Patient Education

Cancer is an out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. Cancer cells have abnormal DNA (deoxyribo-nucleic acid)-the genetic information in all the cells of the body that determines individual hereditary characteristics. DNA can be abnormal from inheriting damaged DNA or from being damaged from environmental exposure.

Cancer cells usually form a tumor, which is an abnormal growth of tissue. Some cancers like leukemia involve blood and blood-forming organs. This is a problem because normal tissue is replaced with the cancerous tissue, and the organ does not function properly. Cancer cells can travel to other parts of the body by the lymph system, and begin to grow. This process of spreading in the body is called metastasis.