STUDYING BREAST CANCER, LUNG CANCER, AND OTHER COMMON TYPES OF CANCER IN ANCHORAGE, AK

EXAMINING THE TYPES OF CANCER

Cancer isn't a single disease but a variety of diseases that disrupt or alter normal cell production in various parts of the body. Most types of cancer manifest through masses known as tumors, though some cancers affecting the blood do not. Your physician must gain an understanding of the type of cancer present in your body, along with its extent and, more recently, its genetic makeup. When these factors are ascertained, a prognosis may be formed along with a treatment plan tailored to your needs. At Alaska Oncology & Hematology, LLC in Anchorage, AK, our experienced physicians have the state-of-the-art technology and understanding necessary to make accurate diagnoses of virtually any form of cancer. Please have a look at the overview of the most common types of cancers below.

While most people consider breast cancer a female-only problem, there are numerous reported cases of incidence in men each year. The breast contains many interrelated parts responsible for the production of milk, including lobes, lobules, and ducts. All of these areas can form cancerous tumors that can be identified during screening mammography.

Lung cancers may affect one or both lungs and usually begin with the bronchial tubes that conduct air in and out of the lungs. Small cell and nonsmall cell cancers together account for over 90% of all lung cancers, despite there being more than a dozen different types overall. Lung cancer may or may not spread to other parts of the body, necessitating a thorough examination by a physician to determine the best course of treatment.

The colon is the first 6 feet of the large intestine and is afflicted by Adenocarcinoma in 90-95% of colon cancer cases. This form of cancer begins in the cells that line the colon and generally requires a multi-disciplinary team of physicians to treat. This team can include a gastroenterologist, a surgeon, a medical oncologist, and other specialists.

BLADDER CANCER

Hematuria, or blood in the urine is the most typical indicator of bladder cancer and causes the urine to turn rusty or crimson. Although it can sometimes affect older women and, less frequently, young males, this is more common in older men. Bladder cancer is often diagnosed using a cystoscopy, an outpatient procedure.

Your kidneys perform the vital task of filtering out waste material from the body. They can become afflicted with simple cysts (which are normally benign), complex cysts (which may be malignant), and solid kidney tumors (over 90% of which are malignant.) All three usually present a lack of symptoms and typically require an ultrasound or CT scan to detect.

MELANOMA

Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most common forms of cancer and has been shown to be increasing in prevalence each year in the US. Melanomas are tumors that usually contain pigment and appear as dark spots on the skin. The thickness of these tumors assesses this type of cancer and whether they have metastasized.

NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA

More common in the US than Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a very similar condition. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma lacks the characteristic presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin lymphoma. This is the 7th most diagnosed type of cancer overall.

HODKIN LYMPHOMA

Hodgkin lymphoma affects the lymph nodes in one part of the body and may then spread throughout the rest of the lymph system. This greatly increases the risk of metastasis throughout the body and is therefore vital to diagnose early on for the best prognosis. Blood tests, PET scans, and CT scans are among the techniques needed to determine the cancer's stage and the amount of its spread.

The body creates a lot of aberrant or immature blood cells when leukemia strikes. This prevents healthy red, white, and platelet cells from proliferating—cells that are essential to the body for many vital processes. Leukemia is a blood cancer that spreads readily to other regions of the body.

ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

The gastroesophageal junction, which acts as a one-way valve to prevent stomach contents from refluxing or regurgitating back into the esophagus is often affected by esophageal cancer. The acidity of stomach contents can cause harm to the surface lining of the esophagus if they reflux or regurgitate back into it. Repeated damage leads to aberrant cells that develop into cancer, which is thought to be exceedingly dangerous and necessitates very harsh forms of therapy.

GASTRIC CANCER

Gastric Adenocarcinoma generally arises from the cells lining the surface of the stomach. It poses a significant risk for infection by gut bacteria. In the West, the incidence of this type of cancer has fallen significantly in recent years, though it is still prevalent in East Asian populations.

HEAD AND NECK CANCER

The throat, larynx (voice box), pharynx, salivary glands, and oral cavity (lip, mouth, tongue) are the primary sites of head and neck cancers. These tumors often spread, especially to the lymph nodes. More than 70% of people with this kind of cancer who receive a first diagnosis also have cancer in another part of their body, with 10-15% of these people having asymptomatic secondary malignancies.

GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMORS

GISTs originate in the specialized cells that line the digestive tract and are responsible for regulating the rhythmic passage of food. GISTs are characterized by the overactivity of a gene called c-kit protooncogene, as well as the overproduction of certain proteins. This is a relatively rare cancer that was difficult to treat before the development of targeted therapy.

LIVER CANCER

If you experience jaundice, weight loss, chronic fatigue, fever, a swollen abdomen, or pain in the upper abdomen on the right side, you may wish to get screened for liver cancer. It is crucial to determine whether the tumor originated in the liver or metastasized from other parts of the body to render effective treatment. Unlike many types of cancer, a biopsy is usually not required for diagnosis.

CERVICAL CANCER

Cervical cancer generally occurs in the "transformation zone," which is where the squamous cells of the cervix's surface layer merge with the epithelial cells lining the cervical canal of the uterus. When cervical cells grow out of control, they may spread to other nearby organs, compounding the problem and requiring more aggressive forms of treatment.

BRAIN CANCER

This type of cancer manifests through tumors in the brain, which may alter an individual's behavior subtly or significantly. The location of these tumors on the anatomy of the brain dictates the type of symptoms experienced, so it is important to consult with a physician to render a diagnosis if you suspect you may be suffering from a brain tumor.

MESOTHELIOMA

A malignancy called mesothelioma develops in the thin tissue lining a large number of your internal organs. The mesothelium is the term for this delicate tissue. The pleura, or tissue surrounding the lungs, is where the most prevalent type of mesothelioma develops. We refer to this as pleural mesothelioma. The location of the mesothelioma and whether it has migrated to other body areas will determine how it is treated. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy are among possible forms of treatment.

Plasma cells are a special type of white blood cell that produce proteins known as antibodies, which perform a vital function in your immune system. Multiple Myeloma is a cancer affecting these plasma cells, which overproduce defective antibodies. This disease is detectable through elevated antibody counts in the blood and urine.

MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME

Myelodysplastic syndromes negatively affect the production of red blood cells by bone marrow. Health marrow produces immature blood cells known as blasts that will subsequently develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. MDS causes the overproduction of blasts that do not develop properly into the cells above, causing a deficiency of mature blood cells in the body.

MYELOPROLIFERATIVE NEOPLASMS (MPN)

A related class of blood malignancies known as myeloproliferative neoplasms occur when the bone marrow cells responsible for producing blood cells that grow and behave abnormally. The prognoses of the three principal forms of MPN, polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) can differ.

OVARIAN CANCER

Ovarian cancer is one of the more common malignancies experienced by women in the US. The majority of cases arise tumors that develop in the lining of the ovary and are referred to as epithelial ovarian cancers. The most common types of epithelial tumors include:

  • Serous
  • Endometrioid
  • Mucinous
  • Clear Cell Carcinoma
  • Undifferentiated Cancers
  • Borderline Ovarian Tumors

PANCREATIC CANCER

Over 90% of all pancreatic malignancies are classified as adenocarcinomas, which is the standard term for pancreatic cancer. Owing to the pancreas' unique function, treatment for pancreatic cancer typically involves a variety of medical professionals, such as gastroenterologists, surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and other specialists. Treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

The symptoms of prostate cancer are often confused for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is the natural enlargement of the prostate gland as men age. Prostate cancer sees the growth of this gland go out of control and may metastasize to neighboring organs. It ranges in aggressiveness from indolent to extremely aggressive and should be checked by a physician at the first sign of symptoms.

RECTAL CANCER

The rectum and anal canal form the last several inches of your large intestine and are crucial for expelling waste material from your body. Adenocarcinoma accounts for 90-95% of all cancers affecting the rectum and usually require a cross-disciplinary team of specialists to treat, including a gastroenterologist, a surgeon, a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and other specialists.

BONE CANCER

Bone cancer may refer to two types of cancer: primary and secondary (metastatic.) Because of the ubiquity of the distribution of bones throughout the body, cancers may often spread to affect the bones, which explains the prevalence of secondary bone cancer. Initial symptoms can be localized pain or a pathological fracture of the bone at the site of the tumor.

SARCOMA CANCER

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous category of malignancies that can originate from bone, cartilage, mesenchymal cells, fibrous tissue, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, blood vessels, and lymph vessels. In adults, sarcomas make up only 3% of all cancers; in children, they make up 7%. Treatment for sarcomas is frequently specialist due to their relative rarity.

SKIN CANCER

Skin cancer is the #1 most common type of skin cancer in the US, and its prevalence is unfortunately increasing year by year. There are two major types of skin cancer: melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma is relatively aggressive, while both non-melanoma variants (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) are much less likely to metastasize.

TESTICULAR CANCER

This is the single most common type of cancer afflicting men aged 15-35. While it is relatively rare overall, it is highly curable. Telltale symptoms are swelling in the scrotum. An afflicted testicle may be surgically removed through a procedure known as an orchiectomy.

THYROID CANCER

The the thyroid gland plays an essential role in regulating your metabolism, growth , and development. Thyroid cancer may be present if there are small abnormal growths protruding on the gland. While the majority of these nodules are not cancerous, it is crucial to get them checked out and surgically removed if deemed necessary.

UTERINE CANCER

While this is one of the most common types of cancers afflicting women , it is thankfully also one of the types with the highest success rate for treatment. Symptoms include unanticipated or problematic bleeding from the uterus, usually occurring after menopause. 80% of women diagnosed with this type of cancer will have it limited to Stages I and II.

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