As cancer spreads throughout the body, it becomes harder to control. Certain types of cancer tend to spread slowly. Other types will spread more strongly.
Let's take a closer look at some of the consequences that cancer can have.
4.1. Lungs Cancer can block part of the lung. The organ then deflates and can become infected.
When cancer suppresses the lungs, there may not be enough healthy lung tissue in the end to allow you to take in the oxygen you need.
If you have terminal cancer, you may not be strong enough to fight off a lung infection, even with strong antibiotics. Therefore, infection can eventually lead to death.
4.2. Bone Cancer in the bones can cause calcium to be released into the bloodstream. This can affect the body's calcium balance. The body has systems to correct this, but the systems stop working when the imbalance becomes too great.
There is a treatment to help bring calcium levels back to normal, but these only work for a limited time. After that, calcium levels will likely continue to rise in the blood. High levels of calcium in the body can cause you to lose consciousness and eventually die.
Cancer cells can affect the bone marrow. Bone marrow is a spongy material that is filled with bone. It will create very early cells called stem cells, which then develop into new blood cells. Finally, you may not have enough healthy bone marrow to make new:
Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body White blood cells also help fight infections Platelets to stop bleeding 4.3. Liver The liver is your body's chemical factory. It performs many tasks and is very important in maintaining the balance of chemicals in the body. Cancer that has spread to the liver can upset this chemical balance. It can be life-threatening if your body can't regulate this chemical balance.
4.4. Blood vessels Cancer can grow and damage blood vessels to an important part of the body. This can cause bleeding in the brain. This bleeding can be fatal if it affects several important parts of the brain.
5. What are the life-threatening complications of cancer?
5.1. Malnutrition Malnutrition is the main cause of death in advanced cancer. This can happen when tumors in the digestive system form a blockage or interfere with the absorption of essential nutrients.
In addition, cancer and cancer treatments can lead to loss of appetite and inability to eat in time.
Signs of malnutrition include:
Loss of lean body mass Loss of muscle Fatigue Cognitive difficulties Weakened immune system Malnutrition can affect a person's response with treatment and overall survival.
5.2. Lack of oxygen Tumors in the lungs can block part of the lung or cause it to collapse.
Lungs that are prone to disease or collapse can lead to:
A lung infection that will be difficult to treat Inability to absorb enough oxygen Difficulty breathing 5.3. Liver damage The liver has many important jobs such as filtering toxins out of the blood and maintaining the balance of chemicals.
Liver tumors can prevent the liver from performing these functions, which can lead to jaundice and other life-threatening problems.
Signs that your liver is not working well include:
Yellow eyes and skin Swelling of the abdomen or bloating Dark urine Loss of appetite Nausea Weight loss 5.4. Too much calcium Cancer in the bones can lead to too much calcium (hypercalcemia) being released into the bloodstream.
This can affect the normal functioning of the heart, kidneys and muscles. It can also lead to neurological symptoms, such as confusion, memory loss, and depression.
High calcium levels can also lead to coma or death.
5.5. Blood and blood vessel problems Cancer will push into the blood vessels which can cause serious damage. In the brain, this can trigger a stroke.
5.6. Infections Several factors can increase the risk of developing serious infections including:
Malnutrition Lack of white blood cells Tumors in the lungs that make it difficult to fight off any type of pneumonia
6. Does cancer cause death?
Not all cancers lead to death
First, it's important to remember that not all cancers are fatal. Overall, 50 out of 100 (50%) people diagnosed with cancer in England and Wales live 10 years or more. Cancer survival rates are improving and have doubled over the past 40 years in the UK.
Cancer in its early stages usually won't kill you. A lot of effort is put into early diagnosis when treatment is most likely to work.
How cancer causes death depends on your type of cancer and what parts of your body are affected. Some cancers start in or spread to a part of the body where a function is necessary for life.
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