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CANCER
No Longer a Death Sentence
By Aliya Agha | Published October 01, 2024
Pakistan faces an unseen battle is waged against its women. The enemy is breast cancer—the second leading cause of death among women in the country, a menace that strikes without warning, and often, without mercy. 1 out of every 8 women in Pakistan will face this life-altering diagnosis at some point in their lives. Lets save our mothers, sisters, friends with one action, early detection. According to World Health Organisation, in Pakistan, approximately 90 000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually, of which 40 000 patients lose their lives due to late detection. According to a recent study, 77% of invasive breast cancer occurred in women above 50 years of age, but if diagnosed early survival rates were 90%.
The Silent Threat Cancer begins when damaged cells ignore the body’s signals to stop growing. Under normal circumstances, cells divide in a controlled manner, ensuring the body has just the right number of cells for each function. However, when this process goes awry, cells start multiplying uncontrollably, leading to the formation of clusters or tumors. The Term Malignant Tumor Malignant tumors, commonly known as cancer, develop when cells begin to grow uncontrollably. Though these cells originate from the same tissue as healthy ones, they exhibit significant differences. Some key distinctions include:
Rapid Cell Growth: Cancer cells multiply rapidly, overpowering the surrounding healthy tissues. Unlike benign tumors, which remain contained, malignant cells invade nearby tissue and spread throughout the body. Thus there should be no dealy in seeking medical advice and diagnosis. Loose Cell Structure: Cancer cells easily detach, allowing them to spread to other parts of the body. These detached cells can enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system, where they travel to distant organs and form secondary tumors.
Cancer Development A single mutation is not enough to turn a normal cell into a cancer cell. Cancer typically results from a series of genetic mutations. These mutations can cause the following changes in cells:
Unchecked Growth: Cells may begin to grow uncontrollably when their DNA is copied incorrectly during division. Mutations can lead to an overproduction of proteins that trigger cells to divide more frequently. Rogue Cells: Mutated cells might produce abnormal proteins, which leads to improper cell behavior. These damaged cells continue to divide, eventually forming a tumor – also called the “rogue cell”
Cancer Detection Cancer development is often a slow process. It may take years for enough mutations to accumulate in a cell before it becomes cancerous. Even then, it can take additional time for the tumor to grow large enough to be detectable through scans or cause symptoms. Breast tumours are most easily detected with self-examination. However some cancers types are fast growing and immediate diagnosis is critical for saving human life. How Cancer Spreads Cancer cells are highly invasive. As they grow, they break away from the primary tumor and invade nearby tissues. These rogue cells can spread to distant parts of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream. When they form secondary tumors in other organs, this process is known as metastasis. Importantly, metastases consist of cells from the original cancer. For example, if cancer begins in the stomach and spreads to the liver, the cancerous cells in the liver will resemble stomach cells, not liver cells. This ability to spread and form new tumors is what makes malignant cancers particularly dangerous. Impact on the Body Cancer impacts the body in multiple significant ways. As the disease progresses, it causes tissue damage by destroying surrounding tissues, either by cutting off their blood supply or directly damaging them. This can lead to the loss of function in vital organs such as the liver, lungs, and stomach.
1 in 8 Women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime
Breast Cancer's morality rate has been declining in recent years due to Early Detection & improved treatment
Current Treatments and Future Outlook Additionally, cancer cells consume large amounts of nutrients, leaving the body deprived of energy. This results in general weakness, including fatigue, weight loss, and an overall decline in strength. Another consequence is toxin production—as the tumor grows and its central cells die due to insufficient blood supply, toxins are released into the bloodstream, further weakening the immune system and causing additional health complications. Surgery remains one of the most effective treatments for cancer, especially when combined with radiation or chemotherapy. Early detection is crucial, as surgery is most successful when the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. Although treatments are constantly improving, much remains to be understood about the underlying causes of cancer. Scientists continue to search for more effective cures, but until then, early diagnosis offers the best chance for recovery.
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