Science

How does cancer evolve from a single cell to a malignant tumor? Why is cancer so persistent in its efforts to survive and spread? According to Dr. Jason Fung, cancer is ultimately a living species that operates by the same principles as all living organisms: It grows, feeds, reproduces, and fights for survival. Using this new model of cancer as a separate species, Fung describes cancer progression as a three-phase process. Here’s how cancer evolves and becomes malignant.

How does cancer start? How do carcinogens in the environment set off the chain of events that eventually leads to cancer? According to Dr. Jason Fung, cancer starts with damage inflicted by some type of carcinogen. Sometimes the body fixes that damage incorrectly, causing slight changes in the genetic material—in other words, mutations. From there, evolutionary pressure drives cellular reproduction. Keep reading to learn about the origins of cancer, according to Dr. Fung.

How does cancer spread to other parts of the body? Is there a way to prevent cancerous cells from migrating and invading other organs? When cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it’s called “metastatic cancer.” In order to metastasize, cancerous cells must travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. According to Dr. Jason Fung, this process happens in cycles because the immune system will mount its defenses to prevent cancerous cells from spreading. Here’s how cancer metastasizes and invades other organs.

How close are we to curing cancer? What are some promising therapies for treating cancer? We’ve come far in our understanding of cancer, resulting in a number of promising treatments with fewer side effects. In fact, we may be nearing a turning point in the way we treat cancer. Here’s a look at promising future cancer treatments.

What exactly is cancer, and why is it so hard to treat? Why is cancer so prevalent? How close are we to eradicating cancer? Cancer is one of the most frightening diseases in the world today. It’s deadly and often extremely hard to cure. As such, doctors and researchers have spent enormous amounts of time and money trying to figure out exactly what cancer is, how it works, and how to cure it. In this article, you’ll learn about the progress we’ve made toward our understanding of cancer.