Some Types Of Cancers Explained

• BLADDER
  Some symptoms : pain during urination, blood in urine and frequent urge to urinate.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  Sometimes called urinary bladder cancer. The bladder is part of the urinary tract which consists of the kidneys, ureters and urethra. It is a hollow and expandable organ that collects urine regularly from the ureters after it is formed in the kidneys. The bladder will expand to make room when there is more urine until it is filled and ready to urinate.
  The layer that lines the inside of the bladder is called the urothelium and there are other layers beneath it. Cancer attacks these layers.
  Some risk factors : smoking and parasitic infection.

  More help :
  Bladder Cancer WebCafe

• BONE
  Some symptoms : bone pain, a lump maybe visible and fracture.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  Often known as primary bone cancer if cancer originates from the bone. The most common primary bone cancer is known as multiple myeloma where the cancerous tumor resides in the bone marrow, damaging the bone marrow’s function to produce blood cells. This would lead to a shortage of both red and white blood cells.

  The other common cancer is known as osteosarcoma which occurs in the knee though it can also originate in any bone.

  Bones are one of the common sites where cancer would spread to from organs like breast, lung, colorectal and thyroid. Primary bone cancer is less common than bone metastasis (the spread of cancer to another part of the body).

  Risk factor : old age

• BRAIN
  Some symptoms : severe headaches, dizziness, blur vision, vomitting and in some tumors seizures.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  The brain is part of the nervous system that consists of the spinal cord and all nerves situated everywhere in the body. Brain cancer is also called malignant brain tumor where a tumor is a mass of abnormal cells growing in the brain.

  The brain consists of many different types of cells and tissues. Cancer affects these places.

  Some risk factors : exposure to certain chemicals and virus infection.

  More help :
  American Brain Tumor Association - Includes inspiring stories, chat rooms and links.

• BREAST
  Some symptoms : a persistent lump (may be painless) in the breast, change in the shape of the breast, bleeding or discharge from nipple, a new retraction of the nipple, dimpling of skin of the breast.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  Practise BSE (breast self-examination) once a month after menstruation or get a doctor to teach you how to examine.

  Some risk factors : family history, heavy smoking, alcohol, high levels of estrogen, stress and weight gain.

  More help :
  Breast Cancer Action - Based in San-Francisco, the site contains useful information, news on the latest research and it probes into controversial reports that mispresent information about breast cancer.

  Breast Cancer Institute - Based in Australia, this site has loads of information, glossary of breast cancer terminology, stories from survivors and you can also participate in their unusual case studies.

  National Breast Cancer Center - Based in Australia, explore the links to lots and lots of other websites dedicated to inform about numerous topics such as risk factors, treatment, research findings, counselling guidelines, support groups, personal testimonies from patients and families. A glossary list is also available.

  Mammatome Breast Biopsy System - A less-invasive device.

• Cervical
  Some symptoms : bleeding in between periods for menstruating women, vaginal bleeding for post menopausal women. During the advance stage - bad-smelling vaginal discharge, pain in lower abdomen, loss of appetite and weight loss.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  Cancerous growth occurs at the cervic which is the neck of the womb. A PAP smear screening can detect signs of cancer at it’s early stage. A further examination would require the use of a colposcope to examine the cervic of any abnormality. A woman should have regular PAP smears once she is sexually active.
  Cervical cancer is preventable because of it’s long preinvasive state and that means complete cure is possible.

  Some risk factors : intercourse at an early age, multiple sex partners, heavy smoking, gential warts.

• COLON
  Some symptoms : blood in the stool, chronic constipation or diarrhea, bloating feeling and releasing of gas that causes abdomen pain.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  Colon cancer and rectum cancer have many similar features, including symptoms. Colorectal cancer affects the intestines and rectum.

  The colon has 4 sections - 1st section is called the ascending colon where it extends upward on the right side of the abdomen. 2nd section is called the transverse colon and it goes across the body to the left side. It is joined to the 3rd section known as the descending colon which continues downward on the left side. The 4th section is shaped like the letter ‘S” and named sigmoid colon. This sigmoid colon joins the rectum, which is finally joined to the anus.
  Cancer can occur on any of these 4 sections and in the rectum.

  Some risk factors : family history, poor diet (high fat, low fibre), polyps (tissue masses) and old age.

• Hypopharynx
  Some symptoms : persistent sore throat, ulcers that would not heal, difficulty in swallowing, hoarseness and ear pain.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persistt for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  The throat is also called the pharynx. Hypopharynx refers to the bottom portion of the throat. The thin layer that lines the hypopharynx is known as epithelium. Cancer would attack this layer. Cancers that attacks this layer are called squamous cell carcinoma. Sometimes these cancers begin as precancers and would even disappear without any treatment when certain cancer-supporting factors are removed (eg. smoking).

  Some risk factors : smoking and alcohol.

• Larynx
  Some symptoms : spitting blood, hoarseness, speaking, swallowing and breathing difficulty.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  The larynx better known as the voice box or Adam’s apple has 3 sections; vocal cords, the area above the vocal cords and the area beneath. The vocal cords not only produce sound but they ensure that swallowed food and saliva do not enter the lungs. The vocal cords would open up once there is breathing allowing air direct access into the lungs.

  The thin layer that lines the larynx is known as epithelium. Cancers that attacks this layer are called squamous cell carcinoma. Sometimes these cancers begin as precancers and would even disappear without any treatment when certain cancer-supporting factors are removed (e.g. smoking).

  Some risk factors : smoking and alcohol.

• Leukemia
  Some symptoms : anaemia, fatigue, infection, fever, nose and gum bleed, bruise easily and slow healing of wounds. However these symptoms are misleading and does not necessarily indicate leukemia.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells, usually white blood cells. It is also called blood cancer. There are 4 major types of leukemia determined by how fast this disease progresses and which kind of white blood cells are affected. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is the most common cancer in children.

  Some risk factors : chromosomal abnormalities, exposure to radiation and chemicals like benzene.

  More help :
  Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (US)

• Liver
  Some symptoms : abdominal pain, weight loss, a mass that can be felt in the upper right of the abdomen, mental confusion, lack of taste when consuming food and jaundice.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  The liver has 2 sections: the right and left lobes. It is the largest and the busiest organ in the body, performing numerous important metabolic tasks.

  Some liver functions include : detoxifies toxic substances (those could cause cancer); stores Vitamins A, B, D, iron and copper; converts glucose to glycogen (stored in the liver) and whenever necessary glycogen is released into the blood to maintain sugar levels. It manufactures a yellow-green liquid called bile used to get rid of toxins and aids in the digestion and absorption of fats. Bile is stored in the gallbladder.

  When the liver is sluggish or fails to function, there’s a build up of toxins and that is damaging to the liver.

  Some risk factors : die-hard alcoholics, infection with the Hepatitis B virus.

  More help :
  Liver Cancer Network

• Lung
  Some symptoms : persistent cough, spitting out blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness and recurring infections (bronchitis and pneumonia).
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  The lungs are 2 sponge-like organs. The right lung has 3 sections
  called lobes while the left lung has 2 lobes since the heart takes up some of the place. The windpipe (trachea) which carries air into the lungs is further divided into tubes (bronchi) and smaller branches (bronchioles). At the end of the bronchioles are tiny air sacs (alveoli). A thin and transparent membrane called pleura covers the lungs and gives them the ability to move during breathing. Cancer attacks these areas of the lung and takes many years to develop.

  Some risk factors : smoking, breathing in smoke from smokers and scarred lungs caused by lung diseases such as tuberculosis.

• Lymphoma
  Some symptoms : painless enlargement of a lymph node usually in the neck or groin, short of breath, night sweats and anaemia.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  Lymphomas are cancers affecting the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system consist of lymphatic vessels (smaller than veins) carrying lymph. Lymph is transported to collection centers called lymph nodes where foreign substances are filtered away and white blood cells produced.

  There are 2 types of lymphomas, Hodgkin’s lymphoma (also known as Hodgkin’s disease) and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma is distingished by a unique-looking cancer cell called a Reed-Sternberg cell. There are 4 types of Hodgkin lymphoma. Whereas Non-Hodgkin is distingished by other growth patterns within the lymph node. Non-Hodgkin is more common and difficult to cure.

  More help :
  Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (US)

  Lymphoma Research Foundation of America

• Nasopharynx
  Some symptoms : persistent runny/blocked nose or at the eustachian tube (a small tube linking the back of the nose to the middle part of the ear), hearing loss (one side), humming sound in the ear and nose bleeds.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  Nasopharynx refers to the area at the back of the nose and the upper part of the throat. It is also commonly referred to as nose cancer. There are afew types of nasopharynx cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common. Cancer may spread to the lymph nodes in the neck resulting in a lump.

  Some risk factors : the Epstein-Barr virus, environmental pollutants and consuming foods with high-salt content.

• Pancreas
  Some symptoms : weight loss, abdominal pain and jaundice.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  The pancreas is a gland that is shaped like a leaf. It is surrounded by the abdomen, stomach and the duodenum (first part of the small intestine).

  Most of the cells in the pancreas form exocrine glands that secrete pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes to break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins. These enzymes flow from the pancreatic duct into the duodenum. While a smaller number of cells form the endocrine (hormone producing) cells which secrete 3 hormones : insulin (lowers sugar level in the blood), glucagon (raises sugar level in the blood) and somatostatin (stops the release of the other 2 hormones). All 3 hormones regulate the sugar levels in the blood and are released directly into the blood stream.

  Cancer attacks these cells.

  Some risk factors : smoking, old age and poor diet (high fat, low fiber)

• Prostate
  Some symptoms : difficulty during urination, urinary infection and back pain.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

• Rectum See Colon.
• Skin
  Some symptoms : Any sore that fails to heal and appearance of new moles or changes in existing mole color/shape, often with an irregular smudgy outline.
  Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  There are several types of skin cancer, the most common being basal cell carcinoma while the most dangerous (because it spreads really fast) is known as melanoma.

  Some risk factors : over exposure to the sun without protection, fair complexion, family history and smoking..

• Stomach
  Some symptoms : discomfort after meals, loss of appetite and blood in vomit/stools.Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  It is part of the digestive tract that consists of the mouth, throat, esophagus (connects throat to stomach), small and large intestine, rectum and anus. It is a big hollow muscular organ shaped like a bean.

  The stomach secretes gastric juice (containing hydrochloric acid, pepsin) to mix with food. After about 3 hours, a thick fluid called chyme is formed and it moves on to the small intestine where digestion continues. It has 3 main sections: the cardia, the fundus and the antrum. Cancer attacks all these sections.

  Some risk factors : poor diet (high in processed foods, low in fibre), smoking, alcohol and family history.

• Thyroid
  Some symptoms : a painless lump in the neck (since the thyroid gland is very close to the skin) and hoarseness. Having any of the symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but if the symptoms do persist for a long period, consult a doctor to find out exactly what’s happening.

  The thyroid is a small gland just below the Adam’s apple in the neck. 2 halves called the right and left lobe connected at the middle make up the thyroid. The thyroid gland requires iodine to secrete thyroid hormones which regulate the body’s metabolic rate. It contains 2 types of cells known as thyroid follicle cells and C-cells. Cancer attacks these cells.

  There are 4 main types: papillary, follicular, anaplastic and medullary. The most common being papillary cancer and also most often cured.

  Some risk factors : previous radiation on the neck and low iodine diet.

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