Adrenocortical carcinoma

Adrenocortical Carcinoma is very rare disease. It affects only one or two people in one million population. Though being a very rare disease, Adrenocortical carcinoma is also a very aggressive and killer form of cancer. Adrenocortical Carcinoma forms in the outer layer of tissues of the adrenal gland ( a small organ on top of each kidney which generates steroid hormones, adrenaline and noradrenaline to control heart rate, blood pressure and other body function.) Mostly found in the cortex of the adrenal glands. It is also referred as adrenocortical cancer or the caner of adrenal glands. This rare tumor usually occurs to adults. Also, adrenocortical carcinoma has a bimodal distribution by age, with cases of affecting children of age under six and adults who are in the age group of 30-40. Adrenocortical carcinoma has often destroyed the adjacent tissues or invaded nearby tissues and even metastasized to the nearby or distant organs. Although adrenocortical carcinoma is curable at the very beginning stage, only 30% of these malignancies confined to the adrenal glands at the time of diagnosis. The signs and symptoms of adrenocortical carcinoma are very tricky to diagnosed. Its victim has hardly 20-35% of five-year survival chance.

Adrenocortical carcinoma may be linked to a cancer syndrome that is transferred through heredity or from parents to offspring. Adrenocortical carcinoma affects both men and women.Adrenocortical carcinoma is characterized by production of hormones cortisol, estrogen or aldosterone. In woman this tumor often releases the hormones, which can lead to male characteristics, while on man this tumor develops hormones, which can lead to female characteristics.
Adrenocortical carcinoma is no easy cancer to diagnosed. Is symptoms are not common in all people. Its signs and symptoms differ from age to age. Most adrenocortical carcinoma are functional in children. Most common symptoms of this tumor in children is virilization (biological development in the sex difference, changes that makes a male body different from a female body). Another common symptom of adrenocortical carcinoma is the hormone disorder caused by high level of cortisol (hypercortisolism) in the blood which is referred as cushing's syndrome. Puberty occurring at uunusually early age, in medical term Precocious puberty is another symptoms that refers to Adrenocortical carcinoma in girls. Hormonal syndromes and cushing's syndrome are also the signs and symptoms seen in adults referring adrenocortical carcinoma. In fact, cushing's syndrome is the only common symptoms in both adult and children. The overproduction of the mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone by the adrenal glands also referred as primary aldosteronism and feminization (development in an organism of physical or behavioral characteristics unique to the female of the species) are some other symptoms of adrenocortical carcinoma but this symptoms are found in less than 10% of total adrenocortical carcinoma cases. Another rare symptoms of adrenocortical carcinoma is pheochromocytoma-like hypersection of catecholamines. Non-functional tumors (about 40% authorities vary) usually present with abdominal or flank pain, or they may be asymptomatic and detected incidentally.
The very first symptoms to be searched is hormonal syndrome for the case of adrenocortical carcinoma. On further going, cushing's syndrome includes signs and symptoms like muscle wasting and weight gain, some purple lines in the abdomen, a fatty "buffalo hump" in the neck, a moon face, fragile skin and thinning. Virilism is most obvious in women and includes symptoms like excess facial and body hair, enlargement of the clitoris, deepening of the voice, coarsening of the facial features, cassation of mensuration, Acne, muscle weakness and confusion. Feminization is mostly seen in men referring to adrenocortical carcinoma which includes enlargement of breasts, decreased libido and a sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance.

To diagnose the adrenocortical carcinoma there are various methods. Laboratory testings helps in confirming hormones syndrome. In finding cushing's syndrome, laboratory testing includes increased blood sugar and increased urine cortisol. Adrenal virilism is confirmed by finding excess amount of serum androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone. Finding of excess serum estrogen confirms feminization. Radiological study of abdomen like CT-scan and MRI are useful for identifying the exact place where tumor is, making it different from other disease like adrenocortical adenoma. It also helps in knowing the extent of invasion of the tumor into the surrounding organs and tissues. Regularly performed CT-scans and bone scans helps in determining the transfer of tumor towards lungs and bones. These studies are critical in determining whether or not the tumor can be surgically removed, the only potential and effective cure at this time. Adrenocortical carcinoma are often large, with a tan-yellow cut surface, and areas of hemorrhage and necrosis. On microscopic view, Adrenocortical carcinoma often seems as a sheet of atypical cells with some resemblance to the cell of normal adrenal cortex. The presence of invasion and mitotic activity helps in differentiating small cancer from adrenocortical carcinoma. There are several relatively rare variants of adrenocortical carcinoma: onocytic adrenal cortical carcinoma, myxoid adrenal cortical carcinoma, carcinosarcoma, Adenosquamous adrenocortical carcinoma, clear cell adrenal cortical carcinoma.

The only effective and curable treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma is the complete surgical excision of the infected tumor cells. This surgery excision can be performed even after the adrenocortical carcinoma cells has invaded into large blood vessels. This surgery lessens the effect of adrenocortical carcinoma and increases the survival years of the patient. However, even after a successful surgery, the five year survival chance of the patient only 50-60%. But its very unfortunate that a large number of victims' adrenocortical carcinoma has worsened so much that this surgery wont help them anymore. For the patient who aren't surgical candidates, there are treatments like Radiation therapy and radiofrequency ablation in order to reduce the severity of adrenocortical carcinoma. Chemotherapy is not very helpful in treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma. Medication is given to reduce production of cortisol which causes many of the symptoms.
Adrenocortical is rare but still a killer and aggressive disease and its hard to cure after it worsens. Its signs and symptoms are also very tricky to find. Still, this killer disease cause hasnt been found yet. So its hard to say what are its preventive measures. So lets be aware and let all people of this world know about this disease so they wont have to die in confusion from which cancer they are exactly affected with. If every people know about it, they can diagnose this disease and get treatment early and can save their life. Lets create Cancer awareness. Prevent cancer, Save yourself!!!!!

the most deadliest cancer

Cancer is a widely spread disease. Also, there are many forms and types of it. Survey shows that in every eight deaths, one death is because of Cancer. Although it itself is one of the most deadliest disease in world, but within it, there is also the most deadliest type of it. All metastatic cancer is considered deadliest. Metastatic cancer is a form of cancer that has replicated itself and it sent out microscopic versions of itself all over the body via the blood system or lymphatic system. But According to the Newsweek.com, Lung cancer is considered the most deadliest cancer of all as it kills more people than any other type of malignancy... Also, most amazing fact is, it is found that some of the victims of this deadliest form of cancer actually never smoked. According to The National Cancer Institute, Lung cancer is responsible for 1.3 million deaths world wide, every year. The victim of this deadliest form of cancer survival chance is very low. Even with treatment, at most, its victim five year survival rate is only 14%.
Lung Cancer, the most deadliest form of cancer is a disease where cell grow in lung's tissue at uncontrolled rate. And further leads to invasion of other adjacent tissues and infiltration beyond the lungs. These infected cancer cell travel via blood and lymph. And these all results hard to breathe or shortness of breathe, regular coughing and sometimes even coughing of blood. The most common cause of lung cancer is tobacco smoking. According to a survey, 90% of the lung cancer cases are the results of tobacco smoking. On the basis of treatment system, the main two division of lung cancer are:-
1. Small cell lung Carcinoma (SCLC)
Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is not a very common disease. SCLC was recognized as a distinct form of lung cancer as early as 1926. Most small cell lung cancer is the oat cell type. Also, in the past, small cell lung cancer was also referred as "oat cell carcinoma" because, when examined under a microscope, the lung cancer cell looked like grains of oats. Approximately 15 out of 100 victims of lung cancer, are the victim of small cell lung cancer. In the past, the victim of SCLC was 20 out of 100. Men are more victim of small cell lung cancer rather than women. Almost all cases pf SCLC are because of excessive tobacco or cigarette smoking. It is very rare in people who doesn't smoke. Small cell lung cancer has a grows very quickly and also it is a very aggressive type of lung cancer. Usually, small cell lung cancer starts in bronchi (the breathing tubes) in the center of our chest. And they grow very quickly and create large tumors. And these tumors even spread to other parts of body like brain, liver and bone destroying adjacent tissues. At very initial stage, it shows good response with chemotherapy and radiation. When further divided, SCLC has three more division:-
* Small cell carcinoma (oat cell cancer)
* Mixed small cell/large cell carcinoma
* combined small cell carcinoma

2. Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC)
Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the very common type of lung cancer. IT also grows fast but when it comes in the rate of speed of spreading, it spread more slowly than Small cell lung cancer. There are 80% of people suffering from NSCLC out of total victims of lung cancer. There are three types of NSCLC and they are
* Squamous cell (epidermoid) carcinoma: It accounts for 25% of NSCLC. It usually starts near central bronchus. It is found in the center of the lung by the bronchus. Squamous cell cancer grow rather slow than any other type of cancer. It usually occurs in chain smokers.
* Adenocarcinoma: Adenocarcinoma are found in the outer part of lung. It accounts for 40% of NSCLC cases. Most victim of NSCLC are the smokers but it is also found that it also affects people who don't smoke. It has a sub type and is found especially in female non-smokers.
* Large cell carcinoma: Large cell carcinoma can occur in any part of lung. It is the most fastest growing and spreading than other two. It is a very aggressive form of NSCLC. It accounts for less than 10% of NSCLC cases. Though it is rare, it is the deadliest than other two.

Some other type of Lung cancer are Sarcomatoid Carcinoma, Salivary gland tumors, Carcinoid tumor and adenosquamous carcinoma.
The most common signs and symptoms of this deadliest form of cancer are shortness of breath, coughing and even coughing of blood, uncertain coughing pattern, pain in chest and abdomen, loosing weight without trying, fatigue, loss of appetite, wheezing, Hoarseness or changing voice, swallowing difficulty, Nail problems, joint pain and face swelling.
The most common cause of lung cancer is smoking. Smoking, especially cigarettes and tobacco are the main factors that contribute to lung cancer. Radon Gas is another factor responsible for causing lung cancer. Radon exposure is the second main factor of causing lung cancer after smoking. Asbestos is also responsible for causing variety of lung cancer. There is a synergistic effect between tobacco smoking and asbestos in the formation of lung cancer. Asbestos accounts for 2-3 % of lung cancer deaths in UK. One other factor for causing lung cancer is Virus.
The first step of diagnosis of this deadliest cancer is by performing a chest radio graph. But if the suspicion is very high then CT-Scan or bronchoscopy are helpful in diagnosis of lung cancer. Some treatment of lung cancer are Surgery, Chemotherapy, Adjuvent chemotherapy for NSCLC, Radiotherapy, Interventional radiology and targeted therapy.
Better than treatment, prevention is the most effective way of fighting lung cancer. Though many countries has banned carcinogen, there is still a lot of people smoking tobacco. Stopping tobacco smoking is one of the most effective way of preventing lung cancer. And for this, the cigarettes and tobacco manufacturing company should be banned. But its not an easy thing to do because for poor nations like Nepal, Cigarette and tobacco manufacture is one of the major source of national income.

Leukemia Diagnosis

Leukemia is a form of cancer that starts in the tissue that forms blood. It is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow. Leukemia got its name from leukocytes (white blood cells) because Leukemia is characterized by an abnormal increase of blood cells, usually leukocytes. In a person suffering from leukemia, the bone marrow produce malfunctioning white blood cells. Such abnormal or malfunctioning white blood cells are leukemia cells. These malfunctioning leukemia cells don't die when they should like normal blood cells. When they don't die they crowd out normal white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets and stops normal blood cells from performing their work properly. Leukemia is a broad term, covering a spectrum of diseases.

Leukemia is divided into two division; Acute and Chronic on the basis of how quickly the disease develops and gets worse. Acute leukemia gets worse more quickly while Chronic leukemia gets worse slowly. Now let's go deep into this division.
* Acute Leukemia
The main characteristic of Acute Leukemia is the rapid increment of immature blood cells. The leukemia cells can't do any of the work of normal white blood cells. And the crowding of this immature leukemia cells prevents the bone marrow from producing healthy blood cells. Acute leukemia worsens quickly because of the rapid progression and accumulation of the malignant cells which then spill over into bloodstream and spread to other organs of the body. A person suffering from Acute leukemia should be provided with immediate treatment. Acute forms of leukemia are the most common forms of leukemia seen in children.
* Chronic Leukemia
It is characterized by the excessive build of relatively mature white blood cells but still they are abnormal and malfunctioning. Early in the disease, the leukemia cells can perform works like normal white blood cells. The symptoms of chronic leukemia are very hard to see or find in early stages. Chronic leukemia cells are produced at a much higher rate than normal cells taking months or years to progress and instead of normal white blood cells, abnormal white blood cells fills the blood. Chronic leukemia gets worse slowly. When symptoms do appear, they are usually mild at first and worsens gradually. Mostly, old age people suffer from Chronic leukemia but theoretically it can occur in any age group.

The types of leukemia can be further divided into four different types. The disease are subdivided on the basis of which kind of blood cells is affected. Leukemia occurs in lymphoid cells or myeloid cells.Leukemia affecting lymphoid cells is called lymphoid, lymphocyte or lymphoblastic leukemia where the cancerous change takes placein a type of marrow cell which normally goes on to form lymphocytes, known as infection-fighting immune system cells.
On other hand, leukemia that affects myeloid cells is called myeloid, myelogenous or myeloblastic leukemia in which the cancerous change takes place in a type of marrow cell which normally goes on to form red blood cells, some other types of white blood cells and platelets.
By combining the first division and the second sub-division, we get a total of four common types of leukemia.
* Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)affects lymphoid cells and the rate of it's growth is very fast. It is the most common type of leukemia seen in children. Not only in children, this disease is also seen ion adults. Age group of 65 and over is mostly affected by this disease in adults. Each year nearly 5000 new cases of this leukemia comes in account. The treatment of ALL involve chemotherapy and radiation. There is a good survival chance for children as children suffering from this cancer has the survival chance of 85%. While for adults, the survival rate from suffering this cancer is hardly 50%.
* Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) occurs mostly in adults rather than in children. They affects myeloid cells and it's rate of growth is also fast. According to the Cancer statistics, it accounts for more than 13,000 new cases of this leukemia each year. mostly men are affected by this disease rather than women in adults. The treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia includes chemotherapy. It is a killer disease. The victim has hardly 40% of survival rate for 5 years. Some other forms of acute myelogenous leukemia are acute promyelocytic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia.
*Chronic Lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) affects lymphoid cells and it's rate of growth is rather slow. Most people who are being affected by chronic lymphocytic leukemia are of the age of 55 and above. Sometimes it is also seen in some younger adults but it almost never affects children. In comparison between male and female, male are more affected by CLL. It is almost incurable disease but still there are many effective treatments to lessen it's effects. The 5 year survival rate of the victim is 75%. CLL has only one subtype; B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia which is more aggressive and killer disease. According to the cancer statistics, it accounts for 15,000 new cases of CLL each year.
* Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
Chronic myelogenous leukemia affects myeloid cells and usually grow rather slowly at first. This disease is mainly in adults. But it is also seen adults. But it is also seen in children very rarely. According to the cancer statistics, it accounts for nearly 5,000 new cases of this leukemia each year. Imatinib (gleeves) or the other drugs is the only treatment. Its victim has the survival rate of 90% for five years. It also has only one type subtype which is known as chronic monocytic leukemia.

There are some other forms of leukemia too but they are considered to be outside of this classification. some of such forms of leukemia are:-
1. Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL)
2. T-cell prolymphocytic Leukemia (T-PLL)
3. Large granular lymphocytic leukemia
4. Adult T-cell leukemia

* Diagnosis
Diagnosis of the leukemia is usually based on the repeating of complete blood counts and a bone marrow examination following symptoms observed. Also diagnosis of certain types of leukemia in certain situation can be done by performing a lymph node biosy. Following diagnosis, blood chemistry tests is also helpful to determine the degree of liver and kidney damage or the effect of chemotherapy on the patient. Use of X-ray, MRI or ultrasound is helpful in knowing visible damage due to leukemia. CT-scans are rarely used to check lymph nodes in the chest.
Though there are a lots of methods of diagnosis of leukemia, many people have not been diagnosed because many of the symptoms are vague, unspecified and can refer to other diseases.

Don't ignore Cancer

I guess we all are very familiar about this killer disease, Cancer. But, even though we know about it, most of the people ignore this disease and it's symptoms. Cancer is one of the most deadliest disease around the whole world. There's a fact that Cancer alone is responsible for the 13% of all human deaths. Still we ignore the most fearsome disease, Cancer.

Well, we know Cancer is a dangerous disease but what exactly Cancer is??? Let's know about it. Cancer, in medical term known as "malignant neoplasm" is a disease in which there is some uncontrolled growth of some group of cell beyond normal limits. Sometimes these infected cancer cells destroys the other adjacent tissues too and even spread to other location in the body through blood or lymph. The part of medicine concerned with the study , diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer is ONCOLOGY. Most of us might say tumor is also a cancer but let me tell you, most cancer forms tumors but the above three properties of cancer makes it quite different from Benign tumors. ( Benign tumors are self-estimated, don't destroys other adjacent cells and don't spread.) Though most Cancer forms tumors but Leukemia do not.

According to a survey done the seven most deadliest forms of cancer are:-
1. Skin Cancer

2. Brain Cancer
3. Pancreatic Cancer
4. Child Leukemia ( a type of cancer)
5. Lymphoma
6. Lungs cancer
7. Breast Cancer

Cancer affects all kinds of people at all ages. There is also the risk for most types of cancer occurring with the increment in age. Cancer differ widely in their causes and biology as cancer is a diverse class of disease. Any organism, even plants may get cancer. Nearly all known cancers arise gradually as errors build up in the Cancer cell and it's progeny.

Roughly, Cancer symptoms are divided into three groups:-
1. Local symptoms
This includes unusual lumps swelling(tumor), Jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin), bleeding, pain and ulceration.
2. Symptoms of spreading
Pain in bone, fracture of affected bones, lymph nodes, cough and hemotysis, enlarged liver and neurological symptoms
3. Systematic symptoms
Weight loss, poor appetite, fatigue, excessive night sweats, anemia, thrombosis or hormonal change due ta active cancer

Well, these are some common symptoms of cancer. Now we knew about some of the symptoms of cancer, let be aware of some causes of cancer.
* Chemicals or Carcinogen is one cause of cancer. Apparently, tobacco smoking is associated with many forms of cancer and it is said that 90% of lungs cancer is caused by only tobacco smoking. Alcohol is an example of a chemical carcinogen which promote cancer through stimulating the rate of cell division. After a long research of decades, reports has shown that there is a very close connection in between use of tobacco and cancer in lung, larynx, neck, bladder, stomach, kidney, head, pancreas and esophagus.
* Ionizing Radiation sources of ionizing radiation such as Radon gas is also a cause of Cancer. Melanoma and other skin malignancies are the results of prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

* Infection Some Cancers are caused by infection of Viruses. Viruses are responsible for 20% of human Cancers worldwide.

1 Human papillomavirus cause cervical carcinoma
2 human polyomavirus cause brain tumor and mesothelioma
3 Human T-call leukemia Virus-1 cause T-cell leukemia
4 Helicobactor pylon cause Gastric Carcinoma
5 Hepatitis B & C viruses cause Hepatocellular Carcinoma
6 Epstein-Bar Virus cause Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and B-cell lymphoproliferatine disease
7 Kaposi's sarcoma herpevirus cause Kaposi's Sarcoma andprimary effusion lymphomas

One cause of Cancer is Heredity also.Errors in DNA replication and genes transferred from parents to offspring may cause other cancer-promoting genetic abnormalities and hence present in all cells of offspring from the very birth. The complex interaction between carcinogens and the host's genome affects the heritability.

Active measures to decrease the incidence of cancer is known as Cancer prevention. Fact shows that more than 30% of cancer can be prevented by avoiding tobacco, overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, sexually transmitted infection, air pollution, alcohol and risky behaviors. We also can avoid Cancer by having a lifestyle or diet that modifies cancer-causing factors by avoiding carcinogens or altering the metabolism. well, let's know about how we can avoid Cancer.
# eat healthy food with variety
Improper diets and unhealthy feeding results the risk of developing Cancer. Good diet practices helps a lot in prevention of cancer. If not, we can suffer from Gastric Cancer which is very much common in Japan, Colon Cancer, more common in United States. Reports has shown that decrement in consumption of meat has resulted the decreased risk of colon cancer. Also, there is a link between consumption of grilled meat and increase in risk of stomach cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer and pancreatic cancer. So; a healthy eating habits helps a lot on preventing cancer.
# stop being inactive & have a healthy weight
If you exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight, you can prevent Cancer. If you have overweight and you stay inactive, you are increasing your chances of risk of cancer of the breast, colon, esophagus, kidney, stomach and uterus. Exercising and being physically active helps a lot in avoiding obesity by controlling your weight and also lower the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer and uterus cancer. For good health, try to be physically active at least 30 min or more on most day of the week.
# Say no to tobacco
Well, we have already known in causes of cancer, hoe a tobacco is major responsible for many cancer diseases. Rejecting tobacco or deciding not to use tobacco anymore is one big step to prevent cancer and saving yourself. It is an important part of cancer prevention.
# Protect yourself from Sun
We know that the harmful radiation of sun and its rays are major responsible for skin cancer. Skin cancer is most common as well as preventable too. Most skin cancer occur on body parts which aren't properly covered like face, hands, forearms and ears. It's not difficult to cure skin cancer if detected early. But there's a wise saying, cure is better than ignore, prevention is better than cure. So, stop being outside too much at radiation hours that is approximately between 10 AM to 04 PM. Also, if you go outside, minimize your sun exposure. Wear light-colored, loose fitting clothes and sun screen cream to protect yourself from harmful sun radiation.
# don't get involved in risky behaviors
Avoid risky behaviors which can lead to infections that may increase the risk of chance for you. We know that cancer can be caused by virus. Risky behaviors like unhealthy sex or sharing of contaminated needles can transmit viruses into you. So, reduce your risk of cancer by avoiding such risky habits. Have a healthy sex, use a condom and limit the number of partners. Also, never share needles.
# get vaccination
Viruses are major responsible for 20% of human cancers worldwide. If we prevent viruses, then in one way we are preventing cancer too. In order to prevent virus, get immunized with different kinds of vaccines against virus. This will ultimately help you in preventing Cancer.

Now, we have known a lot of things about cancer. It's symptoms, causes and preventive measures. Knowing all these we can easily fight back cancer. Don't ignore cancer. If you see it's symptoms, visit to hospital for early check up before it's too late.