Carcinomas
Most cancers are carcinomas, which are malignant tumors that occur in the cells, called epithelial cells, that line the organs and body cavities, as well as the outer layer of skin. Carcinomas can also attack the organs and tissues that surround the originally affected areas and spread to the lymph nodes and other sites in the body.
Carcinoma Symptoms & Causes
Symptoms of carcinomas generally depend on the type of tumor and the location. But there are some common symptoms among all cancers that include fatigue, fever, chills, loss of appetite, weight loss and night sweats. The treatment is also dependent on the type of cancer and what stage it is in. Cancer’s “stage” means how much the tumor has developed and if it has spread beyond the initial location.
It is difficult to pinpoint causes of cancer. Cancer cells come from normal cells in the body and the cancer occurs when the cell growth is happening too quickly and cells split too quickly. There are many things that can cause this to happen.
Common Carcinomas
Breast cancer begins in the tissues of the breast, either in the ducts that move the milk to the nipple or in the lobules, or the part of the breast that produces milk. Unfortunately, in its early stages, breast cancer has no detectable symptoms. As it grows, however, symptoms include: a lump in the armpit; changes in shape and size of the breast, or the way it feels; and fluid from the nipples.
Treatments for breast cancer include low dose chemotherapy and insulin potentiation therapy (IPT), chemotherapy or radiation, removal of the cancerous tissue, and hormonal therapy.
Prostate cancer grows in the prostate gland. It is the most common type of cancer other than skin cancers. Because of regular testing, most prostate cancer is detected before the symptoms begin. Symptoms include pain with urination, difficulty urinating, pain with ejaculation, and lower back and abdominal pain.
The treatment given usually depends on what stage the carcinoma is in. Removal of the prostate gland itself is considered if the cancer is contained within the prostate and can be removed with very low risk of spread. Impotence and incontinence are the two primary potential side effects. Some other options are radiation and hormone therapy. Chemotherapy is used when the cancer has spread beyond the prostate.
Gastrointestinal cancer affects any of the parts of the digestive system like the esophagus, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, intestines, stomach, or colon. Symptoms and treatment are different, depending upon which part of the gastrointestinal tract is affected.
Lung Cancer in its most common form is called small cell carcinoma. This type of cancer spreads very quickly. Its symptoms include chest pain, blood in the sputum, coughing, shortness of breath, and weight loss.
Since lung cancer does spread so rapidly, it is normally treated with chemotherapy combined with radiation. Surgery is rarely used, and when it is used, there is usually one small carcinoma involved that has not spread.
Skin Cancer is the most common type of cancer with at least 1 million new cases each year. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and is referred to as a nonmelanoma skin cancer. It usually looks like a small bump on the skin that can be textured and translucent. These cancers almost never spread to other parts of the body and are normally treated by scooping out the carcinoma.
Melanoma is the most severe type of skin cancer, causing the most skin cancer-related deaths. The cancer occurs in melanin, the cells that produce skin pigment. It usually manifests in the form of a mole, sore, or other growth on the skin. A warning sign may also be altered appearance over time of a skin lesion. Melanoma can spread and is treated by surgically removing the cancerous skin tissue, followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation.