CANCER MENACE IN KENYA

What is cancer? 

Cancer is defined as the growth of abnormal cells that multiply uncontrollably in the body. Such cells infiltrate and harm the healthy body tissues and may spread to other parts of the body. Cancer remains one of the deadliest diseases on earth today after claiming millions of lives globally. Nevertheless, new developments in cancer screening and cancer treatment have augmented the survival rates for most types of cancer. 

What causes cancer?

Cancer is triggered by the mutations in the DNA of the cells found in one’s body. Each cell comprises of DNA packed with numerous individual genes that have a set of instructions to guide each cell on its function, division and growth. In the event that there are errors in these instructions, the cell will stop its normal functioning and it will become cancerous growing at an abnormal rate. So what causes the changes in the DNA of the cells? Even though the real causes of cancer remains unknown, we have several risk factors that increase the chances of contracting the deadly disease. Some of these risk factors include the use of tobacco, bad alcohol habits, exposure to harmful environment carcinogens, infectious ailments like HIV/AIDS, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and Hepatitis B & C, bacterial infections as well as parasitic infestations.

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