Most of the cancers, if diagnosed and treated in the early stages, are definitely survivable. The main issue is timely detection. Many types of cancer are still very difficult to detect in the early stages because of their location, vague symptoms, and late reporting by patients. Higher survival rates are large because of several factors including not only early detection but also better treatment approaches. Treatment options have been revolutionized. A few decades ago, surgery and chemotherapy were the main treatment. However, now many more options are available such as immunotherapy and targeted drugs, hormone therapy, and radiation therapy.
According to the American Cancer Society, below is the list of survivable types of cancer, provided they are detected in stage I or localized stage.
| Sr. No. (From most to least) | Type of cancer | Patients expected to survive five years after their diagnosis (percent) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prostate cancer | 99 |
| 2 | Thyroid cancer | 98 |
| 3 | Testicular cancer | 97 |
| 4 | Melanoma (Skin cancer) | 94 |
| 5 | Female breast cancer | 91 |
| 6 | Hodgkin lymphoma (blood cancer of the lymphocytes) | 88 |
| 7 | Cancer of the uterus | 83 |
| 8 | Bladder cancer | 78 |
| 9 | Kidney and renal pelvis | 75 |
| 10 | Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (blood cancer) | 74 |
| 11 | Cancer of the cervix | 69 |
| 12 | Cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx | 68 |
| 13 | Colon and rectal cancer | 66 |
| 14 | Leukemia (Blood cancer) | 65 |
| 15 | Larynx | 62 |
| 16 | Myeloma (White blood cell cancer) | 52 |
| 17 | Ovarian cancer | 48 |
| 18 | Brain and nervous system cancer | 35 |
| 19 | Stomach cancer | 32 |
| 20 | Esophageal cancer | 21 |
| 21 | Lungs and bronchial cancer | 19 |
| 22 | Liver and bile duct cancer | 19 |
| 23 | Pancreatic cancer | 9 |
Cancer is a leading cause of deaths worldwide. The most common types of cancer include
The Development and Causes of Cancer
The fundamental abnormality resulting in the development of cancer is the continual unregulated proliferation of cancer cells. Rather than responding appropriately to the signals that control normal cell behavior, cancer cells grow and divide in an uncontrolled manner, invading normal tissues and organs and eventually spreading throughout the body. The generalized loss of growth control exhibited by cancer cells is the net result of accumulated abnormalities in multiple cell regulatory systems and is reflected in several aspects of cell behavior that distinguish cancer cells from their normal counterparts.
Cancer can result from abnormal proliferation of any of the different kinds of cells in the body, so there are more than a hundred distinct types of cancer, which can vary substantially in their behavior and response to treatment. The most important issue in cancer pathology is the distinction between benign and malignant tumors (Figure 15.1). A tumor is any abnormal proliferation of cells, which may be either benign or malignant. A benign tumor, such as a common skin wart, remains confined to its original location, neither invading surrounding normal tissue nor spreading to distant body sites. A malignant tumor, however, is capable of both invading surrounding normal tissue and spreading throughout the body via the circulatory or lymphatic systems (metastasis). Only malignant tumors are properly referred to as cancers, and it is their ability to invade and metastasize that makes cancer so dangerous. Whereas benign tumors can usually be removed surgically, the spread of malignant tumors to distant body sites frequently makes them resistant to such localized treatment.
A malignant tumor of the uterus. Micrographs of normal uterus (A) and a section of a uterine sarcoma (B). Note that the cancer cells (darkly stained) have invaded the surrounding normal tissue. (Cecil Fox/Molecular Histology, Inc.)
Both benign and malignant tumors are classified according to the type of cell from which they arise. Most cancers fall into one of three main groups: carcinomas, sarcomas, and leukemias or lymphomas. Carcinomas, which include approximately 90% of human cancers, are malignancies of epithelial cells. Sarcomas, which are rare in humans, are solid tumors of connective tissues, such as muscle, bone, cartilage, and fibrous tissue. Leukemias and lymphomas, which account for approximately 8% of human malignancies, arise from the blood-forming cells and from cells of the immune system, respectively. Tumors are further classified according to tissue of origin (e.g., lung or breast carcinomas) and the type of cell involved. For example, fibrosarcomas arise from fibroblasts, and erythroid leukemias from precursors of erythrocytes (red blood cells).
Although there are many kinds of cancer, only a few occur frequently (Table 15.1). More than a million cases of cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States, and more than 500,000 Americans die of cancer each year. Cancers of 10 different body sites account for more than 75% of this total cancer incidence. The four most common cancers, accounting for more than half of all cancer cases, are those of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon/rectum. Lung cancer, by far the most lethal, is responsible for nearly 30% of all cancer deaths.
Ten Most Frequent Cancers in the United States.
1. Vaseline Intensive Care proverb 101... Small holes always need grease!
2. To Pee or not to Pee, dear Yorick, is not an option!! Run to the bathroom!!
3. Wake up! WAKE UP!! Your pillow is drowning you!! Change pillows fast!!
4. Doctor! Why is it called therapy?
5. Do not take candy from a baby but... the baby powder! Of course!
6. Always swipe with baby swipes for big babies!
7. When I look into your eyes, gentle nurse, I forget the needle in your hand!!
8. Did I mention how I...OUCH! hated needles!!
