Cancer

Carcinoma; Malignant tumor

Last reviewed: September 3, 2012.

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Cancer grows out of normal cells in the body. Normal cells multiply when the body needs them, and die when the body doesn't need them. Cancer appears to occur when the growth of cells in the body is out of control and cells divide too quickly. It can also occur when cells forget how to die. There are many different kinds of cancer. Cancer can develop in almost any organ or tissue, such as the lung, colon, breast, skin, bones, or nerve tissue. There are many causes of cancer, including: Benzene and other chemicals Drinking excess alcohol Environmental toxins, such as certain poisonous mushrooms and a type of poison that can grow on peanut plants (aflatoxins) Excessive sunlight exposure Genetic problems Obesity Radiation Viruses

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 Colon cancer

In women in the United States, the three most common cancers are: Breast cancer Colon cancer Lung cancer

Some cancers are more common in certain parts of the world. For example, in Japan, there are many cases ofstomach cancer, but in the United States, this type of cancer is unusual. Differences in diet or environmental factors may play a role.

Some other types of cancers include: Brain cancer Cervical cancer Hodgkin's lymphoma Kidney cancer Leukemia Liver cancer Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Ovarian cancer Skin cancer Testicular cancer Thyroid cancer Uterine cancer

Symptoms
Symptoms of cancer depend on the type and location of the cancer. For example, lung cancer can causecoughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain. Colon cancer often causes diarrhea, constipation, and blood in the stool. Some cancers may not have any symptoms at all. In certain cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, symptoms often do not start until the disease has reached an advanced stage. The following symptoms can occur with most cancers: Chills Fatigue Fever Loss of appetite Malaise Night sweats Weight loss

Signs and tests

Like symptoms, the signs of cancer vary based on the type and location of the tumor. Common tests include the following: Biopsy of the tumor Blood tests (which look for chemicals such as tumor markers) Bone marrow biopsy (for lymphoma or leukemia) Chest x-ray Complete blood count (CBC) CT scan Liver function tests MRI scan

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 have CT scans to determine the exact location and size 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 when you are diagnosed. 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.

Treatment
Treatment 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 most common treatment approach is surgery to cure the cancer. This is often the case with skin cancers, as well as cancers of the lung, breast, and colon. If the tumor has spread to local lymph nodes only, sometimes these can be removed. If surgery cannot remove all of the cancer, the options for treatment include radiation, chemotherapy, or both. Some cancers require a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Lymphoma, or cancer of the lymph glands, is rarely treated with surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are most often used to treat lymphoma.

Although treatment for cancer can be difficult, there are 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. They vary depending on the area of the body that is being treated.

An individual's hormone levels are mostly determined genetically, so this may at least partly explains the presence of some cancers that run in families that do not seem to have any cancer-causing genes

Chills
Rigors; Shivering
Last reviewed: January 31, 2011.

Chills refers to feeling cold after an exposure to a cold environment. The word can also refer to an episode of shivering, accompanied by paleness and feeling cold.

Fatigue
Tiredness; Weariness; Exhaustion; Lethargy
Last reviewed: May 29, 2011.

Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.

Malaise
General ill feeling
Last reviewed: January 31, 2011.

Malaise is a generalized feeling of discomfort, illness, or lack of well-being.

Diagnosis

Chest x-ray showing lung cancer in the left lung.

Most cancers are initially recognized either because of the appearance of signs or symptoms or through screening. Neither of these lead to a definitive diagnosis, which requires the examination of a tissue sample by a pathologist. People with suspected cancer are investigated with medical tests. These commonly include blood tests, X-rays, CT scansand endoscopy.

Radiation therapy
Radiotherapy
Last reviewed: June 5, 2012.

Radiation therapy uses high-powered x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells.

Information
Cancer cells multiply faster than normal cells in the body. Because radiation is most harmful to quickly growing cells, radiation therapy damages cancer cells more than normal cells. This prevents the cancer cells from growing and dividing, and leads to cell death. Radiation therapy is used to fight many types of cancer. Sometimes, radiation is the only treatment needed. It may also be used to: Shrink a tumor as much as possible before surgery Help prevent the cancer from coming back after surgery or chemotherapy Relieve symptoms caused by a tumor Treat cancers that cannot be removed with surgery

Chemotherapy
Last reviewed: June 5, 2012.

The term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to: Cure the cancer Prevent the cancer from spreading Relieve symptoms when the cancer cannot be cured

Information
HOW CHEMOTHERAPY IS GIVEN Depending on the type of cancer and where it is found, chemotherapy may be given in a number of different ways, including: Injections or shots into the muscles Injections or shots under the skin

Treating Cancer Carefully

Cancer is treated with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation or sometimes a combination of these treatments. The choice of treatment depends on:

the type of cancer someone has (the kind of abnormal cells causing the cancer) the stage of the tumor (meaning how much the cancer has spread within the body, if at all)

Surgery is the oldest form of treatment for cancer 3 out of every 5 people with cancer will have an operation to remove it. During surgery, the doctor tries to take out as many cancer cells as possible. Some healthy cells or tissue may also be removed to make sure that all the cancer is gone.

Chemotherapy (say: kee-mo-ther-uh-pee) is the use of anti-cancer medicines (drugs) to treat cancer. These medicines are sometimes taken as a pill, but usually are given through a special intravenous (say: in-truh-vee-nus) line, also called an IV. An IV is a tiny plastic catheter (straw-like tube) that is put into a vein through someone's skin, usually on the arm. The catheter is attached to a bag that holds the medicine. The medicine flows from the bag into a vein, which puts the medicine into the blood, where it can travel throughout the body and attack cancer cells. Chemotherapy is usually given over a number of weeks to months. Often, a permanent catheter is placed under the skin into a larger blood vessel of the upper chest. This way, a person can easily get several courses of chemotherapy and other medicines through this catheter without having a new IV needle put in. The catheter remains under the skin until all the cancer treatment is completed.

Radiation (say: ray-dee-ay-shun) therapy uses high-energy waves, such as X-rays (invisible waves that can pass through most parts of the body), to damage and destroy cancer cells. It can cause tumors to shrink and even go away completely. Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer. Many people with cancer find it goes away after receiving radiation treatments.

Another reason to eat your broccoli.

Date: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 | Permalink

Cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, cabbage, collards, and kale, are thought to have anti-cancer activity. The chemical responsible for the majority of the cancer-cell fighting effects is called sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is found at particularly high levels in broccoli. Much work has been done to identify the ways in which sulforaphane inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Previously, it has been shown that the chemical changes the way that DNA is utilized. It does this by interefering with proteins (histone deacetylases) that modify the proteins that organize our DNA (called histones). New research with prostate cancer cells has shown that sulforaphane has more tricks up its sleeve. The chemical is able to change the way other enzymes modify DNA, again leading to altered cell behavior and inhibition of cancer cell growth.

What are the differences between cancers in adults and children?

The types of cancers that develop in children are often different from the types that develop in adults. Childhood cancers are often the result of DNA changes in cells that take place very early in life, sometimes even before birth. Unlike many cancers in adults, childhood cancers are not strongly linked to lifestyle or environmental risk factors. There are some exceptions, but childhood cancers tend to respond better to treatments such as chemotherapy (also called chemo). Childrens bodies also tend to handle chemotherapy better than adults bodies do. But cancer treatments such as chemo and radiation therapy can cause long-term side effects, so children who survive cancer need careful attention for the rest of their lives. Since the 1960s, most children and teens with cancer have been treated at specialized centers designed for them. Being treated in these centers offers the advantage of a team of specialists who know the differences between adult and childhood cancers, as well as the unique needs of children and teens with cancer. This team usually includes pediatric oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, pediatric oncology nurses, and nurse practitioners. These centers also have psychologists, social workers, child life specialists, nutritionists, rehabilitation and physical therapists, and educators who can support and educate the entire family. In the United States, most children with cancer are treated at a center that is a member of the Childrens Oncology Group (COG). All of these centers are associated with a university or childrens hospital. As we have learned more about treating childhood cancer, it has become even more important that treatment be given by experts in this area.