{"id":28680,"date":"2023-03-02T09:30:52","date_gmt":"2023-03-02T09:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.cancerresearchuk.org\/?p=25354"},"modified":"2024-11-03T15:12:50","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:12:50","slug":"our-nurses-answer-your-frequently-asked-questions-about-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/our-nurses-answer-your-frequently-asked-questions-about-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Our nurses answer your frequently asked questions about cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Two<\/div>\n

Every year, our <\/span>Cancer Awareness Roadshow<\/span><\/a> sets off around the country to talk to people about cancer whilst they are out and about. They chat to people in the street, in community venues and even at big events like Pride.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, our <\/span>Cancer Awareness in the Workplace<\/span><\/a> team are visiting busy workplaces to support employees to reduce their risk of cancer and take positive action for their health. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Our Cancer Awareness nurses chat to people about how small changes to their day-to-day routine can reduce their cancer risk, encourage them to listen to their body and give them the confidence to talk to the GP if they notice something that\u2019s unusual or not going away.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Our experienced nurses help thousands of people every year and so far, we\u2019ve reached over 750,000 people. But if you haven\u2019t been able to make it to one of our stops, our nurses have answered some of the frequently asked questions they hear on the roadshow and at Cancer Awareness in the Workplace sessions.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

1) How does age affect the risk of cancer? <\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/h2>\n

As we age our risk of developing cancer increases. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Often changes in our <\/span>DNA<\/span><\/a> are fixed by our body, but sometimes damage builds up, and this causes cells to multiply and grow unusually, leading to cancer. As we get older, there is more time for damage to build up and so more chance of cancer developing.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Damage also happens over time due to things outside the body such as UV rays from the sun and drinking alcohol.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The risk of most cancer types starts increasing from the age of 50, and half of all cancers are in people over the age of 70.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

2) Cancer is in us all \u2013 so are we all going to get cancer?<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/h2>\n

Not everyone will get cancer \u2013 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

To understand why not everyone will get cancer, it\u2019s important to know what cancer is and how it develops.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Our bodies are made up of more than a hundred million million cells (100,000,000,000,000). Our cells are constantly dividing, dying and being replaced. This normally happens in a controlled way to make sure we have the right number of each type of cell in our body. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

But sometimes things can go wrong, leading to a change in one cell or a small group of cells. This is called a mutation. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Due to these changes, the cell may not understand it\u2019s instructions and begin to divide and multiply uncontrollably which in turn can lead to cancer. There needs to be about 6 different mutations before a normal cell becomes a cancer cell.<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Some mutations happen by random chance, and others are caused by factors from outside the body like chemicals in tobacco smoke or UV radiation from the sun. More rarely, cancer is linked to an inherited faulty gene, which we\u2019ll cover in the next question. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

3) Is family history a risk factor for cancer? <\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/h2>\n

Some people have an increased risk of certain cancer types because they have inherited a faulty gene. But only a small percent of cancers \u2013 5 to 10% \u2013 are related to a family history of cancer. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Because cancer is common, most families will have at least one person who has or has had cancer. But having a couple of relatives diagnosed with cancer doesn\u2019t mean there is a cancer gene fault running in the family.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

If you think that you may have a strong family history of cancer and have any questions or concerns, talk to your GP. Try to have as much information about your relatives\u2019 cancer diagnoses as possible.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Healthcare professionals will look at several factors when working out if there is a faulty gene in a family. This includes the type of cancer, which relatives and how many relatives have been diagnosed, and what age they were diagnosed at.<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

4) What should I do if I am struggling to get an appointment with my GP?<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/h2>\n

Stick with it! We know how disheartening and frustrating it can be when you have tried to get an appointment with the GP but haven\u2019t been able to. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

But if something\u2019s unusual for you, not going away, or if you think you might have cancer, it\u2019s important to keep trying. Cancers found at an early stage are more likely to be treated successfully.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

There are a few ways you can get an appointment at a GP, like phoning or filling in an e-consultation online, and some GP\u2019s still have walk in clinics. This varies from surgery to surgery. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

If you have tried one method of getting in contact but haven\u2019t been able to get through, try one of the other methods your GP surgery has to offer. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

If you have managed to get in contact with your GP and have been told there are no appointments for a few weeks, or to call back in the morning, then there are a few things you can do:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n