Cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These groups of diseases can affect almost any part of the body and are usually named for the organ or type of cell in which they originate. In Hebrew, cancer is called סרטן (sartan), in Spanish cáncer, in French cancer, and in German Krebs. Key characteristics of cancer include rapid, uncontrolled growth, invasion of and metastasis to adjacent and distant tissues, ignoring signals that regulate normal cell division, avoiding programmed cell death, promoting blood vessel construction, and evading detection and destruction by the immune system. These traits are the result of specific genetic changes, such as mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Cancer can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic predisposition, exposure to carcinogens, and lifestyle choices. Treatment options vary depending on the type and stage of cancer but can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.