The risk factors for anal cancer

A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, like smoking, can be changed. Others, like a person’s age or family history, can’t.

Several factors can affect your risk of anal cancer. But having a risk factor, or even several risk factors, does not mean that you will get cancer. Many people with risk factors never develop anal cancer, while others with this disease may have few or no known risk factors.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection

Most squamous cell anal cancers seem to be linked to infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV), the same virus that causes cervical cancer. In fact, women with a history of cervical cancer (or pre-cancer) have an increased risk of anal cancer.

HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses. They are called papilloma viruses because some of them cause papillomas, which are more commonly known as warts. There are many subtypes of HPV, but the one most likely to cause anal cancer is HPV-16. HPV-16, as well as HPV-18, HPV-31, HPV-33, HPV-45, and some others are considered high-risk types of HPV because they are strongly linked to cancer. They can also cause cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in women, as well as cancer of the penis in men, and throat cancer in both women and men.

Other subtypes of HPV can cause warts in the genital and anal areas. The medical term for an anal or genital wart is condyloma acuminatum. The 2 types of HPV that cause most cases of anal and genital warts are HPV-6 and HPV-11. They are called low-risk types of HPV because they tend to cause warts but not cancer. HPV infection can cause anal and genital warts, but most people infected with HPV do not have genital warts or any other signs of infection.

HPV is passed from one person to another during skin-to-skin contact with an infected area of the body. HPV can be spread during sex – including vaginal, anal, and oral sex – but sex doesn’t have to occur for the infection to spread. All that is needed is for there to be skin-to-skin contact with an area of the body infected with HPV. The virus can be spread through genital-to-genital contact, or even hand-to-genital contact.

An HPV infection can also spread from one part of the body to another. For example, an HPV infection might start in the genitals and then spread to the anus.

It can be very hard to avoid being exposed to HPV. It might be possible to prevent genital HPV infection by not allowing others to have contact with your anal or genital area, but even then there could be other ways to become infected that aren’t yet clear.

Infection with HPV is common, and in most cases the body can clear the infection on its own. But in some people the infection doesn’t go away and becomes chronic. Chronic infection, especially with high-risk HPV types, can eventually cause certain cancers, including anal cancer.

HPV in men

For men, the 2 main factors influencing the risk of genital HPV infection are circumcision and the number of sexual partners.

Men who are circumcised (have had the foreskin of the penis removed) have a lower chance of becoming and staying infected with HPV. The reasons for this are unclear. It might be that the skin on the glans (tip) of the penis goes through changes after circumcision that make it more resistant to HPV infection. Another theory is that the surface of the foreskin (which is removed by circumcision) is more easily infected by HPV. Still, circumcision does not protect completely against HPV infection – men who are circumcised can still get HPV and pass it on to their partners.

The risk of being infected with HPV is also strongly linked to having many sexual partners (over a man’s lifetime).

HPV in women

In women, HPV infections occur mainly when they are younger and are less common in women over 30. The reason for this is not clear. Certain types of sexual behavior increase a woman’s risk of getting a genital HPV infection, such as having sex at an early age and having many sexual partners.

Although women who have had many sexual partners are more likely to get infected with HPV, a woman can still get infected even if she has had only one sexual partner. This is more likely if she has a partner who has had many sex partners or if her partner is an uncircumcised male.

For more information about HPV and HPV vaccines, see HPV Vaccines.

Anal warts

Anal warts (also known as condyloma acuminata) are caused by infection with certain types of HPV – usually different types from those most likely to cause anal cancer. While anal warts themselves are unlikely to develop into anal cancer, people who have had anal warts are more likely to get anal cancer. This is because people who are infected with the low-risk HPV subtypes that cause anal and genital warts are also more likely to be infected with high-risk HPV subtypes that cause anal cancer.

Having certain other cancers

Women who have had cancer of the cervix, vagina, or vulva are at increased risk of anal cancer. This is probably because these cancers are also caused by infection with HPV.

In men, it would seem likely that having had penile cancer, which is also linked to HPV infection, would increase the risk of anal cancer, but this link has not been shown in studies.

HIV infection

People infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, are much more likely to get anal cancer than those not infected with this virus. For more information about HIV and AIDS, see our document HIV Infection, AIDS, and Cancer.

Sexual activity

Having multiple sex partners increases the risk of infection with HIV and HPV. It also increases the risk of anal cancer.

Receptive anal intercourse also increases the risk of anal cancer in both men and women, particularly in those younger than 30. Because of this, men who have sex with men have a high risk of this cancer.

Smoking

Smoking increases the risk of anal cancer. Current smokers are several times more likely to have cancer of the anus compared with people who do not smoke. Quitting smoking seems to reduce the risk. People who used to smoke but have quit are only slightly more likely to develop this cancer compared with people who never smoked.

Lowered immunity

Higher rates of anal cancer occur among people with reduced immunity, such as people with AIDS or people who have had an organ transplant and must take medicines that suppress their immune system.

Gender and race/ethnicity

Anal cancer is more common in women than men overall and in most racial/ethnic groups. However, in African Americans it is more common in men than in women.


Source By...http://www.cancer.org/cancer/analcancer/detailedguide/anal-cancer-risk-factors

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The risk factors for penile cancer

What are the risk factors for penile cancer?
A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some cancer risk factors, like smoking, can be changed. Others, like a person’s age or family history, can’t be changed.

But having a risk factor, or even several, does not mean that you will get the disease. On the other hand, some men who develop penile cancer have no known risk factors.

Scientists have found certain risk factors that make a man more likely to develop penile cancer.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a group of more than 150 related viruses. They are called papilloma viruses because some of them cause growths called papillomas, which are more commonly called warts. Different HPV types cause different types of warts in various parts of the body. Certain HPV types can infect the genital organs and the anal area, causing raised, bumpy warts called condyloma acuminata (or just condylomas).

Other HPV types have been linked with certain cancers. For example, infection with some types of HPV appears to be an important risk factor for penile cancer. HPV is found in about half of all penile cancers.

HPV is passed from one person to another during skin-to-skin contact with an infected area of the body. HPV can be spread during sex – including vaginal, anal, and oral – but sex doesn’t have to occur for the infection to spread. All that is needed is skin-to-skin contact with an area of the body infected with HPV. Infection with HPV can also spread from one part of the body to another. For example, infection may start in the penis and then spread to the anus.

HPV infection is common. Some research has suggested that about half of all men have a genital HPV infection at any point in time. In most men, the body clears the infection on its own. In some, however, the infection does not go away and becomes chronic. Chronic infection, especially with certain HPV types, can eventually cause some types of cancer, including penile cancer. Men who are not circumcised are more likely to get and stay infected with HPV.


Circumcision removes all (or part) of the foreskin. This procedure is most often done in infants but it can be done later in life. Men who were circumcised as children have a lower chance of getting penile cancer than those who were not, but the same protective effect is not seen if the foreskin is removed as an adult. Some studies even suggested a higher risk of penile cancer in men who were circumcised as adults.

The reason for the lower risk in circumcised men is not entirely clear, but it may be related to other known risk factors. For example, men who are circumcised can’t develop the condition called phimosis, and don’t accumulate material known as smegma (see next section). Men with smegma or phimosis have an increased risk of penile cancer. The later a man is circumcised, the more likely it is that one of these conditions will occur first. Also, circumcised men are less likely to get and stay infected with the human papilloma virus (HPV), even after accounting for differences in sexual behavior. Again, the later a man is circumcised, the more likely it is that he will be infected with HPV before the procedure.

In weighing the risks and benefits of circumcision, doctors consider the fact that penile cancer is very uncommon in the United States, even among uncircumcised men. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that the health benefits of circumcision in newborn males outweigh the risks, it also states these benefits are not great enough to recommend that all newborns be routinely circumcised.

In the end, decisions about circumcision are highly personal and often depend more on social and religious factors than on medical evidence.

Phimosis and smegma

Uncircumcised men with certain conditions are at higher risk for penile cancer.

Phimosis

In men who are not circumcised, the foreskin can sometimes become tight and difficult to retract. This condition is known as phimosis. Penile cancer is more common in men with phimosis. The reason for this is not clear, but it might be related to the buildup of smegma.

Smegma

Sometimes secretions can build up underneath an intact foreskin. If the area under the foreskin isn’t cleaned well, these secretions build up enough to become a thick, sometimes smelly substance called smegma. Smegma is more common in men with phimosis, but can occur in anyone with a foreskin, if the foreskin is not retracted regularly to clean the head of the penis.

In the past some experts were concerned that smegma might contain compounds that can cause cancer. Most experts now believe that smegma itself probably doesn’t cause penile cancer, but it can irritate and inflame the penis, which can increase the risk of cancer. It may also make it harder to see very early cancers.

Smoking

Men who smoke are more likely to develop penile cancer. Smokers who have HPV infections have an even higher risk. Smoking exposes your body to many cancer-causing chemicals. These harmful substances are inhaled into the lungs, where they are absorbed into the blood. They can travel in the bloodstream throughout the body to cause cancer in many different areas. Researchers believe that these substances damage genes in cells of the penis, which can lead to penile cancer. Smoking also increases the risk of HPV infection, probably due to its effects on immune function.

UV light treatment of psoriasis

Men who have a skin disease called psoriasis are sometimes treated with drugs called psoralens, followed by exposing the body to an ultraviolet A (UVA) light source. This is known as PUVA therapy. Men who have had this treatment have been found to have a higher rate of penile cancer. Because of this risk, men being treated with PUVA now have their genitals covered during treatment.

Age

The risk of penile cancer goes up with age. The average age of a man when diagnosed is 68, and about 4 out of 5 penile cancers are diagnosed in men over age 55.

AIDS

Men with AIDS have a higher risk of penile cancer. This higher risk seems to be related to their weakened immune system, which is a result of this disease. But it might also be linked to other risk factors that men with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) are more likely to have. For example, men with HIV are more likely to smoke and to be infected with HPV.


Source By..http://www.cancer.org/cancer/penilecancer/detailedguide/penile-cancer-risk-factors

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The importent Signs and symptoms of stomach cancer

Unfortunately, early-stage stomach cancer rarely causes symptoms. This is one of the reasons stomach cancer is so hard to detect early. The signs and symptoms of stomach cancer can include:

    *Poor appetite
    *Weight loss (without trying)
    *Abdominal (belly) pain
    *Vague discomfort in the abdomen, usually above the navel
    *A sense of fullness in the upper abdomen after eating a small meal
    *Heartburn or indigestion
    *Nausea
    *Vomiting, with or without blood
    *Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen
    *Low red blood cell count (anemia)

Most of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by things other than cancer, such as a stomach virus or an ulcer. They may also occur with other types of cancer. But people who have any of these problems, especially if they don’t go away or get worse, should check with their doctor so the cause can be found and treated.

Since symptoms of stomach cancer often do not appear until the disease is advanced, only about 1 in 5 stomach cancers in the United States is found at an early stage, before it has spread to other areas of the body.


Source By..http://www.cancer.org/cancer/stomachcancer/detailedguide/stomach-cancer-signs-symptoms

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Risk Factors for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

What are the risk factors for acute lymphocytic leukemia?

A risk factor is something that affects your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Some risk factors, like smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a person’s age or family history, can’t be changed.

But risk factors don’t tell us everything. Having a risk factor, or even several risk factors, does not mean that you will definitely get the disease. And many people who get the disease may have few or no known risk factors. Even if a person has one or more risk factors and develops cancer, it is often very hard to know how much they might have contributed to the cancer.

There are only a few known risk factors for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

Radiation exposure

Being exposed to high levels of radiation is a risk factor for both ALL and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Japanese atomic bomb survivors had a greatly increased risk of developing acute leukemia, usually within 6 to 8 years after exposure.

Treating cancer with radiation therapy also increases the risk of leukemia, although AML is more often seen than ALL. The risk seems to be higher if chemotherapy and radiation are both used in treatment.

The possible risks of leukemia from being exposed to lower levels of radiation, such as from medical imaging tests (such as x-rays) are not well-known. Exposure of a fetus to radiation within the first months of development may carry an increased risk of leukemia, but the extent of the risk is not clear.

If there is an increased risk from lower levels of radiation it is likely to be small, but to be safe, most doctors try to limit a person’s exposure to radiation as much as possible.

Certain chemical exposures

The risk of ALL may be increased by exposure to certain chemotherapy drugs and certain chemicals, including benzene. Benzene is a solvent used in the rubber industry, oil refineries, chemical plants, shoe manufacturing, and gasoline-related industries, and is also present in cigarette smoke, as well as some glues, cleaning products, detergents, art supplies, and paint strippers. Chemical exposure is more strongly linked to an increased risk of AML than to ALL.

Certain viral infections

Infection with the human T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) can cause a rare type of T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia. Most cases occur in Japan and the Caribbean area. This disease is not common in the United States.

In Africa, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been linked to Burkitt lymphoma, as well as to a form of acute lymphocytic leukemia. In the United States, EBV most often causes infectious mononucleosis (“mono”).

Inherited syndromes

Acute lymphocytic leukemia does not appear to be an inherited disease. It does not seem to run in families, so a person’s risk is not increased if a family member has the disease. But there are some inherited syndromes with genetic changes that seem to raise the risk of ALL. These include:

   * Down syndrome
   * Klinefelter syndrome
   * Fanconi anemia
   * Bloom syndrome
   * Ataxia-telangiectasia
   * Neurofibromatosis

Race/ethnicity

Acute lymphocytic leukemia is more common in whites than in African Americans, but the reasons for this are not clear.
Gender

Acute lymphocytic leukemia is slightly more common in males than in females. The reason for this is unknown.
Having an identical twin with ALL

Someone who has an identical twin who develops ALL in the first year of life has an increased risk of getting ALL.
Uncertain, unproven or controversial risk factors

Other factors that have been studied for a possible link to ALL include:

    *Exposure to electromagnetic fields (such as living near power lines or using cell phones)
   * Workplace exposure to diesel, gasoline, pesticides, and certain other chemicals
   * Smoking
   * Exposure to hair dyes

So far, none of these factors has been linked conclusively to ALL. Research in these areas continues.


Source By.......http://www.cancer.org/cancer/leukemia-acutelymphocyticallinadults/detailedguide/leukemia-acute-lymphocytic-risk-factors

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Signs and symptoms of a cancer of unknown primary

The signs and symptoms of a cancer of unknown primary vary depending on which organs it has spread to. It’s important to note that none of the symptoms listed below is caused only by CUP. In fact, they are more likely to be caused by something other than cancer. Still, if you have symptoms that suggest that something abnormal may be going on, consult a doctor so that the cause can be evaluated and treated, if needed.

Some possible symptoms of CUP include:

Swollen, firm, non-tender lymph nodes

Normal lymph nodes are bean-sized collections of immune system cells located throughout the body that are important in fighting infections. Cancers often spread to the lymph nodes, which become swollen and firmer. A person might notice a lump (enlarged lymph node) under the skin on the side of the neck, above the collarbone, under the arms, or in the groin area. Sometimes, a doctor notices them first during a routine checkup.

A mass in the abdomen that can be felt or a feeling of “fullness”

A mass is an abnormal area such as a swelling or firm area that can be caused by a tumor. This can be caused by cancer growing in the liver or less often, the spleen.

Sometimes the cancer cells grow on the surface of many organs in the abdomen. This may cause ascites, the buildup of fluid inside the abdomen. The fluid buildup can swell the abdomen. It can sometimes lead to a feeling of fullness or bloating.

Shortness of breath

This symptom may be caused by cancer that has spread to the lungs or by the build-up of fluid and cancer cells in the space around the lungs (a pleural effusion).

Pain in the chest or abdomen

This may be caused by cancer growing around nerves or by tumors pressing against internal organs.

Bone pain

Cancer that has spread to the bones can sometimes cause severe pain. Common areas of pain include the back and the legs and hips, but any bone can be affected. The bones may be weakened by the cancer’s spread, and can break from minor injuries or even the normal stress of supporting the body’s weight. This can lead to a sudden severe pain or worsening of pain that was already there.

Skin tumors

Some cancers that start in internal organs can spread through the bloodstream to the skin. Because bumps in the skin are easily seen, skin metastases are sometimes the first sign of spread from a CUP.

Low red blood cell counts (anemia)

Cancer that started in the gastrointestinal system (such as esophagus, stomach, small intestines, or colon) can bleed. Often this occurs at a slow rate, so that the blood isn’t visible in the stool. Eventually, this can lead to low red blood cell counts.

Red blood cell counts can also become low if the cancer spreads to the bone marrow and crowds out the normal blood forming cells.

Weakness, fatigue, poor appetite, and weight loss

These symptoms are often seen with more advanced cancers. They may occur because the cancer has spread to specific organs or systems such as the bone marrow or digestive system. Some cancers also release substances into the bloodstream that can affect metabolism and cause these problems.

This is by no means a complete list of symptoms that might be caused by CUPs. Again, most of the symptoms above are more likely to be caused by conditions other than cancer, Still, if you have any of these problems, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.


Source By.....http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerofunknownprimary/detailedguide/cancer-unknown-primary-signs-symptoms

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You should know Some important Signs and symptoms of stomach cancer

Unfortunately, early-stage stomach cancer rarely causes symptoms. This is one of the reasons stomach cancer is so hard to detect early. The signs and symptoms of stomach cancer can include:


    *Poor appetite

    *Weight loss (without trying)

    *Abdominal (belly) pain

    *Vague discomfort in the abdomen, usually above the navel

    *A sense of fullness in the upper abdomen after eating a small meal

    *Heartburn or indigestion

    *Nausea

    *Vomiting, with or without blood

    *Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen

    *Low red blood cell count (anemia)

Most of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by things other than cancer, such as a stomach virus or an ulcer. They may also occur with other types of cancer. But people who have any of these problems, especially if they don’t go away or get worse, should check with their doctor so the cause can be found and treated.

Since symptoms of stomach cancer often do not appear until the disease is advanced, only about 1 in 5 stomach cancers in the United States is found at an early stage, before it has spread to other areas of the body.


Source By.......http://www.cancer.org/cancer/stomachcancer/detailedguide/stomach-cancer-signs-symptoms

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Signs and symptoms of liver cancer

Signs and symptoms of liver cancer often do not show up until the later stages of the disease, but sometimes they may show up sooner. If you go to your doctor when you first notice symptoms, your cancer might be diagnosed earlier, when treatment is most likely to be helpful. Some of the most common symptoms of liver cancer are:

                                         

    #Weight loss (without trying)

    #Loss of appetite

    #Feeling very full after a small meal

    #Nausea or vomiting

    #An enlarged liver, felt as a mass under the ribs on the right side

    #An enlarged spleen, felt as a mass under the ribs on the left side

    #Pain in the abdomen or near the right shoulder blade

    #Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen

    #Itching

    #Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

Some other symptoms can include fever, enlarged veins on the belly that can be seen through the skin, and abnormal bruising or bleeding.

People who have chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis may feel worse than usual or just have changes in lab test results, such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels.

Some liver tumors make hormones that act on organs other than the liver. These hormones may cause:

    #High blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia), which can cause nausea, confusion, constipation, weakness, or muscle problems

    #Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), which can cause fatigue or fainting

    #Breast enlargement (gynecomastia) and/or shrinkage of the testicles in men

    #High counts of red blood cells (erythrocytosis) which can cause someone to look red and flushed
    High cholesterol levels

Many of the signs and symptoms of liver cancer can also be caused by other conditions, including other liver problems. Still, if you have any of these problems, it's important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

Source By.....http://www.cancer.org/cancer/livercancer/detailedguide/liver-cancer-signs-symptoms

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The causes of eye cancer & Signs and Symptoms of Eye Melanoma

 

causes eye cancer

The exact cause of most eye cancers is not known. But scientists have found that the disease is linked with some other conditions, which are described in the section “What are the risk factors for eye cancer?” A great deal of research is being done to learn more about the causes.

Scientists are learning how certain changes in the DNA inside cells can cause the cells to become cancerous. DNA is the chemical in each of our cells that makes up our genes, the instructions for how our cells function. We usually look like our parents because they are the source of our DNA. But DNA can also influence our risk for developing certain diseases, such as some kinds of cancer.

Some genes control when our cells grow, divide into new cells, and die. Genes that help cells grow, divide, or stay alive are called oncogenes. Genes that slow down cell division or cause cells to die at the right time are called tumor suppressor genes. Cancers can be caused by DNA changes that turn on oncogenes or turn off tumor suppressor genes.

Some people with cancer have DNA changes they inherited from a parent that increase their risk for the disease. For example, some people inherit a change (mutation) in the BAP1 tumor suppressor gene, which increases their risk of eye melanoma and some other cancers. When the BAP1 gene is mutated, it doesn’t work normally, which can allow cells with this change to grow out of control.

Most DNA changes linked to cancer are acquired during life rather than inherited before birth. For example, recent research has shown that about 4 out of 5 eye melanomas have changes in either of 2 related genes, GNA11 or GNAQ, which appear to be oncogenes. Other, as of yet unknown, gene changes are probably needed for these cancers to develop as well.

Scientists are studying these and other DNA changes to learn more about them and how they might lead to eye cancer. But it is still not exactly clear what causes these changes to occur in some people and not others.

Signs and symptoms of eye lymphoma

The possible signs and symptoms of eye lymphomas include:

    #Blurred vision or loss of vision
    #Seeing floaters (spots or squiggles drifting in the field of vision)
    #Redness or swelling in the eye
    Sensitivity to light
    #Eye pain (uncommon)

Intraocular lymphoma most often affects both eyes, but it can cause more symptoms in one eye than in the other.

Most of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by other, less serious conditions. For example, floaters can occur as a normal part of the aging process. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

Many of the exams and tests mentioned below are described in more detail in the section “How is melanoma of the eye diagnosed?”

Eye exam

The doctor will ask about any symptoms you are having and may check your vision and eye movements. During the eye exam, the doctor will use an ophthalmoscope (an instrument with a light and a small magnifying lens) to get a good look inside the eye. If lymphoma is present, the doctor may see that the vitreous (the jelly-like substance that fills most of the inside of the eye) is cloudy.

Imaging tests

Imaging tests use sound waves, x-rays, or magnets to create pictures of the inside of your body.

Ultrasound: Ultrasound is usually done to determine the size, shape, and location of the mass (tumor), especially if the back of the eye can’t be seen during the eye exam.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: An MRI of the head is often done not only to see the eye better, but also to look for lymphoma in the brain or meninges (the thin layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord), which are common sites of spread of this cancer.

Computed tomography (CT) scan: CT scans are used less often than MRI scans for eye lymphoma because they do not provide as much detail.

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: If a lymphoma has been found, a PET scan can help give the doctor a better idea of whether it has spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body. A PET scan can also be useful if your doctor thinks the cancer might have spread but doesn’t know where.

For this test, a form of radioactive sugar (known as fluorodeoxyglucose or FDG) is injected into a vein (IV). (The amount of radioactivity is very low and will pass out of the body over the next day or so.) Because cancer cells in the body are growing rapidly, they absorb more of the radioactive sugar. After about an hour, you are moved onto a table in the PET scanner. You lie on the table for about 30 minutes while a special camera creates a picture of areas of radioactivity in the body. The picture is not as detailed as a CT or MRI scan, but it can provide helpful information about whether abnormal areas seen on these tests are likely to be cancer.

Many centers have special machines that can do both a PET and CT scan at the same time (PET/CT scan). This lets the doctor compare areas of higher radioactivity on the PET scan with the more detailed appearance of that area on the CT scan.

For more information on imaging tests, see our document Imaging (Radiology) Tests.

Biopsy

Symptoms and the results of exams and tests might suggest you have intraocular lymphoma, but a biopsy is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis. To biopsy the eye, an ophthalmologist most often does a procedure called a vitrectomy. You may be sedated and get local anesthesia (numbing medicine) or you may get general anesthesia (which puts you in a deep sleep).

The doctor takes a sample of the vitreous gel from inside the eye by inserting very small instruments into the eye, cutting the vitreous, and then sucking some of it out. The cells in the biopsy sample are then sent to a lab to be looked at under a microscope and tested by other special techniques. For more information on the lab tests done on suspected lymphoma specimens, see our document Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)

This test is used to look for lymphoma cells in the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (called cerebrospinal fluid or CSF). It is done in cases of known or suspected eye lymphomas because these cancers often affect the brain or spinal cord.

For this test, you lie on your side with your knees up near your chest. The doctor first numbs an area in the lower part of the back near the spine. A small, hollow needle is then placed between the bones of the spine to withdraw some of the fluid.

The fluid is then examined under a microscope for lymphoma cells. Other tests may be done on the fluid as well.



Source By.........http://www.cancer.org/cancer/eyecancer/detailedguide/eye-cancer-lymphoma-diagnosis

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You should know causes,Signs and symptoms of kidney cancer

Do we know what causes kidney cancer?
Although many risk factors can increase the chance of developing renal cell cancer (RCC), it is not yet clear how some of these risk factors cause kidney cells to become cancerous.

 Changes (mutations) in genes

Researchers are starting to understand how certain changes in the DNA inside normal kidney cells can cause them to become cancerous. DNA is the chemical that makes up our genes − the instructions for how our cells function. We usually look like our parents because they are the source of our DNA. However, DNA affects more than how we look.

Some genes control when our cells grow, divide into new cells, and die. Certain genes that help cells grow, divide, and stay alive are called oncogenes. Others that slow down cell division, or cause cells to die at the right time, are called tumor suppressor genes. Cancers can be caused by DNA changes that turn on oncogenes or turn off tumor suppressor genes.

Inherited gene mutations

Certain inherited DNA changes can lead to conditions running in some families that increase the risk of kidney cancer. These syndromes, which cause a small portion of all kidney cancers, were described in the section “What are the risk factors for kidney cancer?”

For example, VHL, the gene that causes von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, is a tumor suppressor gene. It normally helps keep cells from growing out of control. Mutations (changes) in this gene can be inherited from parents. When the VHL gene is mutated, it is no longer able to suppress abnormal growth, and kidney cancer is more likely to develop. The genes linked to hereditary leiomyoma and renal cell carcinoma (the FH gene), Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome (the FLCN gene), and familial renal cancer (the SDHB and SDHD genes) are also tumor suppressor genes, and inherited changes in these genes also lead to an increased risk of kidney cancer.

People with hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma have inherited changes in the MET oncogene that cause it to be turned on all the time. This can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and makes the person more likely to develop papillary RCC.

Acquired gene mutations

Most DNA mutations related to kidney cancer, however, occur during a person’s life rather than having been inherited. These acquired changes in oncogenes and/or tumor suppressor genes may result from factors such as exposure to cancer-causing chemicals (like those found in tobacco smoke), but often what causes these changes is not known. Many gene changes are probably just random events that sometimes happen inside a cell, without having an outside cause.

Most people with sporadic (non-inherited) clear cell RCC have changes in the VHL gene in their tumor cells that have caused it to stop working properly. These changes are acquired during life rather than being inherited.

Other gene changes may also cause renal cell carcinomas. Researchers continue to look for these changes.

Progress has been made in understanding how tobacco increases the risk for developing kidney cancer. Your lungs absorb many of the cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke into the bloodstream. Because your kidneys filter this blood, many of these chemicals become concentrated in the kidneys. Several of these chemicals are known to damage kidney cell DNA in ways that can cause the cells to become cancerous.

Obesity, another risk factor for this cancer, alters the balance of some of the body’s hormones. Researchers are now learning how certain hormones help control the growth (both normal and abnormal) of many different tissues in the body, including the kidneys.

Signs and symptoms of kidney cancer

Early kidney cancers do not usually cause any signs or symptoms, but larger ones might. Some possible signs and symptoms of kidney cancer include:

   # Blood in the urine (hematuria)
   # Low back pain on one side (not caused by injury)
   # A mass (lump) on the side or lower back
   # Fatigue (tiredness)
   # Loss of appetite
   # Weight loss not caused by dieting
   # Fever that is not caused by an infection and that doesn’t go away
   # Anemia (low red blood cell counts)

These signs and symptoms can be caused by kidney cancer (or another type of cancer), but more often they are caused by other, benign, diseases. For example, blood in the urine is most often caused by a bladder or urinary tract infection or a kidney stone. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.


Source By..http://www.cancer.org/cancer/kidneycancer/detailedguide/kidney-cancer-adult-what-causes

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Signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer

What is colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer is a term used for cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. These cancers can also be referred to separately as colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start. Colon cancer and rectal cancer have many features in common. They are discussed together in this document except for the section about treatment, where they are discussed separately.

The normal digestive system

The colon and rectum are parts of the digestive system, which is also called the gastrointestinal (GI) system (see illustration). The first part of the digestive system (the stomach and small intestine) processes food for energy while the last part (the colon and rectum) absorbs fluid to form solid waste (fecal matter or stool) that then passes from the body. To understand colorectal cancer, it helps to know something about the normal structure of the digestive system and how it works.

After food is chewed and swallowed, it travels through the esophagus to the stomach. There it is partly broken down and then sent to the small intestine, also known as the small bowel. It is called small because it is narrower than the large intestine (colon and rectum), but actually the small intestine is the longest segment of the digestive system ─ about 20 feet. The small intestine continues breaking down the food and absorbs most of the nutrients.

The small intestine joins the large intestine (or large bowel) in the right lower abdomen. Most of the large intestine is made up of the colon, a muscular tube about 5 feet long. The colon absorbs water and salt from the food matter and serves as a storage place for waste matter.

The colon has 4 sections:

    The first section is called the ascending colon. It starts with a small pouch (the cecum) where the small bowel attaches to the colon and extends upward on the right side of the abdomen. The cecum is also where the appendix attaches to the colon.

    The second section is called the transverse colon since it goes across the body from the right to the left side in the upper abdomen.

    The third section, called the descending colon, continues downward on the left side.
    The fourth and last section is known as the sigmoid colon because of its "S" or "sigmoid" shape.

The waste matter that is left after going through the colon is called feces or stool. It goes into the rectum, the final 6 inches of the digestive system, where it is stored until it passes out of the body through the anus.









The wall of the colon and rectum is made up of several layers (see the illustration in the staging section). Colorectal cancer starts in the innermost layer and can grow through some or all of the other layers. Knowing a little about these layers is important, because the stage (extent of spread) of a colorectal cancer depends to a great degree on how deeply it grows into these layers. For more detailed information, please see the section “How is colorectal cancer staged?"

Abnormal growths in the colon or rectum

Most colorectal cancers develop slowly over several years. Before a cancer develops, a growth of tissue or tumor usually begins as a non-cancerous polyp on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. A tumor is abnormal tissue and can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). A polyp is a benign, non-cancerous tumor. Some polyps can change into cancer but not all do. The chance of changing into a cancer depends on the kind of polyp. The 2 main types of polyps are:

    Adenomatous polyps (adenomas) are polyps that can change into cancer. Because of this, adenomas are called a pre-cancerous condition.
    Hyperplastic polyps and inflammatory polyps, in general, are not pre-cancerous. But some doctors think that some hyperplastic polyps can become pre-cancerous or might be a sign of having a greater risk of developing adenomas and cancer, particularly when these polyps grow in the ascending colon.

Another kind of pre-cancerous condition is called dysplasia. Dysplasia is an area in the lining of the colon or rectum where the cells look abnormal (but not like true cancer cells) when viewed under a microscope. These cells can change into cancer over time. Dysplasia is usually seen in people who have had diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease for many years. Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease cause chronic inflammation of the colon.

Start and spread of colorectal cancer

If cancer forms in a polyp, it can eventually begin to grow into the wall of the colon or rectum. When cancer cells are in the wall, they can then grow into blood vessels or lymph vessels. Lymph vessels are thin, tiny channels that carry away waste and fluid. They first drain into nearby lymph nodes, which are bean-shaped structures containing immune cells that help fight against infections. Once cancer cells spread into blood or lymph vessels, they can travel to nearby lymph nodes or to distant parts of the body, such as the liver. When cancer spreads to distant parts of the body it is called metastasis.

Types of cancer in the colon and rectum

Several types of cancer can start in the colon or rectum.

Adenocarcinomas: More than 95% of colorectal cancers are a type of cancer known as adenocarcinomas. These cancers start in cells that form glands that make mucus to lubricate the inside of the colon and rectum. When doctors talk about colorectal cancer, this is almost always what they are referring to.

Other, less common types of tumors may also start in the colon and rectum. These include:

Carcinoid tumors: These tumors start from specialized hormone-producing cells in the intestine. They are discussed in our document Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumors.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs): These tumors start from specialized cells in the wall of the colon called the interstitial cells of Cajal. Some are benign (non-cancerous); others are malignant (cancerous). These tumors can be found anywhere in the digestive tract, but they are unusual in the colon. They are discussed in our document Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST).

Lymphomas: These are cancers of immune system cells that typically start in lymph nodes, but they may also start in the colon, rectum, or other organs. Information on lymphomas of the digestive system is included in our document Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Sarcomas: These tumors can start in blood vessels as well as in muscle and connective tissue in the wall of the colon and rectum. Sarcomas of the colon or rectum are rare. They are discussed in our document Sarcoma - Adult Soft Tissue Cancer.

The remainder of this document focuses only on adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum.

Signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer may cause one or more of the symptoms below. If you have any of the following you should see your doctor:
    #1.A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days
    #2.A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so
    Rectal bleeding
    #3.Blood in the stool which may make it look dark
    #4.Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
    #5Weakness and fatigue
    #6.Unintended weight loss

Colorectal cancers can bleed. While sometimes the blood can be seen or cause the stool to become darker, often the stool looks normal. The blood loss can build up over time, though, and lead to low red blood cell counts (anemia). Sometimes the first sign of colorectal cancer is a blood test showing a low red blood cell count.

Most of these problems are more often caused by conditions other than colorectal cancer, such as infection, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease. Still, if you have any of these problems, it's important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.


Source  By....http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/detailedguide/colorectal-cancer-risk-factors

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You should know The Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer

What is pancreatic cancer?

 To understand pancreatic cancer, it helps to know about the pancreas and what it does.

The normal pancreas

The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach. It is shaped a little bit like a fish with a wide head, a tapering body, and a narrow, pointed tail. In adults it is about 6 inches long but less than 2 inches wide. The head of the pancreas is on the right side of the abdomen (belly), behind where the stomach meets the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). The body of the pancreas is behind the stomach, and the tail of the pancreas is on the left side of the abdomen next to the spleen.

The pancreas contains 2 different types of glands: exocrine and endocrine.

The exocrine glands make pancreatic “juice,” which is released into the intestines. This juice contains enzymes that help you digest the food you eat. Without these, some of the food would just pass through your intestines without being absorbed. The enzymes are released into tiny tubes called ducts. These tiny ducts merge to form larger ducts, which empty into the pancreatic duct. The pancreatic duct merges with the common bile duct (the duct that carries bile from the liver), and empties the pancreatic juice into the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) at the ampulla of Vater. More than 95% of the cells in the pancreas are in the exocrine glands and ducts.

A small percentage of the cells in the pancreas are endocrine cells. These cells are in small clusters called islets (or islets of Langerhans). The islets make important hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, and release them directly into the blood. Insulin reduces the amount of sugar in the blood, while glucagon increases it.

Benign and precancerous growths in the pancreas

Not all growths in the pancreas are cancer. Some growths are simply benign (not cancer), while others might become cancer over time if left untreated (known as precancers). Because people are getting imaging tests such as CT scans more often than in the past (for a number of reasons), these types of pancreatic growths are now being found more often.

Serous cystic neoplasms (SCNs) (also known as serous cystadenomas) are tumors that have sacs (cysts) filled with watery fluid. SCNs are almost always benign, and most don’t need to be treated unless they grow large or cause symptoms.

Mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) (also known as mucinous cystadenomas) are slow-growing tumors that have cysts filled with a jelly-like substance called mucin. These tumors usually start in the body or tail of the pancreas. While they are not cancer, some of them can progress to cancer over time if not treated. Whether these tumors need to be removed or can just be followed closely over time depends on several factors, such as their size, rate of growth, how they look on imaging tests, and if they are causing symptoms.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are benign tumors that grow in the pancreatic ducts. Like MCNs, these tumors make mucin, and they can sometimes become cancer over time if not treated. Some IPMNs can just be followed closely over time, but as with MCNs, some might need to be removed with surgery if they have concerning features.

Pancreatic cancers

The exocrine cells and endocrine cells of the pancreas form different types of tumors. It’s very important to distinguish between exocrine and endocrine cancers of the pancreas. They have distinct risk factors and causes, have different signs and symptoms, are diagnosed using different tests, are treated in different ways, and have different outlooks.

Exocrine tumors

Exocrine tumors are by far the most common type of pancreas cancer. When someone says that they have pancreatic cancer, they usually mean an exocrine pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma: An adenocarcinoma is a cancer that starts in gland cells. About 95% of cancers of the exocrine pancreas are adenocarcinomas. These cancers usually begin in the ducts of the pancreas. But sometimes they develop from the cells that make the pancreatic enzymes, in which case they are called acinar cell carcinomas.

Less common types of cancers: Other cancers of the exocrine pancreas include adenosquamous carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, signet ring cell carcinomas, undifferentiated carcinomas, and undifferentiated carcinomas with giant cells. These types are distinguished from one another based on how they look under the microscope.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs): These are rare, slow-growing tumors that almost always occur in young women. Even though these tumors tend to grow slowly, they can sometimes spread to other parts of the body, so they are best treated with surgery. The outlook for people with these tumors is usually very good.

Ampullary cancer (carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater): This cancer starts in the ampulla of Vater, which is where the bile duct and pancreatic duct come together and empty into the small intestine. Ampullary cancers aren’t technically pancreatic cancers, but they are included in this document because their treatments are very similar.

Ampullary cancers often block the bile duct while they are still small and have not spread far. This blockage causes bile to build up in the body, which leads to yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) and can turn urine dark. Because of this, these cancers are usually found at an earlier stage than most pancreatic cancers, and they usually have a better prognosis (outlook) than typical pancreatic cancers.
Endocrine tumors

Tumors of the endocrine pancreas are uncommon, making up less than 4% of all pancreatic cancers. As a group, they are sometimes known as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) or islet cell tumors.

Pancreatic NETs can be benign or malignant (cancer). Benign and malignant tumors can look alike under a microscope, so it isn’t always clear whether or not a pancreatic NET is cancer. Sometimes the diagnosis only becomes clear when the tumor spreads outside of the pancreas.

There are many types of pancreatic NETs.

Functioning tumors: About half of pancreatic NETs make hormones that are released into the blood and cause symptoms. These are called functioning tumors. Each one is named for the type of hormone-making cell it starts in.

    Gastrinomas come from cells that make gastrin. About half of gastrinomas are cancers.
    Insulinomas come from cells that make insulin. Most insulinomas are benign (not cancers).
    Glucagonomas come from cells that make glucagon. Most glucagonomas are cancers.
    Somatostatinomas come from cells that make somatostatin. Most somatostatinomas are cancers.
    VIPomas come from cells that make vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Most VIPomas are cancers.
    PPomas come from cells that make pancreatic polypeptide. Most PPomas are cancers.

The most common types of functioning NETs are gastrinomas and insulinomas. The other types occur very rarely.

Non-functioning tumors: These tumors don’t make enough excess hormones to cause symptoms. They are more likely to be cancer than functioning tumors. Because they don’t make excess hormones that cause symptoms, they can often grow quite large before they are found.

Carcinoid tumors: These are another type of NET that rarely can start in the pancreas, although they are much more common in other parts of the digestive system. These tumors often make serotonin (also called 5-HT) or its precursor, 5-HTP.

The treatment and outlook for pancreatic NETs depend on the specific tumor type and the stage (extent) of the tumor, but the outlook is generally better than that of pancreatic exocrine cancers.

Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer

The symptoms of exocrine and endocrine pancreatic cancers are often different, so they are described separately.

Having one or more of the symptoms below does not mean you have pancreatic cancer. In fact, many of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by other conditions. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

Signs and symptoms of exocrine pancreatic cancer

Early pancreatic cancers often do not cause any signs or symptoms. By the time they do cause symptoms, they have often already grown through the pancreas or spread beyond it.

Jaundice and related symptoms

Jaundice is yellowing of the eyes and skin. Most people with pancreatic cancer (and virtually all people with ampullary cancer) will have jaundice as one of their first symptoms.

Jaundice is caused by the buildup of bilirubin, a dark yellow-brown substance made in the liver. Normally, the liver excretes bilirubin as part of a liquid called bile. Bile goes through the common bile duct into the intestines, eventually leaving the body in the stool. When the common bile duct becomes blocked, bile can’t reach the intestines, and the level of bilirubin in the body builds up.

Cancers that start in the head of the pancreas are near the common bile duct. These cancers can press on the duct and cause jaundice while they are still fairly small, which may allow these tumors to be found at an early stage. But cancers that start in the body or tail of the pancreas don’t press on the duct until they have spread through the pancreas. By this time, the cancer has often spread beyond the pancreas as well.

When pancreatic cancer spreads, it often goes to the liver. This can also lead to jaundice.

Dark urine: Sometimes, the first sign of jaundice is darkening of the urine from bilirubin. As bilirubin levels in the blood increase, the urine becomes brown in color.

Light-colored stools: If the bile duct is blocked, bile (and bilirubin) can’t get through to the bowel. When this happens, a person might notice their stools becoming lighter in color.

Itchy skin: When bilirubin builds up in the skin, it can start to itch as well as turning yellow.

Pancreatic cancer is not the most common cause of jaundice. Other causes, such as gallstones, hepatitis, and other liver diseases, are much more common.

Abdominal or back pain

Pain in the abdomen (belly) or back is common in pancreatic cancer. Cancers that start in the body or tail of the pancreas can grow fairly large and start to press on other nearby organs, causing pain. The cancer may also spread to the nerves surrounding the pancreas, which often causes back pain. Of course, pain in the abdomen or back is fairly common and is most often caused by something other than pancreatic cancer.

Weight loss and poor appetite

Unintended weight loss is very common in people with pancreatic cancer. These people often have little or no appetite.

Digestive problems

Pale, greasy stools: If cancer blocks the release of the pancreatic juice into the intestine, a person might not be able to digest fatty foods. The undigested fat can cause stools to be unusually pale, bulky, greasy, and to float in the toilet.

Nausea and vomiting: If the cancer presses on the far end of the stomach it can partly block it, making it hard for food to get through. This can cause nausea, vomiting, and pain that tend to be worse after eating.

Gallbladder enlargement

If the cancer blocks the bile duct, bile can build up in the gallbladder, which then becomes enlarged. This can sometimes be felt by a doctor (as a large lump under the right ribcage) during a physical exam. It can also be detected by imaging tests.

Blood clots

Sometimes, the first clue that someone has pancreatic cancer is the development of a blood clot in a large vein, often in the leg. This is called a deep venous thrombosis or DVT. Symptoms can include pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected leg. Sometimes a piece of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs, which might make it hard to breathe or cause chest pain. A blood clot in the lungs is called a pulmonary embolism or PE.

Still, having a blood clot does not usually mean that you have cancer. Most blood clots are caused by other things.

Fatty tissue abnormalities

Some people with pancreatic cancer develop an uneven texture of the fatty tissue underneath the skin. This is caused by the release of the pancreatic enzymes that digest fat.
Diabetes

Rarely, pancreatic cancers cause diabetes (high blood sugar) because they destroy the insulin-making cells. Symptoms can include feeling thirsty and hungry, and having to urinate often. More often, there are small changes in blood sugar levels that don’t cause symptoms of diabetes but can still be detected with blood tests.



Source By....http://www.cancer.org/cancer/pancreaticcancer/detailedguide/pancreatic-cancer-what-is-pancreatic-cancer

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Signs , symptoms and treatments of bone cancer

What is bone cancer?

Normal bone tissue

Bone is the supporting framework of your body. Most bones are hollow. The outer part of bones is a network of fibrous tissue called matrix onto which calcium salts are laid down.


The hard outer layer of bones is made of compact (cortical) bone, which covers the lighter spongy (trabecular) bone inside. The outside of the bone is covered with a layer of fibrous tissue called periosteum. Some bones are hollow and have a space called the medullary cavity which contains the soft tissue called bone marrow (discussed below). The tissue lining the medullary cavity is called endosteum. At each end of the bone is a zone of a softer form of bone-like tissue called cartilage.

Cartilage is softer than bone but more firm than most tissues. It is made of a fibrous tissue matrix mixed with a gel-like substance that does not contain much calcium.

Most bones start out as cartilage. The body then lays calcium down onto the cartilage to form bone. After the bone is formed, some cartilage may remain at the ends to act as a cushion between bones. This cartilage, along with ligaments and some other tissues connect bones to form a joint. In adults, cartilage is mainly found at the end of some bones as part of a joint. It is also seen at the place in the chest where the ribs meet the sternum (breastbone) and in parts of the face. The trachea (windpipe), larynx (voice box), and the outer part of the ear are other structures that contain cartilage.

Bone itself is very hard and strong. Some bone is able to support as much as 12,000 pounds per square inch. It takes as much as 1,200 to 1,800 pounds of pressure to break the femur (thigh bone). The bone itself contains 2 kinds of cells. The osteoblast is the cell that lays down new bone, and the osteoclast is the cell that dissolves old bone. Bone often looks as if it doesn’t change much, but the truth is that it is very active. Throughout our bodies, new bone is always forming while old bone is dissolving.

In some bones the marrow is only fatty tissue. The marrow in other bones is a mixture of fat cells and blood-forming cells. The blood-forming cells produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and blood platelets. Other cells in the marrow include plasma cells, fibroblasts, and reticuloendothelial cells.

Cells from any of these tissues can develop into a cancer.

Signs and symptoms of bone cancer

Pain

Pain in the affected bone is the most common complaint of patients with bone cancer. At first, the pain is not constant. It may be worse at night or when the bone is used (for example, leg pain when walking). As the cancer grows, the pain will be there all the time. The pain increases with activity and the person might limp if a leg is involved.

Swelling

Swelling in the area of the pain may not occur until weeks later. It might be possible to feel a lump or mass depending on the location of the tumor.

Cancers in the bones of the neck can cause a lump in the back of the throat that can lead to trouble swallowing or make it hard to breathe.

Fractures

Bone cancer can weaken the bone it develops in, but most of the time the bones do not fracture (break). People with a fracture next to or through a bone cancer usually describe sudden severe pain in a limb that had been sore for a few months.

Other symptoms

Cancer in the bones of the spine can press on nerves, leading to numbness and tingling or even weakness.

Cancer can cause weight loss and fatigue. If the cancer spreads to internal organs it may cause other symptoms, too. For example, if the cancer spreads to the lung, you may have trouble breathing.

Any of these symptoms are more often due to conditions other than cancer, such as injuries or arthritis. Still, if these problems go on for a long time without a known reason, you should see your doctor.

How is bone cancer treated?

This information represents the views of the doctors and nurses serving on the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Database Editorial Board. These views are based on their interpretation of studies published in medical journals, as well as their own professional experience.
The treatment information in this document is not official policy of the Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.
Your doctor may have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these general treatment options. Don’t hesitate to ask him or her questions about your treatment options.

Depending on the type and stage of your cancer, you may need more than one type of treatment. Doctors on your cancer treatment team may include:
    An orthopedic surgeon: a doctor who uses surgery to treat bone and joint problems
    An orthopedic oncologist: an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in treating cancer of the bones and joints.
    A radiation oncologist: a doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer
    A medical oncologist: a doctor who uses chemotherapy and other medicines to treat cancer.

Many other specialists may be involved in your care as well, including nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation specialists, and other health professionals.

The main types of treatment for bone cancer are:
    *Surgery
    *Radiation
    *Chemotherapy
    *Targeted therapy

Often, more than one type of treatment is used. For information about some of the most common approaches used based on the extent of the disease, see the section “Treating specific bone cancers.”

It is important to discuss all of your treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs. It’s also very important to ask questions if there is anything you’re not sure about. You can find some good questions to ask in the section.

             
Source By...   http://www.cancer.org/cancer/bonecancer/detailedguide/bone-cancer-what-is-bone-cancer

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