The cure will come eventually and the world will rejoice that this awful disease that can strike anyone at any time has been silenced. Because we don't fully understand exactly what causes cancer it means that we can only take certain precautions to avoid it.

There are theories that we all have it and it just takes something to start it off, but what is cancer? Well, it is a disease that's characterized by a large number of cells that continue to grow and divide; they invade and destroy adjacent tissues and may even spread to other anatomical sites through a process called metastasis.

The difference between a cancerous tumor an a benign one is that malignant tumors continue to grow whereas benign ones limit their growth an many of us live comfortably with them during out lives without even knowing. Whilst smoking, chemicals and radiation for instance, can be the cancer trigger, it is the poison from these or other sources that transform body cells and cause genetic abnormalities which grow and multiply.

Although genetic abnormalities may be caused by it they may also be randomly acquired through problems in the body's DNA replication; a genetic trait may be inherited and thus present in all cells from birth. However this does not mean you will contract it as the relationship between carcinogens and an individual's genetic makeup is a complex one.

Long term research has given a better picture of what cancer is and the study of cancer is one of the top ten diseases being researched throughout the world. More information is being gathered about all illnesses and why some people are more prone to certain conditions. We all want to know more about the causes of cancer what we can do to help prevent this illness from striking.

There is a saying ‘You Are What You Eat' and this is now being looked at more closely as food may have a direct effect on the incidence of the disease in certain groups. Foods that could be a problem are Salt, sugar, saturated fat and cholesterol. Recent studies have shown that calcium received from dairy products can be harmful to men and could encourage the onset of prostate cancer.

Cancer does not have any prejudice when it comes to invading a person's body as it can strike anywhere. Long term research has helped the situation and many forms can now be treated at even later stages than could be only a little while ago. Although not it is not something anyone wants to be diagnosed with, cancer does not have to mean death these days, with the advances in medical treatment.