Daily Digest

    HEALTH NEWS AND LATEST HEADLINES

CANCER TREATMENT | Learn more about Cancer

What is cancer?

Cancer is the Latin word for "crab". The ancients used the word to mean a "malignancy", doubtless because of the crab-like tenacity a malignant tumor sometimes seems to show in grasping the tissues it invades. Cancer may also be called malignancy, a malignant tumor, or a neoplasm (literally, a new growth). Cancer is a disease caused by an the uncontrolled abnormal growth of cells in the body, also called malignant cells. Cancer is a group of more than 100 different and distinctive diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells. Cancer can involve any tissue of the body and have many different forms in each body area. Most cancers are named for the type of cell or organ in which they start. If a cancer spreads (metastasizes), the new tumor bears the same name as the original (primary) tumor.

Most Prescribed Medications [Sorted by Popularity]

Fentanyl TS®, Duragesic®, Epoetin Alfa®, Kytril®, Epogen®, Hydrea®, Casodex®, Eulexin®, Procrit®, Ondansetron®-oral, Zofran®, Zyloprim®, METHOTREXATE-ORAL, Rheumatrex®, Amen®, Cycrin®, Leukeran®, Progestone®, Provera®, Motilium®, MEGESTROL®, Megace®, GEFITINIB®, Iressa®, Delestrogen®
view all medications »

Breast Cancer Medications: Xeloda®, Cytoxan®, Arimidex®, Femara®, Nolvadex®
view all medications »

Common Forms of Cancer

The most typical form of cancer is non-melanoma skin cancer, with more than 1,000,000 new cases expected in the United States in 2006. Non-melanoma skin cancers represent about half of all cancers diagnosed in the US. The list of common cancers includes cancers that are diagnosed with the greatest frequency in the United States. Cancer incidence statistics from the American Cancer Society and other resources were used to create the list. To qualify as a common cancer, the estimated annual incidence for 2006 had to be 30,000 cases or more. Because colon and rectal cancers are often referred to as "colorectal cancers," these two cancer types were combined for the list. For 2006, the estimated number of new cases of colon cancer is 106,680, and the estimated number of new cases of rectal cancer is 41,930. These numbers are slightly larger than those estimated for 2005. Leukemia as a cancer type includes acute lymphoblastic (or lymphoid) leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myelogenous (or myeloid) leukemia, and other forms of leukemia. It is estimated that more than 35,000 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed in the United States in 2006, with acute myeloid leukemia being the most common type (approximately 12,000 new cases). The total number of new leukemia cases estimated for 2006 is slightly larger than the number estimated for 2005. Kidney cancer can be divided into two major groups, renal parenchyma cancers and renal pelvis cancers. Approximately 82 percent of kidney cancers develop in the renal parenchyma,2 and nearly all of these cancers are renal cell cancers. The estimated number of new cases of renal cell cancer for 2006 is 31,890.

Types of cancer: Adult Brain Tumors, Asbestos Related Cancer, Anal Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Bone Cancer, Brain Cancer, Brain Tumor, Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer During Pregnancy, Breast Cancer in Young Women, Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Colon Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Gardner Syndrome, Hodgkin's Disease, Inflammatory Breast Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Larynx Cancer, Leukemia, Liver Cancer, Lung Cancer, Male Breast Cancer, Melanoma, Mesothelioma, Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Oral Cancer Ovarian Cancer, Paget's Disease of the Nipple, Pancreatic Cancer, Penis Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Skin Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Testicular Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Uterine Cancer, Vaginal Cancer.

What causes cancer?

Cells are the building blocks of living things. Cancer grows out of normal cells in the body. Normal cells multiply when the body needs them, and die when the body doesn't. Cancer appears to occur when the growth of cells in the body is out of control and cells divide too rapidly. It can also occur when cells “forget” how to die. There are many different kinds of cancers. Cancer can develop in almost any organ or tissue, such as the lung, colon, breast, skin, bones, or nerve tissue.

There are multiple causes of cancers, including: radiation, sunlight, tobacco, certain viruses, benzene, certain poisonous mushrooms and aflatoxins (a poison produced by organisms that can grow on peanut plants)

However, the cause of many cancers remains unknown. The most common cause of cancer-related death is lung cancer. The three most common cancers in men in the United States are prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer. In women in the U.S., the three most frequently occurring cancers are breast cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer. Certain cancers are more common in particular geographic areas. For example, in Japan, there are many cases of gastric cancer, while in the U.S. this type of cancer is relatively rare. Differences in diet may play a role.

Some other types of cancers include: brain cancer, cervical cancer, uterine cancer, liver cancer, leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, kidney cancer, ovarian cancer, skin cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer.

Cancer symptoms and signs

Symptoms of cancer depend on the type and location of the tumor. For example, lung cancer can cause coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain, while colon cancer often causes diarrhea, constipation, and blood in the stool. Some cancers may not have any symptoms at all. In some cancers, such as gallbladder cancer, symptoms often are not present until the disease has reached an advanced stage. However, the following symptoms are common with most cancers: fever, chills, night sweats, weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, malaise.

Like symptoms, the signs of cancer vary based on the type and location of the tumor. Common tests include the following: CT scan, complete blood count (CBC), blood chemistries, biopsy of the tumor, bone marrow biopsy (for lymphoma or leukemia), chest x-ray.

Most cancers are diagnosed by biopsy. Depending on the location of the tumor, the biopsy may be a simple procedure or a serious operation. Most patients with cancer undergo CT scans to determine the exact location of the tumor or tumors. A cancer diagnosis is difficult to cope with. It is important, however, that you discuss the type, size, and location of the cancer with your doctor upon diagnosis. You also will want to ask about treatment options, along with their benefits and risks. It's a good idea to have someone with you at the doctor's office to help you get through the diagnosis. If you have trouble asking questions after hearing about your diagnosis, the person you bring with you can ask them for you.

Cancer Treatment

Treatment also varies based on the type of cancer and its stage. The stage of a cancer refers to how much it has grown and whether the tumor has spread from its original location.

• If the cancer is confined to one location and has not spread, the goal for treatment would be surgery and cure. This is often the case with skin cancers.
• If the tumor has spread to local lymph nodes only, sometimes these can also be removed.
• If all of the cancer cannot be removed with surgery, the options for treatment include radiation, chemotherapy, or both. Some cancers require a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Although treatment for cancer can be difficult, there many ways to keep up your strength. If you have radiation treatment, know that:

• Radiation treatment is painless.
• Treatment is usually scheduled every weekday.
• You should allow 30 minutes for each treatment session although the treatment itself usually takes only a few minutes.
• You should get plenty of rest and eat a well-balanced diet during the course of your radiation therapy.
• Skin in the treated area may become sensitive and easily irritated.
• Side effects of radiation treatment are usually temporary and vary depending on the area of the body that is being treated.

If you are going through chemotherapy, you should eat right. Chemotherapy causes your immune system to weaken, so you should avoid people with colds or the flu. You should also get plenty of rest, and don't feel you have to accomplish tasks all at once. It will help you to talk with family, friends, or a support group about your feelings. Work with your health care providers throughout your treatment. Helping yourself can make you feel more in control.

Expectations

The outlook varies widely among different types of cancer. Even among people with one particular type of cancer, the outcome varies depending on the stage of the tumor at diagnosis. Some cancers can be cured, some that are not curable can still be treated well, and some patients can live for many years with the cancer. Other tumors are rapidly fatal.

Prevention

One of the best ways to prevent cancer is to not smoke or chew tobacco. Many cancers can be prevented by avoiding risk factors such as excessive exposure to sunlight and heavy drinking. Cancer screenings, such as mammography and breast examination for breast cancer and colonoscopy for colon cancer, may help catch these cancers at their early, most treatable stages. Some people at high risk for developing certain cancers can take medication to reduce their risk.

Cancer contents

• Learn more about Cancer
• Prescribed medications
• Common Forms of Cancer

Back to top