What is Cancer?

What is cancer? The simple answer is that cancer, a disease of the cells in your body, is made up of the cells from your own body.

Cells are the tiny building blocks that make up tissues. Different tissue types combine to form organs like the liver, lungs, or the colon. The colon is also called the large intestine. The small intestine is what is usually called "guts."

As each cell in your body is very tiny, you need a special microscope to magnify them enough to be clearly seen. Above is a picture of cells from someone's scalp, stained to help make it easier to see the cell outlines.

When you are very young, every cell in your body is growing and dividing. These cells are making new cells. That is how you grow.

As we grow up and get older and bigger, some cells stop dividing. Nerve cells in the brain stop dividing and growing when your brain has reached its adult size inside your skull bone.

If the nerve cells in your brain kept on growing and dividing and getting bigger, they would run out of room inside the skull!

Every cell has many working parts within it, and here is a diagram of some of those parts:

Cell diagram courtesy of Dr. G. Weaver, Colorado University at Denver

Cancer cells keep on growing and dividing

Then, what is cancer? The problem with cancer is that a tiny cell that should stop growing gets turned "on" and starts dividing again. The cell should be turned "off" and not grow any more.

When a cancer cell grows and divides when it shouldn't, the new cells that are made keep growing and dividing, too. Those new cells keep on growing and dividing, and they make more new cells that keep on growing and dividing. After a while, the group of cancer cells gets big enough to start squeezing or pushing on something next to them.

A large group of cancer cells is a tumor

When all the cancer cells together get big enough, the doctors call that a "mass" or a "tumor." If you look up the word "tumor," it started out as just another word for "swelling." Doctors can sometimes call cancer a "lesion."

Cancer cells push on or squeeze things next to them

You might ask yourself what is cancer and what do cancer cells do? Cancer can push on a blood vessel like an artery or vein. Sometimes the cancer cells push all the way through a blood vessel, and that can cause bleeding. Blood in your stool (feces) can be a sign of colon cancer, but blood can come from things other than cancer as well.

Tell your doctor about blood in your stool

Be sure to tell your doctor if you have blood in your stool. Instead of being red, blood can turn the color of your stool dark black and make it very sticky. If the color of your stool is dark black (instead of brown), tell your doctor that also.

Protect Yourself From the High Cost of Cancer

According to the recent studies, American men have a 44% chance of developing cancer while the chances for women are about 37%. The general risk of developing colon cancer in the United States is about 6%. For this reason, it's important for everyone, particularly people above the age of 50 years, to go for routine screening.

Whether discovered early or late, cancer is a debilitating disease due to the care, costs and the mental and physical trauma involved. Many times the cost of treatment leaves the patient in heavy financial distress.

Most insurance plans do not cover the total cost of the treatment, which leaves the patient and their family in a lurch. These days people have started purchasing supplemental cancer insurance that can help in covering otherwise uninsured expenses related to cancer illness. If you would like to learn more about supplemental cancer insurance you can click here.

Written by Jerry Lang - 2/24/09

Facts on Colon Cancer - Knowing the facts on colon cancer can save your life.
Colon Cancer Stages - Colon Cancer Stages describes the stages of colon cancer from zero to four. With each stage, it explains the degree of seriousness and the relative ease or difficulty of cure depending on the stage. The page also describes the anatomy of the colon and explains what a polyp is and how it can cause...
What is Cancer? - What is Cancer provides concrete information on what cancer actually is. It continues to explain what happens to cancer cells and how the cells can create a ‘mass’ called a tumor ,or even push its way through a...
What Causes Colon Cancer? - What Causes Colon Cancer discusses the various causes of colon cancer, such as how cancer cells come about and what they are. In addition it also explores various possible origins of cancer. Within each cause it goes into brief detail of what this specific issue can do to harm your body and the risk factor...
Best Cancer Hospitals - 10 Best Cancer Hospitals gives a list of 10 well respected hospitals in the U.S that specialize in treating cancer. Furthermore it gives advice on how to seek a doctor fit for you and your treatment. You are provided with valuable information on how to make your decision on which doctor will be a best fit for your particular cancer, also advising you to always get a second...
Hospital Insurance - Hospital insurance issues discusses common insurance concerns. You are encouraged to ask your health insurance provider specific questions which are listed on this page. In addition the page gives guidance on how to...
Women Colon Cancer Patients - Women Colon Cancer Patients discusses how most people automatically assume that male colon cancer patients outnumber women, but in actuality there are slightly more women diagnosed with colon cancer. The page continues to explain the benefits of a colonoscopy and encourages you to...
Types of Polyps - Types of Polyps lists the most common polyps. It goes on to describe each polyp and how dangerous the polyp could be to your body. Being aware of the different polyps is vital for cancer prevention and to...
Colonoscopy Risks - Colonoscopy risks are rare but significant. This page explains how the benefits outweigh the risks, and goes on to express how the risks should not prevent anyone from getting screened. A colonoscopy is a crucial procedure for anyone over the age of 50 or if...
Small Intestine Cancer - Women Colon Cancer Patients discusses how most people automatically assume that male colon cancer patients outnumber women, but in actuality there are slightly more women diagnosed with colon cancer. The page continues to explain the benefits of a colonoscopy and encourages you to...
Sigmoid Colon - This page describes the anatomy of the sigmoid colon. It explains the colon’s main function, which is to absorb water and minerals and make and eliminate feces. Sigmoid cancer starts in the inner layer of tissue in the wall of the colon and rectum. Some important prevention methods are to maintain a healthy diet and...
Famous People With Colon Cancer - This page illustrates the fact that famous people get cancer too! A long list of famous people with colon cancer is provided. The page briefly talks about Katie Couric and her bold attempt to raise colon cancer awareness by...
Famous People With Cancer - Famous people with Cancer answers a question we’ve all been dying to know which is, how do famous people with cancer get special medical care? The page gives us Mr. Josephs story and how he took action against the big fight called cancer. He was not famous but...
Cancer Costs - This page gives advice on how to deal with high cancer costs. It explains how essential it is to find out exactly how much your treatments will cost you and what your insurance provider intends to cover. You are encouraged to talk to your employer or explore other options if needed such as...
Cost of Chemotherapy - The High Cost of Chemotherapy page gives guidance for alternative options in support of patients who cannot afford the cost of their treatment. Statistics show that 12% of colon cancer patients spend over 25,000 dollars out of pocket and...
Gardner Syndrome - - Gardner Syndrome is a genetic disease that causes a person to have extra growths called polyps. Usually polyps are not cancerous but with this disease the polyps are 100% cancerous. If Gardner Syndrome runs in your family it is critical that you get screened as early as 10 to 12 years of age. Gardner Syndrome can also be originated from...
History of Colon Cancer - This page discusses how vital it is for one to know about the history of colon cancer, especially if you have a family history of colon cancer. If any of your direct ancestors have had colon cancer then you are at high risk. The page also talks about the history of colon cancer treatment and provides a list of alternative therapies. Alternative therapies have been effective for some but...
Types of Colon Polyps - There are 4 primary types of colon polyps. The two most common types are adenomatous and hyperplastic polyps. Polyps are not always be cancerous, and if detected early they can be easily removed. Getting a colonoscopy is the best way to prevent polyps from becoming cancerous. Polyps occur in about 30 to...
Colonoscopy Sedation - Colonoscopy sedation is effective with various drugs and sometimes hypnosis. Two common colonoscopy sedation drugs are Versed and Propofol. Versed is commonly used as an anti-anxiety drug, it causes you to go into a state of deep relaxation or sleep and also causes amnesia. Propofol is a more powerful drug and is mainly used with patients who take narcotics for pain, unfortunately not all...
Colon Cancer Prognosis - Colon cancer prognosis can vary for each stage of colon cancer. The prognosis at this point is typically a five year survival rate of less than 5 %. But keep in mind that...
Lynch Syndrome - Lynch syndrome is an inherited disease that increases the chances of getting cancer. If you have this disease it is imporatant that you get screened regularly. Some of the symptoms can include...
Health Insurance for Cancer - Health insurance for cancer is an insurance personally tailored to your situation and is usually some combination of major medical and supplemental cancer insurance. Since major medical insurance isn't always enough it's...
Polyps in Colon - This article talks about colon polyps, benign lesions on the colon that may or may not lead to cancer of the colon. Most polyps on the colon need to be removed on the chance that they could lead to cancer. Some families have members with multiple polyps on their colons. These families need careful follow-up and treatment of their polyps.
Top Cancer Hospitals - If you’ve been recently diagnosed with cancer, you have a lot of decisions to make. You want to go to the very best place available to you for your cancer treatment. A top cancer hospital has specialists that are the best in their field of cancer care. If you have colon cancer...
Colon Surgery - Colon surgery can be done to remove benign or cancerous lesions of the colon. Doctors can do laparoscopic surgery or open surgery, depending on the type of lesion to be removed.
List of Hospitals - If you have cancer, you are probably scared and want a list of hospitals that might help you. This article will help you find that list of hospitals you need to make the right choices in your care.
Cancer of the Small Bowel - Cancer of the small bowel is less common than cancer of the large bowel. 52,000 people die from large bowel cancer per year compared to only about 1100 from cancer of the small bowel.
Online Nursing Programs - Learn more about colon cancer in nursing training programs.

	Colon Cancer Resource Helping you find a cure
	What is Cancer? What is cancer? The simple answer is that cancer, a disease of the cells in your body, is made up of the cells from your own body. Cells are the tiny building blocks that make up tissues. Different tissue types combine to form organs like the liver, lungs, or the colon. The colon is also called the large intestine. The small intestine is what is usually called "guts." As each cell in your body is very tiny, you need a special microscope to magnify them enough to be clearly seen. Above is a picture of cells from someone's scalp, stained to help make it easier to see the cell outlines. When you are very young, every cell in your body is growing and dividing. These cells are making new cells. That is how you grow. As we grow up and get older and bigger, some cells stop dividing. Nerve cells in the brain stop dividing and growing when your brain has reached its adult size inside your skull bone. If the nerve cells in your brain kept on growing and dividing and getting bigger, they would run out of room inside the skull! Every cell has many working parts within it, and here is a diagram of some of those parts: Cell diagram courtesy of Dr. G. Weaver, Colorado University at Denver Cancer cells keep on growing and dividing Then, what is cancer? The problem with cancer is that a tiny cell that should stop growing gets turned "on" and starts dividing again. The cell should be turned "off" and not grow any more. When a cancer cell grows and divides when it shouldn't, the new cells that are made keep growing and dividing, too. Those new cells keep on growing and dividing, and they make more new cells that keep on growing and dividing. After a while, the group of cancer cells gets big enough to start squeezing or pushing on something next to them. A large group of cancer cells is a tumor When all the cancer cells together get big enough, the doctors call that a "mass" or a "tumor." If you look up the word "tumor," it started out as just another word for "swelling." Doctors can sometimes call cancer a "lesion." Cancer cells push on or squeeze things next to them You might ask yourself what is cancer and what do cancer cells do? Cancer can push on a blood vessel like an artery or vein. Sometimes the cancer cells push all the way through a blood vessel, and that can cause bleeding. Blood in your stool (feces) can be a sign of colon cancer, but blood can come from things other than cancer as well. Tell your doctor about blood in your stool Be sure to tell your doctor if you have blood in your stool. Instead of being red, blood can turn the color of your stool dark black and make it very sticky. If the color of your stool is dark black (instead of brown), tell your doctor that also. Protect Yourself From the High Cost of Cancer According to the recent studies, American men have a 44% chance of developing cancer while the chances for women are about 37%. The general risk of developing colon cancer in the United States is about 6%. For this reason, it's important for everyone, particularly people above the age of 50 years, to go for routine screening. Whether discovered early or late, cancer is a debilitating disease due to the care, costs and the mental and physical trauma involved. Many times the cost of treatment leaves the patient in heavy financial distress. Most insurance plans do not cover the total cost of the treatment, which leaves the patient and their family in a lurch. These days people have started purchasing supplemental cancer insurance that can help in covering otherwise uninsured expenses related to cancer illness. If you would like to learn more about supplemental cancer insurance you can click here. Written by Jerry Lang - 2/24/09 Related pages: Facts on Colon Cancer - Knowing the facts on colon cancer can save your life. Colon Cancer Stages - Colon Cancer Stages describes the stages of colon cancer from zero to four. With each stage, it explains the degree of seriousness and the relative ease or difficulty of cure depending on the stage. The page also describes the anatomy of the colon and explains what a polyp is and how it can cause... What is Cancer? - What is Cancer provides concrete information on what cancer actually is. It continues to explain what happens to cancer cells and how the cells can create a ‘mass’ called a tumor ,or even push its way through a... What Causes Colon Cancer? - What Causes Colon Cancer discusses the various causes of colon cancer, such as how cancer cells come about and what they are. In addition it also explores various possible origins of cancer. Within each cause it goes into brief detail of what this specific issue can do to harm your body and the risk factor... Best Cancer Hospitals - 10 Best Cancer Hospitals gives a list of 10 well respected hospitals in the U.S that specialize in treating cancer. Furthermore it gives advice on how to seek a doctor fit for you and your treatment. You are provided with valuable information on how to make your decision on which doctor will be a best fit for your particular cancer, also advising you to always get a second... Hospital Insurance - Hospital insurance issues discusses common insurance concerns. You are encouraged to ask your health insurance provider specific questions which are listed on this page. In addition the page gives guidance on how to... Women Colon Cancer Patients - Women Colon Cancer Patients discusses how most people automatically assume that male colon cancer patients outnumber women, but in actuality there are slightly more women diagnosed with colon cancer. The page continues to explain the benefits of a colonoscopy and encourages you to... Types of Polyps - Types of Polyps lists the most common polyps. It goes on to describe each polyp and how dangerous the polyp could be to your body. Being aware of the different polyps is vital for cancer prevention and to... Colonoscopy Risks - Colonoscopy risks are rare but significant. This page explains how the benefits outweigh the risks, and goes on to express how the risks should not prevent anyone from getting screened. A colonoscopy is a crucial procedure for anyone over the age of 50 or if... Small Intestine Cancer - Women Colon Cancer Patients discusses how most people automatically assume that male colon cancer patients outnumber women, but in actuality there are slightly more women diagnosed with colon cancer. The page continues to explain the benefits of a colonoscopy and encourages you to... Sigmoid Colon - This page describes the anatomy of the sigmoid colon. It explains the colon’s main function, which is to absorb water and minerals and make and eliminate feces. Sigmoid cancer starts in the inner layer of tissue in the wall of the colon and rectum. Some important prevention methods are to maintain a healthy diet and... Famous People With Colon Cancer - This page illustrates the fact that famous people get cancer too! A long list of famous people with colon cancer is provided. The page briefly talks about Katie Couric and her bold attempt to raise colon cancer awareness by... Famous People With Cancer - Famous people with Cancer answers a question we’ve all been dying to know which is, how do famous people with cancer get special medical care? The page gives us Mr. Josephs story and how he took action against the big fight called cancer. He was not famous but... Cancer Costs - This page gives advice on how to deal with high cancer costs. It explains how essential it is to find out exactly how much your treatments will cost you and what your insurance provider intends to cover. You are encouraged to talk to your employer or explore other options if needed such as... Cost of Chemotherapy - The High Cost of Chemotherapy page gives guidance for alternative options in support of patients who cannot afford the cost of their treatment. Statistics show that 12% of colon cancer patients spend over 25,000 dollars out of pocket and... Gardner Syndrome - - Gardner Syndrome is a genetic disease that causes a person to have extra growths called polyps. Usually polyps are not cancerous but with this disease the polyps are 100% cancerous. If Gardner Syndrome runs in your family it is critical that you get screened as early as 10 to 12 years of age. Gardner Syndrome can also be originated from... History of Colon Cancer - This page discusses how vital it is for one to know about the history of colon cancer, especially if you have a family history of colon cancer. If any of your direct ancestors have had colon cancer then you are at high risk. The page also talks about the history of colon cancer treatment and provides a list of alternative therapies. Alternative therapies have been effective for some but... Types of Colon Polyps - There are 4 primary types of colon polyps. The two most common types are adenomatous and hyperplastic polyps. Polyps are not always be cancerous, and if detected early they can be easily removed. Getting a colonoscopy is the best way to prevent polyps from becoming cancerous. Polyps occur in about 30 to... Colonoscopy Sedation - Colonoscopy sedation is effective with various drugs and sometimes hypnosis. Two common colonoscopy sedation drugs are Versed and Propofol. Versed is commonly used as an anti-anxiety drug, it causes you to go into a state of deep relaxation or sleep and also causes amnesia. Propofol is a more powerful drug and is mainly used with patients who take narcotics for pain, unfortunately not all... Colon Cancer Prognosis - Colon cancer prognosis can vary for each stage of colon cancer. The prognosis at this point is typically a five year survival rate of less than 5 %. But keep in mind that... Lynch Syndrome - Lynch syndrome is an inherited disease that increases the chances of getting cancer. If you have this disease it is imporatant that you get screened regularly. Some of the symptoms can include... Health Insurance for Cancer - Health insurance for cancer is an insurance personally tailored to your situation and is usually some combination of major medical and supplemental cancer insurance. Since major medical insurance isn't always enough it's... Polyps in Colon - This article talks about colon polyps, benign lesions on the colon that may or may not lead to cancer of the colon. Most polyps on the colon need to be removed on the chance that they could lead to cancer. Some families have members with multiple polyps on their colons. These families need careful follow-up and treatment of their polyps. Top Cancer Hospitals - If you’ve been recently diagnosed with cancer, you have a lot of decisions to make. You want to go to the very best place available to you for your cancer treatment. A top cancer hospital has specialists that are the best in their field of cancer care. If you have colon cancer... Colon Surgery - Colon surgery can be done to remove benign or cancerous lesions of the colon. Doctors can do laparoscopic surgery or open surgery, depending on the type of lesion to be removed. List of Hospitals - If you have cancer, you are probably scared and want a list of hospitals that might help you. This article will help you find that list of hospitals you need to make the right choices in your care. Cancer of the Small Bowel - Cancer of the small bowel is less common than cancer of the large bowel. 52,000 people die from large bowel cancer per year compared to only about 1100 from cancer of the small bowel. Online Nursing Programs - Learn more about colon cancer in nursing training programs. Back to top	Search CCR This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Free Subscription First Name Email Get the latest news on colon cancer delivered to your inbox each week! Click here to read our Privacy Policy. eBOOK AVAILABLE NOW! eBOOK AVAILABLE NOW! eBOOK AVAILABLE NOW! eBOOK AVAILABLE NOW! eBOOK AVAILABLE NOW!
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Colon Cancer Resource