Cancer

New Growths:
A number of new growths develop in the body, one such growth being cancer. The word ‘cancer’ conjures up an image of a relentless fatal disease coupled with terrible suffering. In spite of most impressive advances in medical sciences, the cure of cancer still evades man. Even its precise causation is not yet understood although ever increasing hypothesis is developing periodically. Yet the riddle of cancer is essentially simple to understand.
If the life history of a single cell is studied, it is seen that the cell inherits certain characteristics which regulate its shape, size, growth rate, function, life expectation and division (reproduction). A part of these functions is also influenced by the nutrition or blood supply. Since cells derived from a particular inheritance behave in a set pattern, there is an orderly march of events so far as growth and functions are concerned.
There are many factors which are now known to destroy these vital built-in-checks or mechanisms and upset this orderly march of growth. Not all type of growths is alike and end fatally (malignant). Some limit themselves to the area where they grow and therefore, are quite compatible with life (benign). A fibroma is an example of a benign tumor.
No other medical field has involved such organized research effort and has involved such multiple disciplines like chemistry, physics, biology, medicine, pharmacology, genetics and surgery as cancer study has done. It is a challenging and fascinating field.