Battling Cancer

The pancreas is considered a glandular organ. It is about 7 inches by 1.5 inches in size. It lies under the stomach and at the beginning of the small intestine, and functions as an exocrine organ by producing fluids for digesting food. It functions as an endocrine organ as it releases hormones. When released into the blood stream, these hormones regulate our glucose levels (insulin and glucagon).

Pancreatic cancer is a cancerous tumor that occurs in the tissues of this gland/organ.

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Cancer of Unknown Primary Site or CUP, Cancer of Unknown Primary is a tumor that is diagnosed at a metastatic site and the primary site is not known. Following additional testing many of these cancers are diagnosed with a primary site. Per the National Cancer Institute, 2% to 4% of these primary tumor site remain unknown.

The American Cancer institute ranks this as a “dangerous” cancer with an often poor prognosis due to these factors: More →

Cervical cancer will be diagnosed in more than 11,000 women in the U.S. in 2008 and more than 3,000 women will die of the disease this year.

Worldwide it is third leading cause of cancer death in women.

What is the cervix?

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The liver is the largest internal human organ. If the liver completely shut down, we would die within 24 hours. This is because the liver has so many vital functions in human life.

Functions of the liver: More →

Endometrial cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting the female reproductive organs. The other types of female gynecologic cancers include cervical cancer and uterine sarcoma. Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women.

What is the endometrium? The endometrium is the lining of the uterus.

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Male Breast Cancer comprises 1% of all diagnosed cases of breast cancer.

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The words brain cancer evoke a dark and often confusing image. What does it really mean?

Ah, we nod. Brain tumor.

Let’s examine this topic, so we can understand what’s going on behind this challenging diagnosis.

Primary and Secondary Brain Cancer

• Primary brain cancer is the term used when the cancer begins in the brain. The brain is the primary site.
• Secondary Brain cancer or metastatic brain cancer is the term used when the primary site is elsewhere.

About Malignant Tumors of the Brain

Most brain tumors fall into categories: glial cell and non glial cell. Glial cells help to support the cells of the central nervous system so they work properly.

Types of glial cell cancers or Gliomas:

According to the American Cancer Society 77% of all malignant brain tumors are gliomas.

• Astrocytoma-An astrocyte is a star-shaped type of glial cell. These tumors are graded 1 to 4. Grade 1-pilocytic astrocytoma, Grade 2-diffuse astrocytoma, Grade 3-anaplastic astrocytoma, Grade 4-glioblastoma multiforme. (The lower the grade, the slower the tumor growth.) About 35% of brain tumors are reported to be astrocytomas. This type of brain tumor is usually seen in the cerebrum.
• Oligodendroglioma-A rare tumor that starts in cells called oligodendrocytes. Usually these tumors cannot be completely removed by surgery. They consist of 4% of brain tumors.
• Ependymoma-This type of tumor is found in cell ventricles or in the spinal cord. These consist of 2% of brain tumors. Ependymomas are usually diagnosed in children and young adults.
• Brain stem glioma-This type of tumor is found in the brain stem. The brain stem connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord. They consist of less than 1% of adult brain tumors, usually diagnosed in children and middle aged adults.
• Ganglioglioma-This very rare tumor has both neurons and glial cells and has a high cure rate.

Non Glial Cell Tumors of the Brain:

• Medullosblastoma-The most common childhood brain tumor. A tumor that begins in the neurons of the cerebellum. A fast growing tumor that is responsive to radiation.
• Schwannoma-These tumors begin in the Schwann cell of the cranial nerves. These cells form the myelin that protect the nerves. They are often non malignant. They affect cells of the 8th cranial nerve which impacts balance and hearing.
• Craniopharyngioma-This tumor grows near the pituitary gland. Often it impacts the pituitary gland and the optic nerve. This tumor is usually diagnosed in infants and children.
• Germ cell-This tumor of the brain begins in the germ cell. It is most often diagnosed in persons under the age of thirty. The most common of these tumors in a germinoma which is an uncommon tumor.
• Pineal region tumor-A rare brain tumor that is found near the pineal gland. They consist of less than 1% of all primary brain tumors. They may include germinomas.
• Chordoma-A reoccurring, slow growth tumor that starts at the base of the skull or the end of the spine. More common in young adults and middle-aged adults.
• Meningioma-This tumor occurs in the meninges (the membrane that covers and protects the brain and spinal cord) This accounts for 20% of all primary brain tumors and is more commonly seen in women. A slow growing tumor, 85% are benign and can be removed by surgery. Some are malignant and reoccur, spreading to other parts of the body.

Causes of Brain Cancer:

What causes the gene mutations that form a cancerous cell and finally a tumor in the regions of the brain is still unknown.

Symptoms and Diagnosis:

Symptoms of brain tumors depend on the size of the tumor and what part of the brain they may be affecting.

The National Cancer Institute lists these common, but not all inclusive, symptoms of brain tumors. Of course these symptoms may be indicative of other medical conditions as well.

• Headaches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Changes in speech, vision, or hearing
• Problems balancing or walking
• Changes in mood, personality, or ability to concentrate
• Problems with memory
• Muscle jerking or twitching, or seizures
• Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs

Diagnosis is completed following a physical exam, neurological exam, imaging study (MRI, CT, x-ray) and may include a biopsy and spinal tap.

Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

Resources for Brain Cancer:

The American Cancer Society

The National Cancer Institute: What You Need to Know About Brain Tumors.

The Brain Tumor Society: Brain Tumor Action Week is May 4-10, 2008. One of the goals of the Brain Tumor Society is to provide patients with better therapies and treatment options.

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Testicular Cancer Awareness Week

April 1-7, 2008

“There will be about 8,090 new cases of testicular cancer in the United States in 2008. About 380 men will die of the disease in 2008. A man’s lifetime chance of having testicular cancer is about 1 in 300. Because treatment is so successful, the risk of dying from this cancer is very low: about 1 in 5,000. Testicular cancer is one of the most curable forms of cancer. There are nearly 140,000 men who have survived testicular cancer in the United States.”

–Source: The American Cancer Society

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Time to start screening for colon/colorectal cancer. NOW!

The Facts:

March is National Colon/Colorectal Awareness Month.

The lifetime risk for being diagnosed with colorectal cancer is 1 in 19.

90% of all colon cancer diagnoses are in people age 50 or older.

It is the third leading cancer diagnosis in men and the fourth in women.

The disease strikes about 150, 000 people and causes approximately 50,000 deaths per year.

African-American’s are the highest racial or ethnic group at risk in the U.S.

The disease usually starts with a polyp.

The 5 year survival rate for those diagnosed early is 90%

Only 39% of those diagnosed are diagnosed early.

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Hodgkin’s Disease (HD) or Hodgkin Lymphoma is a type of lymphoma, not to be confused with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Lymphoma is a cancer that begins at the cellular level of the immune system. For more information on lymphoma in general see the excellent article in our archives.

Hodgkin’s Disease is identified by the presence of the Reed-Sternberg cell.

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