5 WHAT THE C?!? /// CHAPTER 3 Cancer 101 So, what is cancer anyway? Let's start with the basics. You probably were familiar with the word 'cancer' even before you were diagnosed. Cancer itself is quite common - about one in three people will have cancer in their lives. But cancer in young people is quite rare. You may have perceptions of the " C word " shaped by experience with relatives or stories and movies. Not all of that may be accurate or relevant to your experience with cancer. Always Remember: You do not have to go through this alone! Ask your navigator to learn more about support groups. Cancer is a disease of the cells. Our bodies are made up of billions of cells - they are basically like building blocks. Normally, cells grow and divide to make more cells only when the body needs them. This process helps to keep the body healthy, replace worn out cells and heal after an injury. However, sometimes this process doesn't go according to plan and the cells can get out of control, producing new ones even when they aren't needed. This behavior by the cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or a tumor. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumors can often be removed and don't spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors can also often be removed, but they can also invade and damage nearby tissues and spread to other organs in the body. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called " metastasis. " Some cancers, like leukemia, do not form tumors but are " liquid " cancers of the bone marrow and blood. There are over 200 different types of cancer. Some are more common in young people than adults, and some more so in men than women.https://fwaya.org/