There are many types of cancer, which are diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division. (Image credit: KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY via Getty Images) Jump to:
There are tens of trillions of cells in the human body, and new cells are constantly being created as old cells grow old and die. However, sometimes cell growth and reproduction do not stop when they should. These abnormal cells divide too quickly, causing damage to healthy tissue and disrupting body functions. This uncontrolled cell growth and accumulation of abnormal cells is called cancer.
There are over 200 different types of cancer, and about 20 million new cases are diagnosed worldwide each year. The most common type of cancer in the world is lung cancer, which causes 1.8 million deaths each year. Of all cancers, lung cancer causes the most deaths worldwide each year.
The earliest mention of cancer in the history of Homo sapiens (though it didn’t have a name yet) dates back to around 3000 BCE. A medical treatise from ancient Egypt known as the Edwin Smith Papyrus described eight cases of breast tumors. The word “cancer” originated in the first century CE from the Latin term for “crab,” which refers to the shape of some cancerous growths.
You may like
Sourse: www.livescience.com
