Hippocrates, when he studied malignant formations, called the tumor a crab, because outwardly it very much resembled his shell. Later, this term took root in the lexicon of Roman doctors and, as a result of translation, was transformed into "cancer".
Cancer - what is it?
Cancer is a tumor that occurs as a result of the continuous division of an out-of-control cell. This process cannot be stopped. Cancer affects more and more he althy cells, which also begin to divide. Diseased cells are carried by the bloodstream and lymph flow throughout the body. So there are metastases with new foci of malignant tumors. In fact, cancer behaves in the human body like a virus, extremely dangerous and very aggressive.
The plague of the 21st century is cancer
Today, with full responsibility, we can say that cancer is the plague of the 21st century. Most likely, each of us one way or another faced with this terrible disease. Someone's friends got sick, others have relatives or loved ones, and someone himself suffers from this terrible disease. Most of us think that if a person is sick, then death from cancer is inevitable. But this is not entirely true, becausemuch depends on the form of the disease and the stage of its development at the time of detection. The sooner the patient seeks help, the greater the chance of saving him or prolonging life as much as possible.
The situation is such that about 14 million people develop cancer every year around the world. Deaths from cancer are in second place in terms of number after deaths from diseases of the cardiovascular system. And, unfortunately, this number is growing every day. Why is this happening? And what causes the occurrence of this terrible disease? Let's find out.
Signs of imminent death from cancer. Feeling sick
Unfortunately, cancer is a disease that, before the death of the patient, most often makes him experience rather painful sensations, both from the treatment and from the disease itself. Manifestations may be different, depending on which organ is damaged initially or by subsequent metastases, but there is a separate series of signs of impending death. They are the same for all cancer patients.
- The most common signs of death from cancer are constant sleepiness and fatigue. A person no longer has the strength to stay awake. This is due to slow metabolism. Since the body is deficient in the nutrition it needs, it seems to hibernate.
- Loss of appetite. Cancer very often prevents patients from even drinking water. The body is so weakened that it simply does not have enough energy to digest food.
- Heavy and hoarse breathing. This is a fairly common symptom.approaching death from cancer.
- Very strong weakness. Sometimes a dying patient does not even have the strength to turn on his side.
- Complete or partial disorientation. Death is near. Organs begin to fail, the brain dies.
- The limbs are getting cold. Just before death from cancer, blood rushes to vital organs, leaving the periphery.
- The patient loses interest in the world around him and almost completely withdraws into himself.
- If there are metastases, and in the last stages of cancer, almost all patients have them, the patient begins to feel very severe pain in the bones.
- The appearance of venous spots warns of imminent death. Sometimes even gangrene can develop. Also, problems with the hematopoietic function can lead to anemia or even a stroke.
- People who die of cancer often become paralyzed just before death.
- Vomiting, hallucinations and severe weight loss can be signs of an imminent death from cancer. But they may well be side effects of aggressive treatment.
Lung cancer
This is the most common type of cancer. Death from lung cancer is perhaps the first among all deaths from cancer. The fact is that this disease is almost asymptomatic, and often it can only be detected in the last stages, when it is already too late and there is practically nothing that can be done.
The patient is experiencing severe pain while breathing. And the closer the death, the more tangible these pains. Inability to breathe, every breath is difficult. A debilitating cough and a constant feeling of lack of air, headaches, dizziness, and even epileptic seizures are possible. It happens that the bones of the back and hips begin to hurt.
Cancer is treated mainly with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, as well as a combination of these three methods. There are many alternative types of treatment, but they have not been proven to work.
Liver cancer
It is divided into primary and secondary types. The first is when a malignant neoplasm arises from degenerate cells of the liver itself. It is extremely rare, only in 10% of cases out of 100. But the so-called secondary type develops from cancer cells brought from the original tumor along with the bloodstream.
The liver is one of the most metastasized organs. The main reason for the development of hepatoma is cirrhosis of the liver. Its main prerequisite is the abuse of alcohol. Also, the development of primary liver cancer is promoted by viral hepatitis B, diabetes, the effect of various carcinogens on the liver. Men are much more likely to develop hepatoma than women. In addition to an innate sex predisposition, this is influenced by the use of drugs such as steroids to build muscle.
Death from liver cancer is always painful, cancer proceeds very quickly, and a person “burns out” literally before our eyes, not having time to wait for transplantation, which, moreover, is possible only in the early stages of the disease. Pain begins in the area of the righthypochondrium, weakness appears, appetite decreases, nausea and vomiting begin. The temperature rises, and the pain intensifies and becomes literally unbearable. Before dying from liver cancer, the patient suffers a lot. Hepatoma patients are considered terminally ill by default.
Uterine cancer
This oncological disease, which ranks fourth in frequency among other types of cancer, is almost painless. Perceptible pains begin only at stages 3-4, so very often uterine cancer is diagnosed in an extremely advanced version. The main symptoms are pain, spotting during the cycle and during intercourse, as well as during physical exertion. The very first signs of cancer at an early stage are intense mucous discharge with purulent inclusions and an unpleasant odor that cause itching and burning. Symptoms may be temporary (intermittent) or permanent.
Death from uterine cancer expects more than six thousand women a year - this is 60% of cases. Mostly women aged 20-45.
Breast cancer
This cancer occurs in women. The main reasons for the development of cancer in the mammary glands are various hormonal disorders that are associated with improper use of oral contraceptives, abortions, various inflammatory diseases of the ovaries and uterus, overweight, lack of vitamins and minerals with improper dietary intake, as well as irregular sex life.
Deathfrom breast cancer is a rather rare occurrence, most often this outcome can be avoided due to early detection of the tumor. Its symptoms are extremely pronounced: a strong increase in body temperature, general weakness, dizziness, muscle pain. All this is accompanied by an increase in one of the breasts by more than 2 times and possible purulent discharge. It is also easy to detect nodular painful formations in the chest, which are easily palpated by palpation. When treating a tumor, the loss of the affected breast is most often inevitable.
Last journey
If a patient is diagnosed with stage 3-4 cancer, then such a patient is not kept in the clinic, he is discharged home. Despite the huge number of different painkillers, death from cancer is a rather painful process. By this time, the body is usually already affected by numerous metastases, and new tumors begin to make themselves felt. It is good when the patient sleeps most of the time or is in a coma. Perhaps in this state he does not suffer from pain. Yes, special hospices have been created in the cities for such doomed people, but not everyone can get there. It is only in our power to somehow alleviate the suffering of a person close to us at this last stage of a terrible and often fatal illness.
