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.