Cancer Archives - Healthhype

Types of Bladder Cancer and Staging of Bladder Malignancy

Dr. Greg — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 23:04:05 +0000

Types of Bladder Cancer More than 90% of bladder cancer are transitional cell carcinomas and less frequent malignant tumors arising from bladder are squamous cell carcinoma (5%), adenocarcinoma (3%) and undifferentiated carcinomas (like small cell carcinoma and giant cell carcinoma; 1%). Sarcoma, melanoma and lymphomas of the bladder are extremely rare. Some patients develop mixed-cellularity type of cancers with transitional cell predominance. The TCCs have a tendency for high chance of recurrence, progression of pathologic stages and to develop in multiple sites simultaneously. Transitional cell carcinoma of the urethra can develop simultaneously or later in about 15% of the patients with bladder cancer. Increased urethral involvement is seen in association with carcinoma in situ (CIS) involving the bladder neck. The bladder tumors can be broadly grouped in to three categories which can differ in the clinical behavior, the primary treatment and the response to treatment. The groups are superficial, muscle-invasive and metastatic type. Most of the newly detected bladder cancers are the superficial type and majority are exophytic papillary TCCs. Superficial tumors are graded as low grade (G1), intermediate grade (G2), or high (G3) grade. Grading of superficial type tumors is more important for management unlike the invasive tumors which [...]

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What is Cervical Cancer? Location, Pre-Cancerous, Growth Patterns

Dr. Alison — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:25:10 +0000

Cervical cancer is cancer that develops in the cervix – the narrow, lower part of the uterus which leads into the vagina. It is often asymptomatic in the early stages. Symptoms such as abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, and pain during sexual intercourse usually appear late, similar to uterine cancer (endometrial) and vaginal cancer. Although it may occur at any age, middle aged and older women are most commonly affected. The pre-cancerous stage (carcinoma in situ) or early stage cervical cancer can be detected by a pap smear. Routine testing is therefore advisable for all girls and women, especially those who are sexually active. Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual contact, is a very important risk factor associated with the development of cervical cancer. Vaccination against HPV and early detection of the cancer by routine pap test can significantly lower the incidence of cervical cancer and increase the chance of successful treatment. Although the incidence of cervical cancer has decreased in the United States over the past few years, it is still one of the most common cancers of the reproductive system seen in women in the developing countries. The Cervix The uterus is a pear-shaped [...]

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Diagnosis, Staging and Survival Rate of Breast Cancer Patients

Dr. Alison — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 21:31:33 +0000

Breast cancer is the abnormal growth of breast cells which invades and destroys surrounding tissue and may spread to other parts of the body. It is also referred to as a malignancy or malignant breast tumor and must be differentiated from a benign tumor which is abnormal mass of normal cells that is less serious in nature. Breast cancer remains one of the most common malignancies in women, particularly those residing in Western countries, and may very rarely occur in men. Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment and screening programs are now in place in most developed and many developing nations. Self-examination of the breast is of utmost importance in early diagnosis. Women are therefore encouraged to learn basic techniques for effective self-examination, identify any abnormal breast lumps and report it to a medical professional as soon as possible. However, many tumors are missed in the early stages, even during a physical examination by a doctor. Other diagnostic investigations are essential both as a routine screening practice and as a more definitive assessment of a malignancy. Diagnosis of Breast Cancer History and Physical Examination As with most other medical conditions, a through case history is important to identify [...]

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10 High Risk Factors For Colon (Colorectal) Cancer

Dr. Chris — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 22:59:54 +0000

Colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, is where a malignant tumor develops in the large intestine, specifically the colon and rectum but may also include the appendix and anus. It is the third most common cancer in men and women and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Colon cancer has become so much of a concern in recent times that individuals who are over 50 years of age are advised to screen for it with even the slightest change in bowel habit. However, in the early stages of colon cancer there may be no symptoms. The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk of developing colon cancer. Even if you have experienced no change in bowel habit, routine screening may still be advisable solely based on the number of risk factors that you have. Most people are not aware of the top 10 risk factors for colon cancer. It is this lack of knowledge that contributes to delayed testing for colon cancer when symptoms arise and avoiding routine screening even without any symptoms being present. Being Older Than 50 Years Many diseases are more likely to develop as you get older and the [...]

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10 Cancer Myths, Misconceptions And Facts

Dr. Chris — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 22:50:24 +0000

As with any disease, there are many myths and and misconceptions surrounding cancer. Medical science has achieved a great deal in dispelling many of these myths and misconceptions but several still abound. Cancer is a very serious condition that is potentially life-threatening. It is important to for ever person to understand the facts about cancer as it has serious implications. Myths and misconceptions can delay the diagnosis of cancer and even affect the outcome of the treatment. All tumors are cancerous MYTH The word tumor simply means abnormal growth. It can be simply classified as a malignant tumor or a benign tumor. A malignant tumor, or malignancy, means that it is cancerous. Benign tumors are non-cancerous. Some benign tumors have the potential to become malignant while others do not. There are several reasons for the differences between benign and malignant tumors but the important point to bear in mind is that a benign tumor does not spread (metastasize) in the way that a malignant tumor can. There are also tumors which are precancerous which have not as yet become fully malignant but show the potential to become so in time. Only cancerous tumors kill MYTH The term ‘non-cancerous’ will often [...]

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8 Points To Determine Seriousness Of Cancer

Dr. Chris — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 23:09:11 +0000

Cancer is serious, irrespective of what type of cancer it is, where it occurs in the body or how large the tumor may be. There are certain factors that make some cancers more or less serious than others but this should not detract from the fact that cancer is a deadly condition. Fortunately the advances in modern medical sciences has significantly lowered the risk and death from some cancers. The word ‘cancer’ sends most patients and their loved ones into a frenzy and the question that is often posed is “how serious is it?” It is always advisable to discuss each case of cancer with the oncologist and other supervising doctors to get a more accurate overview of the case. Some of the medical jargon can be confusing and at times some doctors may not make enough of an effort to explain the situation to the patient and their loved ones. The points discussed in this article is simply a guideline. It is highly simplified to allow most readers to understand the salient points. The information is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. There are host of individual factors that apply for different types of cancer. [...]

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How to Spot Lung Cancer in Smokers and Non-Smokers

Dr. Chris — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 23:27:38 +0000

As the leading cause of cancer deaths, it is important for every person to known the signs and symptoms of lung cancer. Like with any cancer, early intervention in lung cancer can drastically reduce the chances of death. However, all cancers are largely asymptomatic (without symptoms) or present with mild non-specific symptoms in the early stages. It is therefore important for every person to be aware of the symptoms and constantly bear it in mind should these symptoms arise. While these are some diagnostic investigations that can identify lung cancer, it is not completely foolproof. Depending on the size, nature and location of the malignancy, these tests may miss lung cancer in the early stages. Being A Tobacco Smoker Cigarette smoking is such a major risk factor that smokers should ideally be screened on a regular basis. However, there is no routine screening protocol in place for cigarette smokers. It is largely at the discretion of the smoker themselves to ask their doctor to run tests for the possibility of cigarette smoking. Not only are cigarettes laden with cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens) but it also disturbs the immune system’s functions that could target and destroy cancer cells. Ideally you should quit [...]

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Somatostatinomas (Somatostatin Hormone Secreting Tumors)

Dr. Chris — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 23:27:57 +0000

Somatostatinoma Definition Somatostatinomas are rare tumors of the pancreatic cells that secrete the hormone somatostatin. The pancreas is not the only location where somatostatin is produced but larger somatostatinomas are most likely to occur in the pancreas. Since this hormone has a suppressive action on most other hormones, a somatostatinoma tends to present with symptoms associated with the inhibition of these hormones. Somatostatinomas are malignant meaning that it is cancerous but is curable if the tumor can be surgically removed before the cancer has spread to other organs. Somatostatinoma Incidence Overall somatostatinomas are very rare. It occurs in only about 1 in 40 million people in the United States. The prevalence is equal in both men and women. Somatostatinomas are more frequently detected in the 40 to 60 year age group although some of the conditions it is associated with, like multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and neurofibromatosis, often start earlier in life. Since somatostatinomas are slow growing tumors, this may account for its diagnosis later in life. Somatostatinoma Effects Effects of the Hormone The hormone somatostatin is mainly secreted by the D cells (delta cells) of islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. It is also produced by the stomach, [...]

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Glucagonoma (Glucagon-Secreting Tumor)

Dr. Chris — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:11:16 +0000

Definition A glucagonoma is a tumor that secretes glucagon, a hormone normally produced in the pancreas and responsible for raising blood sugar (glucose) levels. Glucagonomas are almost entirely found in the pancreas, arising from the alpha-2 cells of the gland, and about 80% of these tumors are malignant (cancerous). The tumor can cause elevated blood glucose levels known as glucagonoma syndrome but this is not present in every case. The elevated blood glucagon level (hyperglucagonemia) along with raised blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) lead to a host of complications, marked by the 4Ds – diabetes mellitus, dermatitis (skin rash), deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and depression. The prognosis for glucagonomas are poor, especially once the cancerous cells spread to adjacent organs. Incidence Overall glucagonomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors. It only accounts for about 1% of all neuroendocrine tumors. The incidence of glucagonomas is estimated to be about 1 in 20 million people. The high risk age group is between 40 to 70 years with the average age of onset being 55 years. Women seem to be more likely than men to develop glucagonomas. Pathophysiology Glucagon and insulin are two pancreatic hormones that regulate the blood glucose levels. Insulin lowers blood glucose while [...]

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Parathyroid Cancer (Carcinoma of the Parathyroid Gland)

Dr. Chris — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 22:28:13 +0000

What is parathyroid cancer? Parathyroid cancer (carcinoma) is a malignant tumor of the parathyroid gland. It is a rare type of cancer that originates from the uncontrolled growth of the cells of the parathyroid gland. Since the cancer starts in the parathyroid cells itself, it is also known as a primary cancer. If cancer that starts elsewhere in the body and spreads to the parathyroid gland, then it is known as a secondary cancer or metastatic cancer. Parathyroid carcinoma is one of the rare cancers. It affects about 1 in 7.5million people and affects both males and females equally. Most cases of parathyroid cancer are seen in people over the age of 30 years. Malignancy of the Parathyroid Gland Parathyroid gland and functions The parathyroid gland is not a single structure but rather a collection of four small glands. There are two small glands on the right and two on the left of the the back of the thyroid gland. The upper glands lies towards the top of the thyroid gland within the neck but the lower glands can dip into the upper part of the mediastinum, the central compartment of the chest cavity. The parathyroid grands produce and secrete [...]

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