Cancer represents a group of diseases which involve abnormal cell growth that could spread and invade different parts of the body. The cells start dividing uncontrollably and invading and destroying normal body tissue. Cancer can easily spread throughout the whole body, making it the second cause of death worldwide.
In most cases, oncogene activation and/or tumor suppressor gene deactivation results in uncontrolled cell cycle progression and inactivation of apoptotic mechanisms. Malignant malignancies, as opposed to benign tumors, develop metastasis, which is caused in part by the down-regulation of cell adhesion receptors required for tissue-specific cell-cell attachment.
Only malignant tumors are legitimately referred to as cancers, and cancer is harmful because of their capacity to penetrate and metastastize. Whereas benign tumors may normally be removed surgically, malignant tumors are frequently resistant to such limited therapies due to their ability to spread to distant body regions.
Tumors are classed as benign or malignant based on the kind of cell that gives birth to them. Most malignancies are classified into one of three types: carcinomas, sarcomas, and leukemias or lymphomas. Carcinomas are epithelial cell tumors that account for about 90% of all human cancers. Sarcomas are solid tumors of connective tissues such as muscle, bone, cartilage, and fibrous tissue that are uncommon in humans.
Leukemias and lymphomas, which account for around 8% of all human cancers, start from blood-forming cells and immune system cells, respectively. Tumors are further categorized based on their origin tissue (for example, lung or breast carcinomas) and the kind of cell involved. Fibrosarcomas, for example, develop from fibroblasts, and erythroid leukemias from erythrocyte progenitors (red blood cells).
One of the most significant early findings concerning cancer was that its prevalence varied between populations. In 1775, for example, an unusually high prevalence of scrotal cancer was reported among adults who worked as chimney sweeps as youngsters.
Lung cancer was found at disturbingly high rates among pitchblende miners in Germany in the mid-1800s. By the end of the nineteenth century, several physicians believed that taking snuff and cigars was linked to malignancies of the mouth and throat.
There is a strong cause-effect relationship between environment and cancer. Studies show that most deaths by cancer happen in poor, underdeveloped countries and in low and middle-income classes. The inability of humans to treat their bodies correctly can have deadly effects.
In addition, the lack of hospitals and well-trained medical staff is another problem in the less developed countries. As studies show, there are more chances to successfully treat cancer and survive in the most developed countries than in the underdeveloped ones.
Based on information obtained from “Our world in data", in 2009, the 5 years survival rate of Lung cancer was at approximately 30%, while in Bulgaria and Mongolia it was only 7%. The 5 years survival rate of Breast cancer is over 80% in North America, Europe, and Oceania, while in Jordan only 43%. The lowest survival rate of Liver cancer in 2009 was recorded in Romania with 2.3%, while the survival rate in Japan for the same disease was almost 27%.
The survival rates significantly increase when the patient manages to start the treatment at an early stage of the disease. The earlier it is identified, the more chances of survival the patient has. The survival rates are also highly impacted by the financial possibilities of each patient, as more money buys better healthcare services.
The best healthcare services are found in the economically leading countries as the hospitals benefit both from modern equipment and prestigious medical professionals.
Cancer survival rates are inevitably closely linked to human behavior. As we improve our lifestyle, we also slowly make process against cancer. For example, one of the main risk factors for cancer is smoking. In the most developed countries, the lung cancer cases are on a descendent path as smoking gradually becomes a thing of the past, as people become more aware of the health risks that come along with this habit. At the same time, the current high number of cancer cases in the world nowadays can also be explained by the increased life expectancy.
Cancer prognosis
Cancer prognosis conveys the net consequence of a cancer diagnosis: the likelihood of survival if cancer is the sole likely cause of death. Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer, on the other hand, maybe significantly more interested in understanding what is likely to happen to them over time, especially their chances of dying from the illness vs dying from competing causes or surviving.
Which country to choose for treatment?
As discussed before, cancer survival varies substantially across countries. Each country's survival rate is strongly associated with investments in innovative drugs for all cancers and in medical equipment. The better-performing richer countries with better cancer survival outcomes have established cancer policy priorities, implemented key elements of cancer control, introduced integrated care processes, and actively worked on the delivery of cancer services and they are leading the way in cancer treatments.
See more: Why patients choose South Korea for cancer treatments and which cancer types they treat better
For example, Japan, Australia, the United States of America, and South Korea are the countries that show the highest 5 years survival rates. They are continuously investing in research and development in order to offer up-to-date top medical services for patients in need.
Deciding which country to choose for cancer treatment can be overwhelming for patients and their families. Support from a team of healthcare specialists could be extremely valuable in this process as they are able to use their expertise to evaluate the services available worldwide and make recommendations according to patients’ specific needs.
Conclusion
Cancer is a condition in which cells in one area of the body proliferate and replicate uncontrollably. Cancerous cells have the ability to penetrate and kill healthy tissue, including organs. Cancer can start in one region of the body and spread to other parts. This is referred to as metastasis.
Cancer survival is one of the most important indicators of the efficacy of cancer care. Survival rates reflect both how well the system detects sickness and whether patients have quick access to adequate treatment. Diagnosis at an earlier stage of cancer development is related to better results and greater chances of survival.