A disturbing simulation has shown just how a person dies from cancer.
An estimated 618,120 people will die of cancer in the US this year, with lung cancer being responsible for the most deaths followed by colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer according to the NIH.
However, while cancer can certainly lead in death, it's not necessarily the disease that causes someone to die, according to Dr Paulien Moyaert, with the cancer creating a host of taxing side effects on the body.
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Explaining the grim process, the medic has unveiled a horrifying 3D simulation of the process on YouTube which walks through the disturbing stages of how cancer might kill you.
Metastatic cancer
The almost four-minute-long video kicks off by explaining metastatic cancer, described as 'the most lethal' as it involves a single cell breaking off, migrating and forming a tumor.
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This tumor can then target any organ and prevent it from functioning.
Organ failure and pancreatic cancer
As an example, the scientific video shows how the cancer can grow and lead to organ failure - like if it goes into the digestive system, it can prevent digestion and the absorption of food.
A tumor can also block faeces from being expelled, which can perforate and quickly turn fatal without surgery.
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Another example the simulation gives is when cancer affects the pancreatic ducts, horrifyingly causing the pancreas to 'digest itself.'
Pancreatic cancer is therefore considered one of the most painful and deadliest types of cancer.
Lung cancer
When cancer is in the lungs, the simulation reveals patients can die from asphyxiation, where there's not enough oxygen around the body.
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This is the most common cause of death in lung cancer cases, the video reveals.
Infection
The second most common cause of death comes from infections.
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"Having cancer impairs immunity," the explainer continues, "and chemotherapy compounds the problem by suppressing the bone marrow - the factory where white blood cells are produced."
Bone marrow
Not only can bone marrow be impaired by chemotherapy, but the 'infiltration of cancer cells' as well.
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"When cancer grows in the bone marrow, there will eventually be inadequate bone healthy bone marrow to make blood cells," the simulation shows.
Implications for affected bone marrow include anemia, a drop in white blood cells - which typically fight infection and keep bacteria under a control - and a decrease in platelets which prevents the body from controlling any abnormal bleeding.
Cachexia
The video explains cachexia involves 'wasting' away - where toxins released by the cancer cells suppress appetite and affect the digestion of food.
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This is why many cancer patients suffer rapid weight and muscle loss.
This alone can prove fatal, as the video explains: "Cachexia is estimated to occur in 50 percent of all cancer patients and is thought to directly cause up to 30 percent of cancer deaths because of heart of respiratory failure related to muscle loss."
It can also be attributed to 50 percent of deaths in patients with gastrointestinal tract cancers and up to 80 percent of deaths in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
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Treatment can control it for 'a long time' but if the cancer continues to grow, 'it can become too much for the body to cope with.'
At this stage, patients might be advised to focus on comfort and the quality of life they have left.
"No one with cancer should die in pain," it adds.
Why is surgery difficult?
The simulation then answers why surgery to treat or expel cancer is particularly difficult.
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It explains: "Because the major organs are so vital for life, these are all parts of the body that are had to operate on. Assuming the operation is successful and you remove the tumor without lasting damage to the organ, the tumor may grow back.
"All it takes is a few cells of the original tumor remaining in the body."
That's why chemo as well as surgery is vital to treat the disease.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.
Liv Bridge