Commonly-asked Questions

What is cancer?

Cancer is the general name for more than 200 medical conditions involving uncontrolled cell growth. It is suggested that some cancer is caused by genetic factors, while other forms are caused by environmental conditions. There are processes that control cell growth and division, and as a rule one of these mechanisms need to be damaged before a cell becomes cancerous. Once formed the defective cells can multiply to form a lump of abnormal tissue called a tumour, or as in the case of leukaemia, the cancerous cells do not form a lump but multiply in the blood, preventing it from functioning properly.

Who gets cancer?

Few of us go through life without coming into contact with this disease in some way. With 270,000 people diagnosed with cancer every year in this country alone, more than 1 in 3 of us will get some kind of cancer. Anyone of any age can develop cancer. It is said cancer is one of the largest forms of mortality, accounting for 20% of all childhood deaths in children aged 1-14 years.

Why do people get cancer?

It is thought that an unhealthy diet and lifestyle may drastically increase your chances of developing cancer. For a cell to be affected something would have had to have damaged it. There is much speculation and research about carcinogens—the things that supposedly cause cancer. We are told smoking, or extensive exposure to chemical additives, or the sun, or our food, or even certain viruses can all cause cancer. As cancer is known to be found at cellular level and the processes of growth and division are damaged cell viability, it would seem anything that produces prolonged stress or damage to the body can trigger the healing process. If this goes unchecked, then the result is cancer. For more information: www.cancerbacup.co.uk

Why do people feel ill with cancer?

One can feel quite ill with cancer, for example a tumour can press against nerves, blocking the digestive system, or blood vessels, or by releasing hormones which can affect the normal workings of the body. If the cancer spreads which happens if a single cancer cell breaks away from the main tumour and then starts to grow elsewhere in the body, (this is called metastasis) as more of the body is affected, the worse you might feel.

Cancer in pets

Just like people, excessive exposure to environmental toxins or the sun may predispose animals to developing certain kinds of cancer. Your vet will determine what type of tumour you pet has. These tumours can be malignant {likely to spread to other parts of the body} or benign {grows only in one area of the body}. A biopsy, just as in humans, will be taken. And a decision will be taken on how to proceed with the treatment. Treatment also just as in humans, can be:

• surgery
• chemotherapy
• radiotherapy
• a combination.

There are also alternative methods of treating your pet, which can include nutritional therapies.