We are constantly reminded that one in three individuals will develop this dreaded disease in their lifetime and, while science has had success in healing some cancers, to most people the diagnosis of cancer elicits the fear of pain, suffering and death. Shrouded in this frightening word is the confusion over how this could happen.
Most individuals feel that they are random targets of some unknown environmental or genetic lottery.
In further scrutinizing the disease process, science has learned that life threatening illness, such as cancer, are multistep processes m which cells accumulate multiple genetic alterations as they progress to more malignant mutations. Although there are many steps along this road, some scientists have grouped them into three distinct phases. The first phase in the process is the damage caused by agents collectively referred to as carcinogens. Carcinogens may be chemicals, radiation or viruses which, by themselves do not necessarily lead to cancer. In order for cancer to develop, the process must proceed to the point where precancerous cells will reproduce, associate and develop their own blood supply and defense system.