Cancer is one of the hardest diseases to fight and it has a high fatality rate when it progresses into later stages, but modern medicine and technology has brought down the fatality rate by a great margin. According to PublicHealth.org, there are almost 830,000 new cancer patients yearly, and the difference between life and death for all of them is recognizing the warning signs. All cancers have four stages. Then some stages have subdivisions depending on the severity of the cancer, the speed with which it develops, and its aggression.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs. Your lungs are two spongy organs in your chest that take in oxygen when you inhale and release carbon dioxide when you exhale.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, among both men and women. Lung cancer claims more lives each year than do colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancers combined.
People who smoke have the greatest risk of lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people who have never smoked. The risk of lung cancer increases with the length of time and number of cigarettes you’ve smoked. If you quit smoking, even after smoking for many years, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing lung cancer.
This is one of the hardest cancers to catch. It starts in the lungs, makes its way into the lymph nodes, then across the chest, and finally metastasizes all over the body.
Regular check-ups are the only way to catch it as soon as possible, and sometimes even that is not enough. Doctors recommend a new kind of screening called an LDCT. It’s capable of detecting lung cancer better – and earlier – than chest x-rays.
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of your pancreas — an organ in your abdomen that lies behind the lower part of your stomach. Your pancreas releases enzymes that aid digestion and produces hormones that help manage your blood sugar.
According to Cancer.net, it’s not that common in men, but it’s a very frequent killer among cancers. They also state that no specific screenings are available for pancreatic cancer, resulting in it usually being discovered in later stages, often too late, and adding to the high mortality rates. It starts in the pancreas no bigger than 2 centimeters. It makes its way to nearby veins and lymph nodes, then nearby arteries, until it finally encompasses the entire body, most notably the abdomen, liver, and lungs.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer can differ in the way it develops and manifests. Some are fast-developing but aggressive; others are slow but easier to treat. According to the Mayo Clinic, if caught while still localized in the prostate gland, chances of a successful recovery are much higher.
Generally, in the beginning, the cancer is undetectably small and usually grows slowly. Soon it makes its way to the nearby tissue like bladder and rectum, and the lymph nodes. In the final stage, it spreads well beyond the prostate and can be found all across the body, including the bones.
Due to the diversity within the general class of prostate cancer, talk to your doctor if you suspect something is wrong.
Colorectal Cancer
Anyone can develop colorectal cancer, but people over 50 are most commonly affected by the second most common killer among cancers, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. [7] This one has an additional stage, Stage 0, in which the cancerous cells appear just in the lining of the colon. Afterward, it starts to expand throughout the inner lining, and transfer from the lining to the nearby tissue as well as the colon wall. Then it spreads to the lymph nodes, until eventually, it metastasizes to the entire body, most predominantly the lungs and liver.
Bladder Cancer
According to the Mayo Clinic, annually 68,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer, typically more men than women. This one also has an additional stage, Stage 0, in which the cancerous cells can be found only in the inner lining of the bladder and the lamina propria -connective tissue that forms part of the mucous membranes. From there, it moves on to the bladder muscles, surrounding tissue, and possibly the man’s prostate. In the final stage, it metastasizes to the abdominal wall and other areas of the body.
Regardless of your age though, if you suspect something is wrong, don’t hesitate to visit your GP.
[1] “Most common cancers in America,” Public Health.
[2] “Everything you need to know about lung cancer,” Healthline, Ann Pietrangelo.
[3] “Can lung cancer be found early?” American Cancer Society, 1 October, 2019.
[4] “What Colorectal Cancer is, and Where it Starts,” Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
