"Cancer is a six-letter word nobody wants to hear," says Dr. Mitchell. Even stoic people are afraid. Not all cancers are the same, and a diagnosis isn't always fatal.
Early detection allows for early treatment, says Dr. Mitchell. Early cancer detection improves survival odds. Early detection leads to less invasive and cheaper treatments.
According to Dr. Mitchell, all cancers involve the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Each type of cancer grows and spreads differently.
"Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries," says Dr. Mitchell. Each side of the uterus has two almond-shaped ovaries. The fallopian tubes produce eggs that implant in the uterus.
Dr. Mitchell says pancreatic cancer begins in the pancreas, an organ behind the stomach. "Your pancreas produces digestive enzymes and blood sugar-regulating hormones.
Brain cancer starts in the brain's cells, explains Dr. Mitchell. Brain controls many body functions. It has many cell types.