What is cancer?

Cancer is a group of many related diseases. These diseases begin in the cells, the body's basic unit of life. Cells have many important functions throughout the body.

Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells in an orderly way. They perform their functions for a while, and then they die. This process helps keep the body healthy.

Sometimes, however, cells do not die. Instead, they keep dividing and creating new cells that the body does not need. They form a mass of tissue, called a growth, or tumor.

Tumors can be benign or malignant:

• Benign tumors are not cancer. They can usually be removed, and in most cases, they do not come back. Cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Most important, benign tumors of the prostate are not a threat to life.
  
• Malignant tumors are cancer. Cells in these tumors are abnormal. They divide without control or order, and they do not die. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Also, cancer cells can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream and lymphatic system. This is how cancer spreads from the original (primary) cancer site to form new (secondary) tumors in other organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
  

Who is at risk of getting cancer?

We all are.

The American Cancer Society estimates that half the men and one-third of the women in the U.S. will develop cancer in their lifetime.1 The chances of getting cancer increases with age.

Environmental factors such as living near polluted areas, toxic sites, exposure in working conditions (working in an asbestos plant), being a smoker, or living with a smoker, are just some of the factors that make someone susceptible to getting cancer. Genetic factors must also be considered. Often it is seen that if one family member has a specific type of cancer, other family members may be likely to develop this same disease.

Why someone gets cancer and another person doesn’t is still greatly debated. Stress, nutrition, exercise and spiritual connectedness are some of the other factors that are currently being researched to help in determining this.

The advances in medicine through research, new surgical techniques, new chemotherapies, as well as alternative and complementary treatments, have helped to combat this disease and allow those that have to battle it a better chance of survival. For many, the new drugs have also allowed them to live fairly productive lives throughout their treatment phase.

We have designed this book to provide victims and their families, friends, and caregivers with a resource tool to help educate them to the different types of cancers, to empower them as active participants in their medical care, and to offer hope and help during this difficult time of tribulation.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in New York State as well as the nation. An estimated 86,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer in New York State in 2003 – nearly 235 people each day of the year. An estimated 36,000 New Yorkers will die from cancer – about 100 individuals a day. Four cancers account for 56% of the total national cancer burden: lung, colorectal, breast and prostate. These same cancers account for 51% of cancer deaths in New York State.

The New York State Department of Health released information on a five-year study (1993 – 1997) of cancer in New York State. They compared their findings in each of the counties throughout New York State, deeming from the cases they followed whether the expected incidences of cancer in each county were above, below, or within the expected incident range.

The results for Columbia County and Greene Counties follow:

245 cases of breast cancer were observed in Columbia County during this 5-year study. Schodack Landing cases were more than 100% above the expected range. Niverville, East Nassau, Canaan, and Austerlitz were all 50% to 100% above expected. Elizaville was more than 50% below the expected range.

In Greene County, only Hensonville showed more than 100% above the expected range and West Kill ranked 50% to 100% above the expected range. Coxsackie, East Durham, Hunter, Oak Hill, Palenville and Preston Hollow all ranked more than 50% below the expected average in the 159 cases observed.

310 cases of Prostate Cancer were observed in males in Columbia County during 1994 – 1998. Adjustments in percentages were made for age and race. No towns ranked more than 100% above expected incidence. However, Old Chatham, Schodack Landing, Ancramdale, and Craryville all ranked 50% to 100% above the expected incidence. East Chatham ranked more than 50% below the expected incidence.

Of the 193 cases of Prostate Cancer observed in Greene County, Hensonville and Tannersville ranked more than 100% above the expected average, while Haines Falls, Prattsville and South Cairo were more than 50% below the average.

Of the 137 cases of colorectal cancer in females in Columbia County, Chatham ranked more than 100% above the expected incidence, while East Chatham, Claverack and Pine Plains ranked 50% - 100% above the average incidence. New Lebanon, Millerton, and Ancram ranked more than 50% below the average range, yet for males (also 137 cases observed) Millerton, Canaan, and Tivoli showed more than 100% above the expected incidence, and Ancram and Chatham 50% - 100% above the expected incidence. East Chatham, Old Chatham, Germantown, and Craryville were more than 50% below expected incidence.

In Greene County, 97 cases of colorectal cancer observed in females showed that Coxsackie, Hannacroix, Hunter, Leeds, and Purling ranked more than 100% above the expected average. Athens, Earlton, Greenville, and Palenville were more than 50% below than expected average.

In males, 100 cases showed more than 100% above expected in Hannacroix and South Cairo 50% to 100% above expected in Coxsackie, West Coxsackie, Oak Hill, and Windham, and Freehold and Prattsville more than 50% below the expected average.

Lung cancer cases in 166 females in Columbia County showed East Chatham, East Nassau, Tivoli and Millerton ranking more that 100% above the average incidence, and Valatie, Red Hook and Copake at 50% - 100% above the expected incidence. Stuyvesant, Germantown and Craryville were more than 50% below the expected average.

In the 190 cases of lung cancer in Columbia County males, Tivoli was the only town with more than 100% above the expected incidence. Ancram and Elizaville were 50% - 100% above average. Hillsdale and Austerlitz were more than 50% below average.

In Greene County, of the 106 cases of lung cancer observed in females, Coxsackie, West Coxsackie, Acra, Hensonville, and Windham were all 100% above the expected average. Cairo, and South Cairo were 50% to 100% above the expected average, with Athens, Leeds, and Palenville more than 50% below the expected average.

165 cases of lung cancer in Greene County men were observed. Greenville, Acra, East Durham, Hunter, Leeds, and Purling were 100% above the expected average; Athens, West Coxsackie, Freehold, and Preston Hollow were 50% to 100% above the expected average; Hannacroix, South Cairo, and Windham were 50% below the expected average.

More recent studies (1996 – 2000) show that of the average number of residents of Greene County (with cancer) over that five year period, 8% of all deaths were attributed to lung cancer with only 2% being attributed to breast cancer.

In Columbia County during that same period of time (1996-2000), the Health Department reports that 6.2% of all deaths were attributed to lung cancer, 2% from breast cancer, and an average of 2 deaths a year from cervical cancer.

General information on specific cancers is included in this book. More detailed information is available from the many sources cited in this book and through the Cancer Support Services office at the Healthcare Consortium at (518) 822-8820.

These statistics are shared not to worry those in higher than average areas, or to falsely assure those in below average areas. We hope these statistics remind everyone to be diligent in their medical screening and care.