What is Cancer?
Your body (organs and skin) is made up of trillions of cells. These cells work together, dividing and reproducing in a precise way.
Old cells die off and new healthy cells take their place daily.
Sometimes when cells are reproduced mistakes are made. We call these mutations. Usually the healthy cells in our bodies correct mutations.
Mutated cells have changed DNA that causes them to multiply and divide out of control. When healthy cells are not able to correct mutations then mutated cells continue to divide out of control forming growths and tumours.
These growths or tumours (cancer cells) can spread to other parts of the body through your bloodstream or lymphatic system, making the cancer more difficult to treat. They infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue.
There are over 200 types of cancer, which further complicates treatment.
Although many cancers form solid tumours, cancers of the blood like leukaemia do not.
Image Credit: Freepik
Learn About Cancer
2) What is Cancer Booklet? * English | isiZulu
3) Frequently Asked Questions Cancer
4) Cancer Myths
5) CancerCare Coping Kit Audio Programme
*Source: Department of Health KZN
Types of Cancer
In most cancers in children and teens, there are no known risk factors and the focus therefore needs to be on raising awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer to aid early diagnosis.
Currently, teens are under-represented in the National Cancer Registry and the South African Children’s Cancer Registry, so the true incidence in SA is not known. Only that it is certainly higher than represented by these statistics.
It’s estimated that at least two thirds of children with cancer, including teens, never reach a specialist treatment centre and that the majority of those that do, are unfortunately in the advanced stages of their illness.
Reasons for Late Diagnosis
Cancers affecting younger people share general symptoms with other illnesses, which can result in a misdiagnosis and there needs to be a determined effort by government to educate parents, medical and clinic staff to be aware of symptoms.
In teens especially, the warning signs of cancer may be attributed to growing pains associated with this developmental stage, or with normal sports injuries as teens tend to be active.
The cause of most cancers affecting teens is not known. Current international data suggests 10% of teens diagnosed, may have a genetic predisposition to it and those with HIV are at higher risk for certain cancers such as Kaposi sarcoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Top Cancers Affecting SA Teens
Based on the most recent statistics available, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma remain two of the leading cancers among teens (10 to 19 years). This accounts for nearly a quarter of all the cancers affecting teens in South Africa.
- non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- bone and soft tissue cancers (sarcomas)
- brain tumours
- Kaposi sarcoma
- leukaemia
Lymphomas
Lymphomas start in the immune system cells (lymphocytes). They start in the lymph nodes and tissues and can affect bone marrow and organs of the body. There are two main types: Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Sarcomas
Sarcomas are cancers that start in connective tissue such as muscles, bones or fat cells. There are two main types: bone (osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma) and soft tissue (start in muscles, fat, blood vessels or other body tissues, often developing in the arms and legs).
Brain Tumours
Brain tumours may either be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). If benign it may press on the brain, but won’t spread into surrounding tissue. It can cause side effects and changes though. Malignant brain tumours can spread from where they started into surrounding brain tissue, causing pressure on the brain. They can also spread through cerebrospinal fluid into other parts of the brain and into the spinal cord.
Kaposi sarcoma
This is an HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) related cancer that causes patches of abnormal tissue to grow under the skin, in the lining of the mouth, nose and throat and in other organs.
Leukaemia
Leukaemia are cancers of the bone marrow and blood. In teens it is usually fast growing (acute), for example acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) and acute myelogenous or myeloid leukaemia (AML).
Infographic – Top SA Teen Cancers: English
Infographic – Supporting Teens with Cancer: English
