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Every Cancer Awareness Guide article: what cancer is, stages, diagnosis, treatment, remission, screening tests like mammograms and Pap smears, risk, support.
What is cancer?Cancer is a group of diseases in which some cells grow out of control and can spread. How it starts, benign vs malignant, and key terms, based on NCI and WHO.Common types of cancer: a general overviewPlain-language overview of the main cancer groups - carcinoma, sarcoma, leukaemia, lymphoma - and the cancers most often diagnosed, based on NCI and WHO.Cancer warning signs: changes worth discussing with a doctorGeneral cancer warning signs, from a new lump to a cough that will not go away. Most have other causes, but NHS and NCI advise getting lasting changes checked.Cancer screening explainedScreening looks for cancer before symptoms appear. What screening tests are, their benefits and limits, and why your doctor or health service should guide you.Reducing cancer risk: the well-established basicsNo one can prevent cancer entirely, but WHO and NCI link some choices to lower risk: no tobacco, less alcohol, sun safety, weight, diet and vaccines.Questions to ask your doctor about cancerQuestions to take to appointments about tests, a cancer diagnosis, treatment, side effects and follow-up care, based on NCI lists. Use the ones that fit you.Finding trusted cancer support and resourcesWhere to find reliable cancer information and support: health services, support groups, palliative care and help for carers, plus how to spot sources to avoid.Cancer stages explained: what stage and grade meanWhat cancer stages mean in plain language: the TNM system, stage 0 to stage 4, how stage differs from grade, and why stage matters. Based on NCI.Is cancer hereditary? Genes, family history and riskCan cancer run in families? How inherited gene changes affect risk, which family patterns matter and when genetic counselling may help. Based on NCI.How is cancer diagnosed? Tests, scans and biopsyHow doctors find out whether a symptom is cancer: history and exam, blood and lab tests, tumour markers, scans and biopsy. A plain-language guide based on NCI.Types of cancer treatment: an overview of the main optionsPlain-language overview of the main types of cancer treatment - surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, targeted and hormone therapy - based on NCI.What is metastatic cancer? How and where cancer spreadsWhat metastatic (stage 4 or secondary) cancer means, how cancer cells spread, where they often go, possible symptoms and the aims of care, based on NCI.How to support someone with cancerHow to support a friend or relative with cancer: listening, practical help, helping from a distance and looking after yourself as a carer. Based on NCI advice.What is a mammogram? Screening, preparation and resultsA mammogram is a low-dose x-ray of the breast used for screening and diagnosis. Who it is for, how to prepare, what happens and what results mean.What is a Pap smear? Cervical screening explainedA Pap smear checks cervical cells for changes that could lead to cancer. How it differs from an HPV test, who is screened, what happens and what results mean.What is a PSA test? The prostate blood test explainedA PSA test measures a prostate protein in the blood: what it can and cannot show, why screening is a personal choice, and what a raised level means.What is a colonoscopy? Why it is done and what to expectA colonoscopy uses a thin camera tube to look inside the bowel. Why it is done, how bowel prep works, what happens on the day, the risks and what results mean.Lung cancer screening: who it is for and how it worksLung cancer screening uses a low-dose CT scan for some people with a smoking history. Who qualifies under USPSTF and NHS rules, what happens, and the harms.What does remission mean in cancer?Remission means signs and symptoms of cancer have decreased or gone. Partial vs complete remission, how it differs from cure or relapse, and follow-up care.