What is cancer- As a disease in general?

Cancer is an umbrella term for a wide spectrum of diseases that share a common origin: they begin with a single cell that undergoes fundamental changes at its core — its “thinking mind” — which allow it to divide and grow independently, without direction or control from the body.

These genetic and molecular alterations enable the cell to bypass multiple regulatory checkpoints, both at the genetic level and from immune surveillance — a process known as evasion. As a result, the cell gains the ability to proliferate uncontrollably, forming a mass with the potential to invade surrounding tissues.

This newly formed mass can exert a mass effect, compressing and applying pressure on adjacent organs, ultimately leading to local symptoms and organ dysfunction.