Anti-cancer
Anti-cancer
Anti-cancer (pronunciation: /ˌæntiˈkænsər/) refers to the properties or substances that inhibit, prevent, or combat the development of cancer. The term is often used to describe drugs or agents that are used in chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Etymology
The term "anti-cancer" is derived from the prefix "anti-" meaning against, and "cancer", a disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.
Related Terms
- Chemotherapy: A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy: A type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
- Oncology: The study of cancer and the medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer.
- Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should.
- Malignant: Cancerous. Malignant cells can invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
- Benign: Not cancerous. Benign tumors may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the body.
Anti-cancer Drugs
Anti-cancer drugs, also known as anticancer drugs, chemotherapeutic agents, or cytotoxic drugs, are used to treat malignancies, or cancerous growths. Depending on the nature of the cancer, various drugs may be used in combination to achieve the best outcome.
Anti-cancer Foods
Certain foods are believed to have anti-cancer properties. These include fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants, such as blueberries, broccoli, and spinach, as well as certain spices like turmeric and garlic.
See Also
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