Cancer: A sui generis threat and its global impact

Cancer is considered the most deadly disease impacting the different countries of the world. A classic hallmark of cancer is the rapid transformation of normal cells into rapidly and uncontrollably dividing abnormal cells that invade adjoining tissues and organs in a process termed metastasis. According to WHO reports, as of 2018, the leading cause of death in cancer with a global estimate of around 9.6 million and one out of every six cases of death is due to cancer worldwide. The factors resulting in the cancer are physical, chemical, and biological carcinogens. The number of risk factors plays a significant role in cancer like food contaminants, medical drugs, reproductive and hormonal factors, natural, medical, industrial sources, immunosuppression, and genetic susceptibility. Thus, for cancer management, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, essential medicines, and psychological services are used. Nowadays, advanced techniques are available to detect cancer, including ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), conventional X-rays, scanning, and magnetic resonance imaging. In addition to this, positron emission tomography and single-photon emission CT are the two often used nuclear imaging techniques used for cancer imaging in recent years. The advanced techniques available for treatment are CART-cell therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapeutic vaccines, adoptive cell transfer therapy, and genetically modified poliovirus therapy. Hence, the chapter deals with cancer, its types, carcinogens responsible for cancer, cause, risk factors, detection, and prevention techniques for cancer. It also explained the treatments available currently for the management of cancer.