Health and Fitness Essay on Cancer

So much of the world is riddled with that one dreaded illness that cannot be cured no matter what. The dreaded word cannot even be spoken by many until well into the illness. This is an illness that takes away the young, the old and anyone in between. It is an illness that does nothing but incapacitates and humiliate. It causes pain, extreme pain in some instances, and the pain can be emotional and physical. What is this illness? It is none other than cancer.

What is cancer? It is the abnormal mutation of cells that invades and destroys the surrounding tissues in the body. This is what is different about cancer cells. Most cells within the body remain stationary, while cancer cells tend to travel from one part to the other. They form colonies away from the original site of growth. They invade the surrounding tissues and organs and make it difficult for the organs to function. Before long, the organs stop functioning altogether. Normal cells in the body have a limited lifespan. These cells are replaced by new cells. This does not occur with cancer cells. Instead, they proliferate and grow irregularly.

Many people who are unlucky enough to get cancer have difficulty admitting they have the dreaded illness. Most deny it and think it is a misdiagnosis or that it will go away. Cancer does not go away. Others accept it and work hard at fighting it, but almost always, cancer wins. The only thing any person can hope for is to go into remission which will give them a few precious years of life.

How does one prevent the onset of cancer? Although the development of cancer is mostly related to the abnormal mutation of genes, it is believed that much of the development of cancer can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices. Eating right, staying healthy, and maintaining a healthy weight and keeping active are some of the ways of preventing the onset of cancer.

It is also recommended that regular cancer screening be done in

order to detect the illness before its spread. For example, any person with a history of breast cancer, in the family, should consider breast scanning and mammograms at least once in two years. However, not all types of cancers are related to genes. Therefore, there is no way to ascertain when and how cancer develops. One can only hope for the best.

The only way to cope with cancer, although this too is sometimes, impossible, is to learn everything about cancer and how to cope with it. Emotional support is necessary and is crucial. Although family may provide emotional support, it may not be enough for many cancer victims. Support groups are the best form of coping with cancer. Learning all about it and taking the necessary steps to fight the illness as best possible is also a good step in the right direction.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than one million people, in the US, develop cancer. This is a great number. The only way to live life is to hope for the best and, if afflicted with this dreaded disease, live life to the fullest every day.