About National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) is dedicated to increasing awareness of breast cancer issues, especially the importance of early detection. It works through a nationwide education campaign aimed at the general public, state and federal governments, health care professionals, employers, and women of all ages and ethnic groups.
Breast Cancer Care's press pack for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2006, is available to download from the foot of this page.
Evelyn Lauder
In 1993 Evelyn Lauder introduced Breast Cancer Awareness Month across the world. Since then October has been awash with pink ribbons, now a global symbol for breast cancer awareness.
Breast Cancer Care was the first breast cancer charity in the UK to get involved in Breast Cancer Awareness Month and through it has helped bring the subject of breast cancer to the forefront of people's minds and to the top of the health agenda in this country.
Supporting
Breast Cancer Care uses Breast Cancer Awareness Month as an opportunity to make people aware of the ways in which it helps those affected by breast cancer.
The charity also focuses a lot of its key fundraising activities around the month including events, corporate partnerships and the sale of pink-themed merchandise, including the pink ribbon pin badge.
Campaigning
Breast Cancer Awareness Month also provides a platform for Breast Cancer Care to push for better treatment and support for people affected by breast cancer through its high-profile Government-lobbying campaigns such as 80over50 (2003) and Same Difference (2005).
Fundraising
Breast Cancer Awareness Month sees a hive of activity from Breast Cancer Care's corporate supporters with many pink products on sale to raise money for the charity.
Long-standing partners include ASDA, with its highly successful Tickled Pink campaign and Boots which not only raises money but awareness through its Be Up Front campaign.
The charity is also lucky enough to have support from high profile brands including QVC, Dorothy Perkins, Swarovski and Interflora among others.
Jul 31, 2007
breast cancer awareness
kidney cancer
Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They're located behind your abdomen, one on each side of your spine. Like other major organs in the body, the kidneys can sometimes develop cancer. In adults, the most common type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma (renal adenocarcinoma), which begins in the cells that line the small tubes within your kidneys. Children are more likely to develop a kind of kidney cancer called Wilms' tumor.
Kidney cancer seldom causes problems in its early stages. But as a tumor grows, you may notice blood in your urine or experience unintentional weight loss or back pain that doesn't go away. Kidney cancer cells may also spread (metastasize) outside your kidneys to nearby organs as well as to more distant sites in the body. Yet if kidney cancer is detected and treated early, the chances for a full recovery are good.
Kidney cancer: Who's at risk?
Kidney cancer develops most often in people over 40, but no one knows the exact causes of this disease. Doctors can seldom explain why one person develops kidney cancer and another does not. However, it is clear that kidney cancer is not contagious. No one can "catch" the disease from another person.
Research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop kidney cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease.
Studies have found the following risk factors for kidney cancer:
Smoking: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor. Cigarette smokers are twice as likely as nonsmokers to develop kidney cancer. Cigar smoking also may increase the risk of this disease.
Obesity: People who are obese have an increased risk of kidney cancer.
High blood pressure: High blood pressure increases the risk of kidney cancer.
Long-term dialysis: Dialysis is a treatment for people whose kidneys do not work well. It removes wastes from the blood. Being on dialysis for many years is a risk factor for kidney cancer.
Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome: VHL is a rare disease that runs in some families. It is caused by changes in the VHL gene. An abnormal VHL gene increases the risk of kidney cancer. It also can cause cysts or tumors in the eyes, brain, and other parts of the body. Family members of those with this syndrome can have a test to check for the abnormal VHL gene. For people with the abnormal VHL gene, doctors may suggest ways to improve the detection of kidney cancer and other diseases before symptoms develop.
Occupation: Some people have a higher risk of getting kidney cancer because they come in contact with certain chemicals or substances in their workplace. Coke oven workers in the iron and steel industry are at risk. Workers exposed to asbestos or cadmium also may be at risk.
Gender: Males are more likely than females to be diagnosed with kidney cancer. Each year in the United States, about 20,000 men and 12,000 women learn they have kidney cancer.
Most people who have these risk factors do not get kidney cancer. On the other hand, most people who do get the disease have no known risk factors. People who think they may be at risk should discuss this concern with their doctor. The doctor may be able to suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for checkups.
Type Of Cancer
The list of common cancer types 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 2007 had to be 30,000 cases or more.
The most common type of cancer on the list is non-melanoma skin cancer, with more than 1,000,000 new cases expected in the United States in 2007. Non-melanoma skin cancers represent about half of all cancers diagnosed in this country.
The cancer on the list with the lowest incidence is thyroid cancer. The estimated number of new cases of thyroid cancer for 2007 is 33,550.
Because colon and rectal cancers are often referred to as "colorectal cancers," these two cancer types were combined for the list. For 2007, the estimated number of new cases of colon cancer is 112,340, and the estimated number of new cases of rectal cancer is 41,420.
Kidney cancers can be divided into two major groups, renal parenchyma cancers and renal pelvis cancers. Approximately 85 percent of kidney cancers develop in the renal parenchyma, and nearly all of these cancers are renal cell cancers. The estimated number of new cases of renal cell cancer for 2007 is 43,512.
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 44,000 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed in the United States in 2007, with chronic lymphocytic leukemia being the most common type (approximately 15,000 new cases).
The following table gives the estimated numbers of new cases and deaths for each common cancer type:
Cancer Type Estimated New Cases Estimated Deaths
Bladder 67,160 13,750
Breast (Female -- Male) 178,480 -- 2,030 40,460 -- 450
Colon and Rectal (Combined) 153,760 52,180
Endometrial 39,080 7,400
Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer 43,512 10,957
Leukemia (All) 44,240 21,790
Lung (Including Bronchus) 213,380 160,390
Melanoma 59,940 8,110
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 63,190 18,660
Pancreatic 37,170 33,370
Prostate 218,890 27,050
Skin (Non-melanoma) >1,000,000 <2,000
Thyroid 33,550 1,530
What are the "stages" of breast cancer
STAGE 0 (carcinoma in situ) is sometimes called noninvasive carcinoma or carcinoma in situ.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) refers to abnormal cells in the lining of a lobule. These abnormal cells seldom become invasive cancer. However, their presence is a sign that a woman has an increased risk of developing breast cancer. This risk of cancer is increased for both breasts. Some women with LCIS may take a drug called tamoxifen, which can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. Others may take part in studies of other promising new preventive treatments. Some women may choose not to have treatment, but to return to the doctor regularly for checkups. And, occasionally, women with LCIS may decide to have surgery to remove both breasts to try to prevent cancer from developing. (In most cases, removal of underarm lymph nodes is not necessary.)
carcinoma in situ (DCIS) refers to abnormal cells in the lining of a duct. DCIS is also called intraductal carcinoma. The abnormal cells have not spread beyond the duct to invade the surrounding breast tissue. However, women with DCIS are at an increased risk of getting invasive breast cancer. Some women with DCIS have breast-sparing surgery followed by radiation therapy. Or they may choose to have a mastectomy, with or without breast reconstruction (plastic surgery) to rebuild the breast. Underarm lymph nodes are not usually removed. Also, women with DCIS may want to talk with their doctor about tamoxifen to reduce the risk of developing invasive breast cancer.
Women who have stage IV breast cancer receive chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy to destroy cancer cells and control the disease. They may have surgery or radiation therapy to control the cancer in the breast. Radiation may also be useful to control tumors in other parts of the body.
Cancer Symptom
What Are Symptoms and Signs?
A symptom is an indication of disease, illness, injury, or that something is not right in the body. Symptoms are felt or noticed by a person, but may not easily be noticed by anyone else. For example, chills, weakness, achiness, shortness of breath, and a cough are possible symptoms of pneumonia.
A sign is also an indication that something is not right in the body. But signs are defined as observations made by a doctor, nurse, or other health care professional. Fever, rapid breathing rate, and abnormal breathing sounds heard through a stethoscope are possible signs of pneumonia.
The presence of one symptom or sign may not give enough information to suggest a cause. For example, a rash in a child could be a symptom of a number of things including poison ivy, an infectious disease like measles, an infection limited to the skin, or a food allergy. But if the rash is seen along with other signs and symptoms like a high fever, chills, achiness, and a sore throat, then a doctor can get a better picture of the illness. In many cases, a patient's signs and symptoms do not provide enough clues by themselves to determine the cause of an illness, and medical tests such as x-rays, blood tests, or a biopsy may be needed.
How Are Signs and Symptoms Helpful?
Treatment is most successful when cancer is found as early as possible. Finding cancer early usually means it can be treated while it is still small and is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body. This often means a better chance for a cure, especially if initial treatment is to be surgery.
A good example of the importance of detecting cancer early is melanoma skin cancer. It is easily removed if it has not yet grown deeply into the skin, and the 5-year survival rate (percentage of people living at least 5 years after diagnosis) at this stage is nearly 100%. But once melanoma has spread to other parts of the body the survival rate drops dramatically. Sometimes people ignore symptoms either because they do not recognize the symptoms as being significant or because they are frightened by what they might mean and donę° want to seek medical help. General symptoms, such as fatigue, are more likely to have a cause other than cancer and can seem unimportant, especially if they have an obvious cause or are only temporary. In a similar way, a person may reason that a more specific symptom like a breast mass is probably a cyst that will go away by itself. But neither of these symptoms should be discounted or overlooked, especially if they have been present for a long period of time or are getting worse.
Cervical Cancer Symptom
ll of the organs of the body are made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells divide to produce more cells only when the body needs them. This orderly process helps keep us healthy. If cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms. This mass of extra tissue, called a growth or tumor, can be benign or malignant.
Benign tumors are not cancerous. They can usually be removed and, in most cases, they do not come back. The most important thing is that cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Benign tumors are not a threat to life. Polyps, cysts, and genital warts <http://www.coolnurse.com/genital_warts.htm> are types of benign growths of the cervix.
Malignant tumors are cancer. Cancer cells can invade and damage tissues and organs near the tumor. Cancer cells also can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the lymph system or the bloodstream. This is how cancer of the cervix can spread to other parts of the body, such as nearby lymph nodes, the rectum, the bladder, the bones of the spine, and the lungs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
Like all other organs of the body, the cervix is made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells divide to produce more cells only when the body needs them. This orderly process helps keep us healthy. Cancer of the uterine cervix, the portion of the uterus that is attached to the top of the vagina. Ninety percent of cervical cancers arise from the flattened or "squamous" cells covering the cervix. Most of the remaining 10% arise from the glandular, mucus-secreting cells of the cervical canal leading into the uterus.
According to The National Cancer Institute, the vast majority of cervical cancers can be prevented. Since the most common form of cervical cancer starts with preventable and easily detectable precancerous changes, there are two ways to prevent this disease.
Here is a diagram showing where your cervix is located. The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus. The cervix forms a canal that opens into the vagina, which leads to the outside of the body.
What Are the Symptoms?
In its early stages, cervical cancer causes no pain or other symptoms. The first identifiable symptoms of the disease are likely to include:
If the cancer has spread to nearby tissues, symptoms may include:
prostate cancer symptom
The main symptoms are: difficulty passing urine, inability to urinate, passing urine often (particularly at night), weak or interrupted urine flow, pain when urinating, blood in the urine and pain in the lower back, hips and upper thighs. However, all of these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions such as benign prostate enlargement. Men with any of these symptoms should consult their doctor.
Throat Cancer
Recently, you've noticed a pale lump inside your mouth that doesn't seem to be healing. It's not like anything you've seen before. What you may have encountered is an early sign of oral or throat (oropharyngeal) cancer.
The American Cancer Society estimates more than 30,000 new cases of oral and throat cancer occur annually in the United States. Oral cancer includes cancer of your lips, mouth, tongue, gums and salivary glands. Throat cancer involves cancer of the part of your throat just behind your mouth. It's estimated that more than 7,000 Americans die of oral and throat cancers annually.
Periodic self-examination of your mouth is the best way to detect the early signs of oral and throat cancer. And, when detected early, oral cancer is almost always successfully treated. Unfortunately, many oral and throat cancers are far advanced by the time a doctor is made aware of the situation. This is because oral and throat cancers are usually painless in their early stages or have minor symptoms similar to other health problems, such as a toothache.
Alternative names
Vocal cord cancer; Throat cancer; Laryngeal cancer; Cancer of the glottis
Definition
Cancer of the throat is cancer of the vocal cords, voice box (larynx), or other areas of the throat.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
People who smoke or otherwise use tobacco are at risk of developing throat cancer. Excessive alcohol use also increases risk. Smoking and drinking alcohol combined lead to an extreme risk for the development of throat cancers.
Most cancers of the throat develop in adults older than 50. Men are 10 times more likely than women to develop throat cancers.
Symptoms
Signs and tests
An examination of the neck and throat may show cancer of the throat. The sputum may appear bloody. A lump may appear on the outside of the neck. A laryngoscopy, which is examination by use of a tube with a small lighted camera (laryngoscope), allows the physician to look into the mouth and down the throat to see the tumor.
A neck or cranial CT scan or cranial MRI may show throat cancer. These tests will also help determine if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck.
Biopsy and analysis of tissues that appear abnormal may confirm the presence of a cancerous tumor.
Brain Cancer
There are two types of brain tumors: primary brain tumors that originate in the brain and metastatic (secondary) brain tumors that originate from cancer cells that have migrated from other parts of the body.
Primary brain cancer rarely spreads beyond the central nervous system, and death results from uncontrolled tumor growth within the limited space of the skull. Metastatic brain cancer indicates advanced disease and has a poor prognosis.
Primary brain tumors can be cancerous or noncancerous. Both types take up space in the brain and may cause serious symptoms (e.g., vision or hearing loss) and complications (e.g., stroke).
All cancerous brain tumors are life threatening (malignant) because they have an aggressive and invasive nature. A noncancerous primary brain tumor is life threatening when it compromises vital structures (e.g., an artery).
Small Blood Vessels Linked to Brain Tumors
TUESDAY, Jan. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Small blood vessels associated with brain tumors create a nurturing environment for self-renewing cancer stem cells, U.S. researchers report.
They also found that antiangiogenic drugs that disrupt this environment reduce the number of cancer stem cells and halt tumor growth.
Cancer stem cells comprise only a small fraction of most brain tumors but play a critical role in tumor growth and survival, according to background information in the study, published in the January issue of the journal Cancer Cell.
Researchers at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis found that cancer stem cells in human brain tumors are associated with blood vessels and that, in culture, vascular cells interact with and help brain cancer stem cells survive. This kind of interaction was not seen in most kinds of non-cancer stem cell tumor cells.
The researchers also transplanted human brain tumors, with or without vascular cells, into mice. The mice that received the vascular cells showed an increase in cancer stem cells and increased tumor activity.
When the mice were given antiangiogenic drugs to diminish tumor blood vessels, the team saw a reduction in cancer stem cells. Tumor growth was also halted, the study authors said.
"Our data identify a possible role for niche microenvironments in the maintenance of CSCs (cancer stem cells) and identify a mechanism by which antiangiogenic drugs inhibit brain tumor growth," researcher Dr. Richard J. Gilbertson said in a statement. "If the notion that niches protect CSCs proves correct, then targeting these microenvironments could prove highly effective treatments of cancer."
Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer accounts for approximately 90% of cancers of the urinary tract (renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, urethra). The bladder is an organ located in the pelvic cavity that stores and discharges urine. Urine is produced by the kidneys, carried to the bladder by the ureters, and discharged from the bladder through the urethra.
Types
Bladder cancer usually originates in the bladder lining, which consists of a mucous layer of surface cells that expand and deflate (transitional epithelial cells), smooth muscle, and a fibrous layer. Tumors are categorized as low-stage (superficial) or high-stage (muscle invasive).
In industrialized countries (e.g., United States, Canada, France), more than 90% of cases originate in the transitional epithelial cells (called transitional cell carcinoma; TCC). In developing countries, 75% of cases are squamous cell carcinomas caused by Schistosoma haematobium (parasitic organism) infection. Rare types of bladder cancer include small cell carcinoma, carcinosarcoma, primary lymphoma, and sarcoma.
Incidence and Prevalence
According to the National Cancer Institute, the highest incidence of bladder cancer occurs in industrialized countries such as the United States, Canada, and France. Incidence is lowest in Asia and South America, where it is about 70% lower than in the United States.
Incidence of bladder cancer increases with age. People over the age of 70 develop the disease 2 to 3 times more often than those aged 55-69 and 15 to 20 times more often than those aged 30-54.
Bladder cancer is 2 to 3 times more common in men. In the United States, approximately 38,000 men and 15,000 women are diagnosed with the disease each year. Bladder cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in men and the eighth most common type in women. The disease is more prevalent in Caucasians than in African Americans and Hispanics.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
1. What is inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)?
Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but very aggressive type of breast cancer in which the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of breast cancer is called “inflammatory” because the breast often looks swollen and red, or “inflamed.” IBC accounts for 1 to 5 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States. It tends to be diagnosed in younger women compared to non-IBC breast cancer. It occurs more frequently and at a younger age in African Americans than in Whites. Like other types of breast cancer, IBC can occur in men, but usually at an older age than in women. Some studies have shown an association between family history of breast cancer and IBC, but more studies are needed to draw firm conclusions
2.What are the symptoms of IBC?
Symptoms of IBC may include redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast, often without a distinct lump in the breast. The redness and warmth are caused by cancer cells blocking the lymph vessels in the skin. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, reddish purple, or bruised. The skin may also have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin of an orange (called peau d'orange), which is caused by a buildup of fluid and edema (swelling) in the breast. Other symptoms include heaviness, burning, aching, increase in breast size, tenderness, or a nipple that is inverted (facing inward). These symptoms usually develop quickly-over a period of weeks or months. Swollen lymph nodes may also be present under the arm, above the collarbone, or in both places. However, it is important to note that these symptoms may also be signs of other conditions such as infection, injury, or other types of cancer.
2. How is IBC diagnosed?
Diagnosis of IBC is based primarily on the results of a doctor’s clinical examination. Biopsy, mammogram, and breast ultrasound are used to confirm the diagnosis. IBC is classified as either stage IIIB or stage IV breast cancer (2). Stage IIIB breast cancers are locally advanced; stage IV breast cancer is cancer that has spread to other organs. IBC tends to grow rapidly, and the physical appearance of the breast of patients with IBC is different from that of patients with other stage III breast cancers. IBC is an especially aggressive, locally advanced breast cancer.
Cancer staging describes the extent or severity of an individual’s cancer. (More information on staging is available in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) fact sheet Staging: Questions and Answers at on the Internet.) Knowing a cancer’s stage helps the doctor develop a treatment plan and estimate prognosis (the likely outcome or course of the disease; the chance of recovery or recurrence).
Breast Cancer Treatment
With this report, women with breast cancer have access to information on the way breast cancer is treated at the nation’s leading cancer centers. Originally developed for cancer specialists by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), these treatment guidelines have now been translated for the public by the American Cancer Society.
Since 1995, doctors have looked to the NCCN for guidance on the highest quality, most effective advice on treating cancer. For more than 90 years, the public has relied on the American Cancer Society for information about cancer. The Society’s books and brochures provide comprehensive, current, and understandable information to hundreds of thousands of patients, their families and friends. This collaboration between the NCCN and ACS provides an authoritative and understandable source of cancer treatment information for the public. These patient guidelines will help you better understand your cancer treatment and your doctor’s counsel. We urge you to discuss them with your doctor. To make the best possible use of this information, you might begin by asking your doctor the following questions:
How large is my cancer? Do I have more than one tumor in the breast?
What is my cancer’s grade how abnormal the cells appear) and histology (type and arrangement of tumor cells) as seen under a microscope?
Do I have any lymph nodes with cancer (positive lymph nodes, i.e. nodal status)? If yes, how many?
What is the stage of my cancer?
Does my cancer contain hormone receptors? What does this mean for me?
Is my cancer positive for HER-2? What does this mean for me?
Is breast-conserving treatment an option for me?
In addition to surgery, what other treatment do you recommend? Radiation? Chemotherapy? Hormone therapy?
What are the side effects?
Are there any clinical trials that I should consider?
Inside Breast Tissue
The main parts of the female breast are lobules (milk-producing glands), ducts (milk passages that connect the lobules and the nipple), and stroma (fatty tissue and ligaments surrounding the ducts and lobules, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels). Lymphatic vessels are similar to veins but carry lymph instead of blood. Most breast cancer begins in the ducts (ductal), some in the lobules (lobular), and the rest in other breast tissues.
Lymph is a clear fluid that has tissue waste products and immune system cells. Most lymphatic vessels of the breast lead to underarm (axillary) lymph nodes. Some lead to lymph nodes above the collarbone (called supraclavicular) and others to internal mammary nodes which are next to the breastbone (or sternum). Cancer cells may enter lymph vessels and spread along these vessels to reach lymph nodes. Cancer cells may also enter blood vessels and spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body.
Lymph nodes are small, bean shaped collections of immune system cells important in fighting infections. When breast cancer cells reach the axillary lymph nodes, they can continue to grow, often causing swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpit or elsewhere.If breast cancer cells have spread to the axillary lymph nodes, it makes it more likely that they have spread to other organs of the body as well.
Thyroid Cancer
There are about 20,000 new cases of thyroid cancer each year in the United States. Females are more likely to have thyroid cancer at a ratio of three to one. Thyroid cancer can occur in any age group, although it is most common after age 30 and its aggressiveness increases significantly in older patients. The majority of patients present with a nodule on their thyroid which typically does not cause symptoms. Remember, over 99% of thyroid nodules are not cancer! But, when a thyroid cancer does begin to grow within a thyroid gland, it almost always does so within a discrete nodule within the thyroid.
What Is Thyroid Cancer?
The thyroid gland is located under the Adam's apple in the front part of the neck. In most people, it cannot be seen or felt. It is butterfly shaped, with 2 lobes - the right lobe and the left lobe - joined by a narrow isthmus (see diagram).
The thyroid gland makes a hormone (called thyroid hormone), which is important for many body functions. The production of this hormone depends on iodine, and the thyroid gland absorbs iodine from the blood.
Thyroid hormone regulates a personęÆ metabolism. Too much hormone causes a person to be hyperactive, feel nervous, warm, hungry, and often lose weight. Too little hormone causes a person to slow down, feel tired and gain weight. All this is regulated by the pituitary gland, at the base of the brain, which produces a substance called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
The thyroid gland contains mainly 2 types of cells:
§ Thyroid follicle cells actually make and store thyroid hormone. They also make a special thyroid protein called thyroglobulin.
§ C cells make another hormone, calcitonin, which helps regulate the bodyęÆ calcium metabolism.
Different cancers develop from each kind of cell. The differences are important because they determine the seriousness of the cancer and the type of treatment needed.
National Cancer Institute
NCI Researchers Identify Molecular Switch for Protein Chaperone
A protein that plays a major role in controlling normal cell growth and promoting tumor development by acting as a chaperone to other proteins was found to require a specific chemical modification for normal function, according to a new study of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). This research was conducted at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in collaboration with other institutions* and appears in the January 12, 2007, issue of Molecular Cell**.
"This new appreciation for the way cells regulate Hsp90 activity may help us better understand more of the basic cell signal pathway alterations involved in cancer development and, hopefully, identify new targets for anticancer therapies," said NCI Director John E. Niederhuber, M.D.
After they are synthesized, most proteins must be folded into their final form in order to function normally. Hsp90 chaperones other proteins through this process by assisting in their folding and escorting them to their proper locations inside the cell. Over 100 proteins have been identified as 'clients' of Hsp90. Under stress conditions, Hsp90 production increases sharply to assist in either refolding or elimination of damaged proteins, thereby helping cells return to a normal state and increasing their ability to survive.
Hsp90 levels are elevated in many types of cancer cells. Hsp90 binding helps sustain cancer-causing mutations in certain client proteins, allowing the cells to escape growth regulation and develop into tumors. Previous studies have shown that chemical inhibitors of Hsp90 can help block cell division, encourage cell suicide, and reduce the spread of a tumor. Several different Hsp90 inhibitors are currently undergoing clinical trials to test their efficacy in the treatment of cancer.
Leonard M. Neckers, Ph.D., who led this study in the Urologic Oncology Branch in NCI's Center for Cancer Research, and his colleagues previously showed that treating cells with an inhibitor of the enzyme histone deacetylase (HDAC) had the same effect as directly inhibiting Hsp90 with drugs. HDAC removes certain chemicals, called acetyl groups, from a wide range of proteins. Adding acetyl groups to proteins at specific locations -- a process called acetylation -- is one mechanism cells use to control protein activity. HDAC inhibitors block the removal of these acetyl groups. The purpose of this current study was to understand the role of acetylation in regulating Hsp90 function.
Prostate Cancer Treatment
Prostate Cancer can be diagnosed in about 13-15% of men of European descent. Men of African or African-American descent are twice as likely to have prostate cancer cells as men of European descent. Millions of men are diagnosed with prostate cancer... there is a lot you can learn from us.
If you are reading this, you are not dead. Even diagnosed with prostate cancer, chances are good that your cancer won't kill you anytime soon.
There are many choices in the treatment of prostate cancer. The main options include surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, and watchful waiting. In deciding which treatment option is most appropriate for you, you and your doctor will consider several factors, including the cancer stage and expected benefits and risks of treatment.
In this section, you will find information on benefits of each treatment option, and the most common side effects. Although prostate cancer is best treated when detected at an early stage, therapies are available that can help even after the cancer has spread outside of the prostate. Your doctor will determine which of these treatments is most appropriate for you.
Prostate cancer is found mainly in older men. As men age, the prostate may get bigger and block the urethra or bladder. This may cause difficulty in urination or can interfere with sexual function. The condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and although it is not cancer, surgery may be needed to correct it. The symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia or of other problems in the prostate may be similar to symptoms of prostate cancer. Normal prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A normal prostate does not block the flow of urine from the bladder. An enlarged prostate presses on the bladder and urethra and blocks the flow of urine.
Possible signs of prostate cancer include a weak flow of urine or frequent urination.
These and other symptoms may be caused by prostate cancer. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:
What Is Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer is a disease in which cells become malignant (cancerous) in one or both testicles.
The testicles (also called testes or gonads) are a pair of male sex glands. They produce and store sperm and are the main source of testosterone (male hormones) in men. These hormones control the development of the reproductive organs and other male physical characteristics. The testicles are located under the penis in a sac-like pouch called the scrotum.
Based on the characteristics of the cells in the tumor, testicular cancers are classified as seminomas or nonseminomas. Other types of cancer that arise in the testicles are rare and are not described here. Seminomas may be one of three types: classic, choriocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, teratoma, and yolk sac tumors. Testicular tumors may contain both seminoma and nonseminoma cells.
Testicular cancer accounts for only 1 percent of all cancers in men in the United States. About 8,000 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer, and about 390 men die of this disease each year (1). Testicular cancer occurs most often in men between the ages of 20 and 39, and is the most common form of cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 34. It is most common in white men, especially those of Scandinavian descent. The testicular cancer rate has more than doubled among white men in the past 40 years, but has only recently begun to increase among black men. The reason for the racial differences in incidence is not known.
Overview
Testicular cancer develops in the testicles (testes), the male reproductive glands. The testicles are located in the membranous pouch below the penis (scrotum) and are suspended from the body by the spermatic cord. They produce male reproductive cells (sperm) and testosterone. Testicular cancer is treated successfully in more than 95% of cases.
Anatomy
The testicles are primarily made up of a mass of seminiferous tubules in which sperm develop. The tubules are lined with Sertoli cells, which protect and supply nutrients to developing sperm. Sertoli cells also secrete the hormone inhibin, which is involved in the regulation of sperm production.
Leydig cells, located in tissue between the seminiferous tubules, secrete testosterone and androsterone. These hormones stimulate the development of male sex organs, beard growth, muscle mass, and deepening of the voice.
Incidence and Prevalence
Incidence of testicular cancer is rising. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 7600 cases are diagnosed and about 400 men die of the disease each year in the United States. The disease is most prevalent in men between the ages of 18 and 32 and is approximately 5 times more common in Caucasians than African Americans. Germany, Scandinavia, and New Zealand have the highest incidence of testicular cancer and Asia and Africa have the lowest.
Cancer Treatment
Cancer (medicine), any of more than 100 diseases characterized by excessive, uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, which invade and destroy other tissues . Cancer develops in almost any organ or tissue of the body, but certain types of cancer are more lethal than others. Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada and second only to heart disease in the United States. Each year, more than 1.2 million Americans and 132,000 Canadians are diagnosed with cancer, and more than 1,700 people die from cancer each day in the United States and Canada. For reasons not well understood, cancer rates vary by gender, race, and geographic region. For instance, more males have cancer than females, and African Americans are more likely to develop cancer than persons of any other racial and ethnic group in North America. Cancer rates also vary globally-residents of the United States, for example, are nearly three times as likely to develop cancer than are residents of Egypt.
Introduction to Cancer Treatment
Cancer treatment varies depending upon your type of cancer, stage of cancer, and overall condition. Additionally, your treatment may vary depending on whether or not the goal of your treatment is to cure your cancer, keep your cancer from spreading, or to relieve the symptoms caused by cancer. Depending on these factors, you may receive one or more of the following:
Angiogenesis means the formation of new blood vessels. Angiogenesis is a process controlled by certain chemicals produced in the body. These chemicals stimulate blood vessels or form new ones. Other chemicals, called angiogenesis inhibitors, signal the process to stop.
Angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth and spread of cancer. New blood vessels “feed” the cancer cells with oxygen and nutrients, allowing these cells to grow, invade nearby tissue, spread to other parts of the body, and form new colonies of cancer cells.
Because cancer cannot grow or spread without the formation of new blood vessels, scientists are trying to find ways to stop angiogenesis. They are studying natural and synthetic angiogenesis inhibitors, also called anti-angiogenesis agents, in the hope that these chemicals will prevent the growth of cancer by blocking the formation of new blood vessels. In animal studies, angiogenesis inhibitors have successfully stopped the formation of new blood vessels, causing the cancer to shrink and die.
Breast Cancer Symptom
There is no right way for a person to deal with a diagnosis of cancer. In this section, we simply hope to share options and coping skills with you that have worked for others.
As you go through the process of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care, you’ll likely experience side effects from the treatment. It’s different for everyone. Some drugs cause nausea or hair loss. You may feel physical symptoms, such as pain or fatigue. Your feelings and emotional coping skills may be challenged by the trauma of facing a serious, sometimes life threatening illness. If you are a spiritual person, you may find your faith tested.
These many kinds of distress are common among people who are going through what you are going through. Because they are common, your healthcare team can offer you choices for managing them in ways that suit your personality and lifestyle. Ask for advice on ways to cope with side effects.
Other sections of this Guide address the type of help available to you from support groups, complementary therapy, and your spiritual advisors. This section reviews some ways to find relief from some of the physical symptoms you may experience.
Whenever a symptom comes up that concerns you, no matter how insignificant that symptom might seem, talk with your doctor or nurse about it. Don’t wait until the symptom feels almost unbearable. The sooner you let someone know what is bothering you, the sooner you will be offered ideas about ways of managing it.
Many breast cancers are detected by mammography before any symptoms are noticed.
Other signs include breast lumps (although most of these are benign), change in size or shape of the breast, dimpling of breast skin, nipple inversion, change in the nipple, swelling or lump in the armpit and very rarely a blood-stained discharge from the nipple or rash around the nipple.
A recent meta-analysis concluded that breast self examination is not an effective method of reducing breast cancer mortality. The NHS recommends that all women are 'breast aware': know what is normal for them and what signs of disease to look for , and that women aged 50 or over attend for breast screening.
Treatment guidelines have been published to improve and standardise the treatment of breast cancer in the UK. 3-7
Surgery and radiotherapy are used to control local disease, and systemic treatments (chemotherapy and /or hormonal therapy) to combat frank or occult metastatic disease.
Systemic treatments may also be administered up front as a primary treatment to reduce the size of the tumour prior to surgery. Nearly all patients, whatever the stage of their disease, have some form of surgery. Other tests are carried out to assess the extent of the disease.
Stomach Cancer
Digestive Diseases:
Stomach (Gastric) Cancer
Cancer of the stomach, also called gastric cancer, is a malignant tumor arising from the lining of the stomach. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the estimated numbers of new cases and deaths from gastric cancer in the United States in 2005 were:
The NCI also reports that gastric cancer now ranks 14th in incidence among the major types of cancer malignancies in the US.
Stomach cancers are classified according to the type of tissue where they originate. The most common type of stomach cancer is adenocarcinoma, which starts in the glandular tissue of the stomach and accounts for 90 to 95% of all stomach cancers. Other forms of stomach cancer include lymphomas, which involve the lymphatic system, and sarcomas, which involve the connective tissue (such as muscle, fat, or blood vessels).
Stomach cancer can often be cured if it is found and treated at an early stage. Unfortunately, the outlook is poor if the cancer is already at an advanced stage when discovered.
What Causes Stomach Cancer?
The exact cause of stomach cancer is unknown, but a number of conditions can increase the risk of the disease. These include:
What Are the Symptoms of Stomach Cancer?
In the early stages of stomach cancer, you may have very few symptoms. These may include:
These symptoms are similar to those caused by a peptic ulcer. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should see a doctor so that a proper diagnosis can be made and timely treatment given. A stomach cancer can grow very large before it causes other symptoms.
In more advanced cancer, you may have:
Ovarian Cancer Symptom
INTRODUCTION
Recurrent ovarian cancer and its treatment can cause an array of symptoms and side effects. The challenge for you and your health care team is to proactively prevent, manage, and control the extent to which your quality of life is affected by these side effects. It can be helpful to think about what is important to you in your life as you discuss your treatment goals with your physician. Many women find that the use of conventional medicine combined with emotional support and mind-body practices provides the greatest sense of relief and control in coping with the adverse affects of cancer treatment.
There are several other issues to consider when living with ovarian cancer. Many women desire to “take back” control of their lives after the ovarian cancer diagnosis is made. Some women feel as if control is incrementally removed from the very onset of the disease. By becoming knowledgeable about the disease and treatment options, you can begin to regain control and maintain an active partnership with your health care team. You can also take control by making specific choices about how to care for yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually throughout treatment and beyond. For example, maintaining wellness through good nutrition is very important. Although treatment may alter your desire for food, alter taste and smell, or cause nausea and vomiting, eating a diet high in protein and carbohydrates is essential to restoring balance and health because of damage caused by the cancer and the treatment.Physical activity is equally important to your physical and emotional well-being. Simple exercise such as walking can increase your appetite and improve your nutritional status, cause improved breathing patterns that aid adequate oxygenation of tissues, and stimulate the release of hormones in the brain that arouse feelings of euphoria (happiness) and reduce distress. Physical exercise does not need to be strenuous to be beneficial. Your health care team can help you design an exercise plan that is appropriate for your situation.
What are symptoms of bone cancer?
Symptoms of bone cancer tend to develop slowly. They depend on the type, location, and size of the tumor.
Pain is the most frequent symptom of bone cancer. Sometimes a firm, slightly tender lump on the bone can be felt through the skin. In some cases, bone cancer interferes with normal movements. Bone cancer can also cause bones to break.
These symptoms are not sure signs of cancer. They may also be caused by other, less serious problems. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms should consult a doctor.
How is bone cancer diagnosed?
To diagnose bone cancer, the doctor asks about the patient's personal and family medical history and does a complete physical exam. In addition to checking the general signs of health, the doctor usually orders blood tests and x-rays. X-rays can show the location, size, and shape of a bone tumor. On x-rays, benign tumors usually look round and smooth, with distinct edges. Bone cancers generally have odd shapes and irregular edges.
If x-rays show that the tumor is possible cancer, some of the following special tests may be done. These tests can also show whether the cancer has begun to spread.
Bone scans outline the size, shape, and location of abnormal areas in the bone. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into the bloodstream. This material collects in the bones and is detected by a special instrument called a scanner.
CT or CAT scan <http://www.medicinenet.com/script_/main/art.asp?articlekey=315> is an x-ray procedure that gives detailed pictures of cross-sections of the body. The pictures are created by a computer.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging also creates detailed pictures of cross-sections of the body. MRI uses a very strong magnet linked to a computer.
Angiograms are special x-rays of the blood vessels. A dye that shows up on x-rays is injected into the bloodstream so that the vessels can be seen in detail. This test is also done to help plan surgery.
A biopsy is the only sure way to tell whether cancer is present. Biopsies are best done at a hospital where doctors are experienced in the diagnosis of bone cancers. The doctor removes a sample of tissue from the bone tumor. A pathologist looks at the tissue under a microscope. If cancer is found, the pathologist can tell the type of sarcoma and whether it is likely to grow slowly or quickly.
If a diagnosis of bone cancer is made, it is important for the doctor to know exactly where the cancer is located and whether it has spread from its original location. This information is very important for planning treatment. The results of exams, tests, x-rays, scans, and the biopsy are all used in staging the cancer. The stage indicates whether the disease has spread and how much tissue is affected.
General Symptoms Of Lung Cancer
General symptoms of lung cancer
The symptoms of lung cancer can be
Less common symptoms of lung cancer
There are other symptoms of lung cancer that are less common. They are usually associated with more advanced lung cancer. You may have
SVCO
SVCO stands for superior vena cava obstruction. The vena cava is a large vein that carries blood from the brain and head back to the heart. If it is blocked, there is a build up behind the blockage causing fluid to seep out from the bloodstream and collect in the tissues of the face, causing swelling.
All of these symptoms can be caused by other diseases apart from lung cancer. So, you should always see your doctor if you are worried about any symptoms. You may have a chest infection, or other illness that is easily treatable. If you do have lung cancer, the earlier it is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat it.
Pancoast tumours
Doctors sometimes call lung cancer that is growing right at the top of the lung a 'pancoast tumour'. These tumours can cause very specific symptoms. The most common is severe shoulder pain. They can also cause a collection of symptoms called 'Horner's syndrome'. These are
These symptoms of Horner's syndrome are caused by the tumour pressing on or damaging a nerve that runs up from the neck to that side of the face.
Odd symptoms of lung cancer
Sometimes lung cancer cells produce hormones that get into the bloodstream. These hormones can produce strange symptoms that you may not realise are anything to do with lung cancer. You may hear your doctor call these 'paraneoplastic symptoms' or say you have 'paraneoplastic syndrome'. These hormone related symptoms include
These symptoms are rarely caused by lung cancer. But they can be. So it is important you tell your doctor about any new symptoms you have noticed. They may be nothing to do with your cancer and so your mind can be put at rest. If they are, then they can treat them and help you to feel better.
Liver Cancer
What is Liver Cancer?
There are two main kinds of liver cancer. Heptoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Heptoma is cancer of the hepatocytes. (The main functioning liver cell). Hepatoma is primary liver cancer. Hepatoma usually grows in the liver as a ball-like tumor, invading the normal tissue surrounding it. A history of infection with the hepatitis B virus puts individuals at risk of developing heptoma.
Cancer of the bile duct cells is called cholangiocarcinoma. Cholangiocarcinoma originates in the bile ducts and is often caused by infestation with the liver fluke Clonorchis (a parasite). The cancer grows along the bile ducts in sheets or lines, and is hard to find on X-ray studies.
Most cases of liver cancer are actually cancers that started in another organ. This is called metastases. Because of its very high blood flow and many biological functions, the liver is one of the most common places for metastases to grow. Tumors that originally arise in the colon, pancreas, stomach, lung or breast can spread to the liver.
Liver cancer is much more prevalent in many of the developing countries than in the industrialized world. Its incidence is highest in subSaharan Africa, China, southern Asia, and Japan. Japan is the exception of the industrialized countries. China accounts for about 45% of the world's cases.
What Causes or Increases Risk for Liver Cancer?
Once cause of liver cancer is exposure to vinyl chloride. Other causes of liver cancer are unknown. However certain risk factors have been identified. The risk factors are: Chronic Hepatitis, Cirrhosis of the liver and liver flukes (parasites).
Treatments for Liver Cancer?
Treatments will vary according to the individual. Some of the possible treatments are: surgery, liver transplantation, chemotherapy and radiation.
Liver transplantation is the replacement of one liver with another.
Radiation therapy is the use of x rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Pancreatic Cancer
Cancer of the pancreas is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. This year approximately 32,000 Americans will die from cancer of the pancreas. The disease is not only common, it is also extremely difficult to treat. For these and other reasons, cancer of the pancreas has been called "the challenge of the twenty-first century."
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions has become the leading center for the treatment and study of pancreas cancer. We created this web page to:
1. Educate patients and family members with the hope of empowering them as they make complex medical decisions; and
2. Provide a virtual Web family of support and caring for those facing this disease.
Introduction
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most serious of cancers. It develops when cancerous cells form in the tissues of your pancreas - a large organ that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. Your pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates.
Pancreatic cancer spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it's a leading cause of cancer death. Signs and symptoms may not appear until the disease is quite advanced. By that time, the cancer is likely to have spread to other parts of the body and surgical removal is no longer possible.For years, little was known about pancreatic cancer. But researchers are beginning to understand the genetic basis of the disease - knowledge that may eventually lead to new and better treatments. Just as important, you may be able to reduce your risk of pancreatic cancer with some lifestyle changes.
Cervical Cancer
What Is Cervical Cancer?
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb). The upper part, or body, of the uterus, is where a fetus grows. The cervix connects the body of the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). The part of the cervix closest to the body of the uterus is called the end cervix. The part next to the vagina is the ectodermic. Most cervical cancers start where these 2 parts meet.
Cancer of the cervix (also known as cervical cancer) begins in the lining of the cervix. Cervical cancers do not form suddenly. Normal cervical cells gradually develop pre-cancerous changes that turn into cancer. Doctors use several terms to describe these pre-cancerous changes, including cervical intraepithelial neoclassical (CIN), aqueous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), and dysphasia.
There are 2 main types of cervical cancers: squalors cell carcinoma and Aden carcinoma. Cervical cancers and cervical prefacers are classified by how they look under a microscope. About 80% to 90% of cervical cancers are squalors cell carcinomas, which are composed of cells that resemble the flat, thin cells called squalors cells that cover the surface of the end cervix. Squalors cell carcinomas most often begin where the ectodermic joins the end cervix.
The remaining 10% to 20% of cervical cancers are Aden carcinomas. Aden carcinomas are becoming more common in women born in the last 20 to 30 years. Cervical Aden carcinoma develops from the mucus-producing gland cells of the end cervix. Less commonly, cervical cancers have features of both squalors cell carcinomas and Aden carcinomas. These are called adenosquamous carcinomas or mixed carcinomas.
Only some women with pre-cancerous changes of the cervix will develop cancer. This process usually takes several years but sometimes can happen in less than a year. For most women, pre-cancerous cells will remain unchanged and go away without any treatment. But if these prefacers are treated, almost all true cancers can be prevented. Pre-cancerous changes and specific types of treatment for prefacers are discussed in the section, "Can Cervical Cancer Be Prevented?"
Precancerous changes can be separated into different categories based on how the cells of the cervix look under a microscope. These categories are discussed in the section, "Can Cervical Cancer Be Prevented?"
Ovarian Cancer
Definition of ovarian cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of the ovary (one of a pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed). Most ovarian cancers are either ovarian epithelial carcinomas (cancer that begins in the cells on the surface of the ovary) or malignant germ cell tumors (cancer that begins in egg cells).
Introduction
Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries - each about the size of an almond - produce eggs (ova) as well as the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. Ovarian cancer is a disease in which normal ovarian cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled, abnormal manner and produce tumors in one or both ovaries.
According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women. It's estimated that about 20,000 women in the United States will develop ovarian cancer this year. About 15,000 deaths from ovarian cancer will occur in American women during that same time frame.
Your chances of surviving ovarian cancer are better if the cancer is found early. But because the disease is difficult to detect in its early stage, only about 20 percent of ovarian cancers are found before tumor growth has spread into adjacent tissues and organs beyond the ovaries. Most of the time, the disease has already advanced before it's diagnosed.
Symptomless ovarian cancer is most often detected during a woman's regular gynecological examination. Your physician will palpitate your ovaries during your pelvic and rectal exam for the presence of ovarian cysts or fibroid tumors. If any abnormalities are noted, he will follow up with further testing which may include an ultrasound and chest X-ray. If further testing is required, a laparoscopy may be performed.
New methods for early screening of ovarian cancer are being investigated including ultrasound in conjunction with a blood test. The blood test may detect an antigen called CA 125 which has been detected in the blood of women with ovarian cancer.
Why is ovarian cancer a "silent" killer?
Ovarian cancer is often called the "silent" killer because many times there are no symptoms until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. One-third of American women will get some form of cancer in their lifetime and approximately one and one half percent of those cases will be cancer involving one or both ovaries.
Colon Cancer
Alternative names
Colorectal cancer; Cancer - colon
Definition
Colon cancer is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). Such cancer is sometimes referred to as "colorectal cancer."
Other types of colon cancer such as lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, melanoma, and sarcomas are rare. In this article, use of the term "colon cancer" refers to colon carcinoma and not these rare types of colon cancer.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. (However, in almost all cases, early diagnosis can lead to a complete cure.)
There is no single cause for colon cancer. Nearly all colon cancers begin as benign polyps, which slowly develop into cancer.
What is cancer of the colon and rectum?
The colon is the part of the digestive system where the waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. Together, they form a long, muscular tube called the large intestine (also known as the large bowel). Tumors of the colon and rectum are growths arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Benign tumors of the large intestine are called polyps. Malignant tumors of the large intestine are called cancers. Benign polyps do not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Benign polyps can be easily removed during colonoscopy, and are not life threatening. If benign polyps are not removed from the large intestine, they can become malignant (cancerous) over time. Most of the cancers of the large intestine are believed to have developed from polyps. Cancer of the colon and rectum (also referred to as colorectal cancer) can invade and damage adjacent tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away and spread to other parts of the body (such as liver and lung) where new tumors form. The spread of colon cancer to distant organs is called metastasis of the colon cancer. Once metastasis has occurred in colorectal cancer, a complete cure of the cancer is unlikely.
Globally, cancer of the colon and rectum is the third leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth leading cause of cancer in females. The frequency of colorectal cancer varies around the world. It is common in the Western world, and is rare in Asia and Africa. In countries where the people have adopted western diets, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing.
Skin Cancer
What Causes Skin Cancer?
Sunburn and Sunlight
Very simply, sunburn and UV light can damage your skin, and this damage can lead to skin cancer. There are of course other determining factors, including your heredity and the environment you live in. However, both the total amount of sun received over the years, and overexposure resulting in sunburn can cause skin cancer. Most people receive 80% of their lifetime exposure to the sun by 18 years of age. The message to parents from this is to protect your children.
Tanning is your skin's response to UV light. It is a protective reaction to prevent further injury to your skin from the sun. However, it does not prevent skin cancer.
Remember, skin cancer is very slow to develop. The sunburn you receive this week may take 20 years or more to become skin cancer.
Heredity
If there is a history of skin cancer in your family, you are probably at a higher risk. People with fair skin, with a northern European heritage appear to be most susceptible.
Environment
The level of UV light today is higher than it was 50 or 100 years ago. This is due to a reduction of ozone in the earth's atmosphere (the Ozone Hole). Ozone serves as a filter to screen out and reduce the amount of UV light that we are exposed to. With less atmospheric ozone, a higher level of UV light reaches the earth's surface.
Other influencing factors include elevation, latitude, and cloud cover. Ultra Violet light is stronger as elevation increases. The thinner atmosphere at higher altitudes cannot filter UV as effectively as it can at sea level. The rays of the sun are also strongest near the equator, as you might guess. But even in Antarctica, Chile, and New Zealand, the UV level is much higher than normal especially in the springtime due to the ozone hole in the southern hemisphere.
One factor that actually reduces UV is cloud cover. Climates and micro-climates with regular cloud cover may have a 50% lower level of UV light. The actual amount is affected by the density of the clouds.
What is Skin Cancer?
(From the National Cancer Institute PDQ Statement)
Skin cancer is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the outer layers of your skin. Your skin protects your body against heat, light, infection, and injury. It also stores water, fat, and vitamin D.
The skin has two main layers and several kinds of cells. The top layer of skin is called the epidermis. It contains three kinds of cells: flat, scaly cells on the surface called squamous cells; round cells called basal cells; and cells called melanocytes, which give your skin its color.
American Cancer Society
The complete ACS recommendations address several different groups:
The new recommendations are in line with those issued by federal health officials after the vaccine was approved last summer.
Potential for Preventing Many Cervical Cancers
Cervical cancer screening with the Pap test has greatly reduced the incidence of this cancer in the United States. The greatest impact of the vaccine is likely to be in groups where screening levels are low, such as in medically underserved populations. The vaccine may prove especially helpful in other countries where cervical cancer screening is not routinely done.
Giving the vaccine to young girls is important, the new guidelines say, because it works best when given to people before they ever become infected with HPV. Because the types of HPV that cause cervical cancer are sexually transmitted, girls should get vaccinated well before they become sexually active.
Surveys of US teens show that nearly a quarter of them have had sex by age 15, and 70% have had sex by age 18.
Most people become infected with HPV at some point in their lives, but the infection usually clears up on its own without ever causing any symptoms. Only rarely does the infection linger in the body and cause cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be about 11,150 cases of cervical cancer in the US in 2007. About 3,670 women will die from the disease.
Widespread vaccination promises to reduce the number of people with diseases caused by HPV, the guidelines say. Over the long term (it can take up to 20 years for an HPV infection to cause cervical cancer) that will mean fewer cases of cervical cancer. In the short term, it will mean fewer cases of genital warts, and less need for procedures (like biopsies) used to treat pre-cancerous changes in the cervix.
Lung Cancer
Definition of lung cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. The two main types are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. These types are diagnosed based on how the cells look under a microscope.
Women more likely to survive lung cancer
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - When women and men have lung cancer of the same stage and are given the same treatment, the women are more likely to survive, according to the findings published in the journal of Chest.
Lung cancer "is the number one cause of cancer deaths in both men and women worldwide," Dr. Robert James Cerfolio and colleagues from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, write.
Several studies using data from national cancer registries have shown that men and women differ in lung cancer survival. The present study was different in that it determined survival in men and women who were diagnosed with lung cancer, treated based on the same algorithm, and then followed for up to 7 years.
The study focused on patients with non-small cell lung cancer, the most common type. Unlike the small cell variant, non-small cell lung cancer is often amenable to surgical removal and more responsive to chemotherapy.
The study included 1,085 patients -- 671 men and 414 women. There were no significant differences between the sexes in terms of race, other diseases, smoking history, lung function and the treatment received.
At 5 years, 60 percent of women were still alive compared with 50 percent of men. Moreover, women had consistently higher survival rates for all stages of disease.
As to why survival was better for women, it may relate to them being more responsive to chemotherapy, Cerforlio and colleagues report.
The researchers conclude that the findings might help improve the "dismal" overall 5-year survival rate for patients with non-small lung cancer "by helping to target new therapeutic options."
breast cancer
Definition of breast cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.
Breast cancer is cancer arising in breast tissue. Cancer is simply a group of abnormal cells that have abnormal growth patterns.
● Although breast cancer is primarily a disease of women, about 1% of breast cancers occur in men.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and is the second leading cause of death by cancer in women, following only lung cancer
● In 2005, the American Cancer Society estimated that 212,930 new cases of breast cancer would be diagnosed in the United States.
● The incidence of breast cancer has been gradually increasing, averaging a 0.5% increase per year from 1987-2001. Death rates, on the other hand, have been gradually declining.
The breasts are made of fat, glands, and connective (fibrous) tissue. The breast has several lobes, which are divided into lobules and end in the milk glands. Tiny ducts run from the many tiny glands, connect together, and end in the nipple.
● These ducts are where 80% of breast cancers occur. This condition is called infiltrating ductal cancer.
● Cancer developing in the lobules is termed infiltrating lobular cancer. About 10-15% of breast cancers are of this type.
● Other types of breast cancer include inflammatory breast cancer and cancer involving the nipple, which is termed Paget's disease.
EARLY DETECTION: DO YOU KNOW THE FACTS?
This year in America, more than 211,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 43,300 will die. One woman in eight either has or will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. In addition, 1,600 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 400 will die this year. If detected early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 95%. Mammograms are among the best early detection methods, yet 13 million U.S. women 40 years of age or older have never had a mammogram.
prostate cancer
The prostate (pros-tate) is a gland found only in men. The prostate is about the size of a walnut. It is just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The tube that carries urine (the urethra) runs through the prostate. The prostate contains cells that make some of the seminal fluid. This fluid protects and nourishes the sperm.
Male hormones cause the prostate gland to develop in the fetus. The prostate keeps on growing as a boy grows to manhood. If male hormone levels are low, the prostate gland will not grow to full size. In older men, though, the part of the prostate around the urethra often keeps on growing. This causes BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) which can result in problems with urinating.
Most of the time, prostate cancer grows slowly. Autopsy studies show that many older men who died of other diseases also had prostate cancer that neither they nor their doctor were aware of. But sometimes prostate cancer can grow and spread quickly. Even with the latest methods, it is hard to tell which prostate cancers will grow slowly and which will grow quickly.
Some doctors believe that prostate cancer begins with very small changes in the size and shape of the prostate gland cells. These changes are known as PIN (prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia). These changes can be either low-grade (almost normal) or high-grade (abnormal).
If you have had a prostate biopsy that showed high-grade PIN, there is a greater chance that there are cancer cells in your prostate. For this reason, you will be watched carefully and may need another biopsy.
Introduction to Prostate Cancer Kit
Being diagnosed with prostate cancer can be a life-altering experience. It requires making some very difficult decisions about treatments that can affect not only the life of the man diagnosed, but also the lives of his family members in significant ways for many years to come.
To help men and women know where to begin, the Prostate Cancer Foundation created an Introduction to Prostate Cancer Kit, which features Conversation Tips, a series of pointers and questions that can be used to start a conversation about prostate cancer. In addition, the Kit includes the An Introduction to Prostate Cancer guide, a list of FAQs About Prostate Cancer, and other materials designed to help both men and women learn about prostate cancer.
Jul 30, 2007
Common Cancer Types
The list of common cancer types 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 2007 had to be 30,000 cases or more.
The most common type of cancer on the list is non-melanoma skin cancer, with more than 1,000,000 new cases expected in the United States in 2007. Non-melanoma skin cancers represent about half of all cancers diagnosed in this country.
The cancer on the list with the lowest incidence is thyroid cancer. The estimated number of new cases of thyroid cancer for 2007 is 33,550.
Because colon and rectal cancers are often referred to as "colorectal cancers," these two cancer types were combined for the list. For 2007, the estimated number of new cases of colon cancer is 112,340, and the estimated number of new cases of rectal cancer is 41,420.
Kidney cancers can be divided into two major groups, renal parenchyma cancers and renal pelvis cancers. Approximately 85 percent of kidney cancers develop in the renal parenchyma, and nearly all of these cancers are renal cell cancers. The estimated number of new cases of renal cell cancer for 2007 is 43,512.
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 44,000 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed in the United States in 2007, with chronic lymphocytic leukemia being the most common type (approximately 15,000 new cases).
The following table gives the estimated numbers of new cases and deaths for each common cancer type:
| Cancer Type | Estimated New Cases | Estimated Deaths |
| Bladder | 67,160 | 13,750 |
| Breast (Female -- Male) | 178,480 -- 2,030 | 40,460 -- 450 |
| Colon and Rectal (Combined) | 153,760 | 52,180 |
| Endometrial | 39,080 | 7,400 |
| Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer | 43,512 | 10,957 |
| Leukemia (All) | 44,240 | 21,790 |
| Lung (Including Bronchus) | 213,380 | 160,390 |
| Melanoma | 59,940 | 8,110 |
| Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | 63,190 | 18,660 |
| Pancreatic | 37,170 | 33,370 |
| Prostate | 218,890 | 27,050 |
| Skin (Non-melanoma) | >1,000,000 | <2,000 |
| Thyroid | 33,550 | 1,530 |
How Cancer Spreads
Kinds of Treatment Of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is treated in several ways. It depends on the kind of breast cancer and how far it has spread. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biologic therapy, and radiation. People with breast cancer often get more than one kind of treatment.
- Surgery. An operation where doctors cut out and remove cancer tissue.
- Chemotherapy. Using special medicines, or drugs to shrink or kill the cancer. The drugs can be pills you take or medicines given through an intravenous (IV) tube, or, sometimes, both.
- Hormonal therapy. Some cancers need certain hormones to grow. Hormonal treatment is used to block cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.
- Biological therapy. This treatment works with your body's immune system to help it fight cancer or to control side effects from other cancer treatments. Side effects are how your body reacts to drugs or other treatments. Biological therapy is different from chemotherapy, which attacks cancer cells directly.
- Radiation. The use of high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer cells. The rays are aimed at the part of the body where the cancer is located.
It is common for doctors from different specialties to work together in treating breast cancer. Surgeons are doctors that perform operations. Medical oncologists are doctors that treat cancers with medicines. Radiation oncologists are doctors that treat cancers with radiation.
Fast Facts Of Breast Cancer
Not counting some kinds of skin cancer, breast cancer in the United States is
- The most common cancer in women, no matter your race or ethnicity.
- The most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanic women.
- The second most common cause of death from cancer among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women. 1
In 2003 (the most recent year numbers are available):
- 181,646 women and 1,826 men developed breast cancer.
- 41,619 women and 379 men died from breast cancer. sup>1
Can Men Get Breast Cancer?
Men can also get breast cancer. In men, breast cancer can happen at any age, but is most common in men who are between 60 and 70 years old. Male breast cancer is not very common. For every 100 cases of breast cancer, less than 1 are in men.
Basic Information Of Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the body grow out of control. Cancers are named after the part of the body where the abnormal cell growth begins. Breast cancers are cancer cells from the breast. When breast cancer cells spread to other parts of the body, they are called metastases.
Common Kinds of Breast Cancer
There are different kinds of breast cancer. The kind of breast cancer depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer. Breast cancer can begin in different parts of the breast, like the ducts or the lobes.
Common kinds of breast cancer are
- Ductal carcinoma. The most common kind of breast cancer. It begins in the cells that line the milk ducts in the breast, also called the lining of the breast ducts.
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The abnormal cancer cells are only in the lining of the milk ducts, and have not spread to other tissues in the breast.
- Invasive ductal carcinoma. The abnormal cancer cells break through the ducts and spread into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.
- Lobular carcinoma. In this kind of breast cancer, the cancer cells begin in the lobes, or lobules, of the breast. Lobules are the glands that make milk.
- Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). The cancer cells are found only in the breast lobules. Lobular carcinoma in situ, or LCIS, does not spread to other tissues very often.
- Invasive lobular carcinoma. Cancer cells spread from the lobules to the breast tissues that are close by. These invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.
Use of Mammograms Among Women Aged >40 Years --- United States, 2000--2005
BRFSS is a state-based, random-digit--dialed telephone survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized adult population. BRFSS data are weighted for probability of selection and to match the age-, race-, and sex-specific populations from annually adjusted intercensal estimates. During 2000--2005, adult female respondents were asked whether they had ever had a mammogram.† Respondents who answered "yes" were then asked how long it had been since their last mammogram. The response rate ranged from a mean of 49.0% to 57.9% among states that posed the mammography questions. The percentage of all women aged >40 years who reported having had a mammogram within the 2 years preceding the survey was calculated, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and estimates were age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. Census standard population of women. Logistic regression was used to assess the linear time trend, which was considered statistically significant if the beta coefficient for year was nonzero at p<0.01.
The total age-adjusted proportion of all women aged >40 years who were asked the BRFSS mammography questions each year and reported having had a mammogram within the 2 years preceding the survey decreased significantly from 76.4% (CI = 75.8--76.9) in 2000 to 74.6% (CI = 73.8--75.4) in 2005 (test for trend, p<0.001) (Table).
Reported by: AB Ryerson, MPH, J Miller, MD, CR Eheman, PhD, MC White, ScD, Div of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC.
Editorial Note:
Data from BRFSS indicate a statistically significant decline in the proportion of women aged >40 years during 2000--2005 who reported having had a mammogram in the preceding 2 years. Since 1999, U.S. women overall aged >40 years have met the Healthy People 2010 objective of 70% of women having received a mammogram in the preceding 2 years (objective 3-13) (7); however, the slight decline indicated by BRFSS data during 2000--2005 suggests a need to monitor mammography screening more carefully. Because mammography screening every 1--2 years can significantly reduce mortality from breast cancer (2--4), continued declines in mammography use might result in increased breast cancer mortality rates.
The reason for the apparent decline in screening mammography is unclear and might be attributable to a combination of factors. One study has indicated that breast-imaging facilities face challenges such as shortages of key personnel, malpractice concerns, and financial constraints (8). Because the number of U.S. women aged >40 years increased by more than 24 million during 1990--2000 (9), the number of available facilities and trained breast specialists might not be sufficient to meet the needs of the population, whose overall median age continues to increase. Previously, low mammography use has been associated with not having a usual source of health care, not having health insurance, and being a recent immigrant (10). However, until future studies confirm a decreasing trend in mammography rates and determine whether the trend affects all women or only certain subpopulations, determining the causes of this apparent decline will remain difficult.
The findings in this report are subject to at least five limitations. First, the results might overestimate actual breast cancer screening rates because BRFSS does not indicate the reason for the test; certain mammograms might have been used to assess specific breast symptoms or follow up after an abnormal finding during a clinical breast examination, rather than for routine screening. Second, because BRFSS is administered by telephone, only women in households with landline telephones are represented; therefore, the results might not be representative of all women. Third, responses are self-reported and not confirmed by review of medical records. Fourth, the survey response rate was low. Finally, data from 2001, 2003, and 2005 included only the states that implemented the optional Women's Health Module (which included the mammography questions) and might not be representative of the entire U.S. population. However, the test for a decreasing linear trend remained significant (p<0.001) for years in which all states participated (2000, 2002, and 2004).
CDC supports several nationwide initiatives related to breast cancer prevention and control. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) is administered by CDC through cooperative agreements with all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 13 American Indian/Alaska Native tribes and tribal organizations, and four U.S. territories. NBCCEDP provides low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women access to timely, high-quality breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services. CDC also supports the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program by funding states, territories, and tribes and tribal organizations to establish coalitions through which communities pool resources to reduce cancer risk, increase early detection, improve treatment, and increase survival rates. Finally, CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries collects surveillance data on cancer through 49 state and territorial registries in the United States so that public health professionals can better understand and address the U.S. occurrence of cancer and its effects. CDC will continue working through each of these programs and with external partners to emphasize the importance of mammography screening and rescreening to women and their health-care providers and will facilitate the increased use of effective community programs through federal and nonfederal partners. In addition, clinicians and community-based organizations should continue to encourage mammography screening and rescreening every 1--2 years for women aged >40 years.
Acknowledgment
This report is based, in part, on data contributed by state BRFSS coordinators.
Breast Cancer Continuing Medical Education Program
These modules were developed by CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC), endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and acknowledged by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The modules were edited and certified for CME credit by Medscape.
Breast Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology,
Health History and Clinical Breast Examination,
Workup of Abnormal Clinical Findings,
Follow up of Abnormal Imaging Findings: Biopsy Methods, and
Risk Management.
The format of the modules is designed to promote self-study and to be updated regularly to reflect new clinical research and advances in technology.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer to occur among women in the United States, and 12.3% of all U.S. women are expected to develop this malignancy in their lifetime.¹ This online CME activity will help health professionals better understand different approaches to early breast cancer detection, as well as provide the opportunity to earn CME credits.