Cancer

Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. The main categories of cancer include:

• Carcinoma: cancer that begins in the skin or in other tissues that line or cover internal organs.
• Sarcoma: cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels or other connective or supportive tissues.
• Leukemia: cancer that begins in blood forming tissues such as bone marrow and produces large number of abnormal blood cells.
• Lymphoma and myeloma: cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system.
• Central nervous system cancers: cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

For more information, please visit the National Cancer Institute website: http://www.cancer.gov/

Prostate cancer: Prostate cancer usually occurs in older men.

Resources:

• Prostate Cancer Fact Sheet (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/pdf/prostate_fs_final.pdf
• Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/pdf/prosguide.pdf
• Prostate Cancer Foundation http://www.pcf.org/site/c.leJRIROrEpH/b.5849063/k.9A1D/Patient_Support.htm

Breast cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts and the lobules. Breast Cancer is the most common cancer found in women.

Resources:

• The Susan G. Komen Foundation:  What is breast cancer? http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content_Binaries/806-368a.pdf
• The Susan G. Komen Foundation: Breast Self-Awareness card (Hindi) http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content_Binaries/BSA-Hindi.pdf
• Breast cancer (English & Hindi) https://www.healthinfotranslations.org/pdfDocs/Breast_Cancer_Hindi.pdf
• Breast biopsy (English & Hindi) https://www.healthinfotranslations.org/pdfDocs/BreastBiopsy_HINDI.pdf

Lung cancer: Cancer that forms in the tissues of the lungs, usually in the cells lining the air passages.

Resources:

• Lung Cancer (English & Hindi): https://www.healthinfotranslations.org/pdfDocs/Lung_Cancer_Hindi.pdf
• How to quit smoking (English & Hindi): https://www.healthinfotranslations.org/pdfDocs/HowQuitSmoking_HINDI.pdf
• http://www.smokefree.gov/

Colorectal cancer: Cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon (the longest part of the large intestine).

Resources:

• Colorectal cancer screening: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/Fs5_31.pdf
• Colonoscopy (English & Hindi):

https://www.healthinfotranslations.org/pdfDocs/ColonoscopyPrep_Hindi.pdf

Oral cancer: Cancer that forms in the tissues of the oral cavity (the mouth) or the oropharynx (the part of the throat at the back of the mouth).

Resources:

• Prevent oral cancer: http://www.sknfoundation.org/images/ghgl_edited_pdfs/brochure/oral-cancer.pdf

Cervical cancer: Cancer that forms in the tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and the vagina). Cervical cancer is almost always caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) infection.

Resources:

• Things to know about Pap test: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/screening/pap-tests-things-to-know.pdf
• Female exam and Pap test (English & Hindi): https://www.healthinfotranslations.org/pdfDocs/FemaleExam_Hindi.pdf

Disclaimer

The purpose of the South Asian Total Health Initiative is to improve the delivery  of culturally responsive, family-centered care to diverse populations. SATHI provides technical assistance/consultation, education/training, and research/evaluation services. SATHI does not provide medical advice or clinical professional services. Any medical assistance or other decisions should be made in consultation with your physicians. The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey will not be liable for any complications, injuries, or other medical accidents arising from or in connection with the use of or reliance upon any information obtained from this website or on the Internet.

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