There are several options for treating cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, and palliative care. Treatments for primary cancers vary greatly, depending on the stage and severity of the disease. Some may be curative, while others are not. Chemotherapy, for example, uses a variety of drugs, including alkylating agents, angiogenesis inhibitors, and photodynamic therapy to destroy cancer cells.
A malignant tumor can spread to other parts of the body and press on vital organs. In contrast, benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Rather, they are made up of excess cells that divide and grow as needed. Over time, these cells may accumulate enough extra cells to form a tumor. Benign tumors are not cancerous, but they can still be dangerous. The difference is the type of cancer that can spread.
A slow-growing cancer is usually undetectable at the time of death. Studies show that up to 36% of individuals with thyroid cancer were undiagnosed at the time of death. Prostate cancer affects approximately 80% of men by age 80. The identification of such patients would have led to overdiagnosis. In addition to genetics, many agents and events affect cells in ways that alter their behavior. This process affects genes, causing mutations and cancer cells.
If a patient has a cancer that has not yet spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy may be an option. Although chemotherapy will not cure cancer, it may help reduce the size of a tumor, and improve surgical options. It is not uncommon for a cancer without tumors to return after surgery. And, it is also possible that a cancer without tumors is benign. But the best treatment option depends on the type of cancer that has spread and the location of its origin.
Although the effectiveness of new cancer drugs has not been studied to determine which drug is best for patients, the number of patients who survive with the drug is still the most important determinant for survival. In addition, cancer patients must be in good overall health, as frail people have a lower survival rate. Furthermore, Centenarians do not survive beyond five years after starting treatment. This may be due to a lower quality of life, as well as depression and disease progression.
The type of cancer that doesn’t have a tumor is called metastatic cancer of unknown primary. It can be a rare type of cancer that has spread beyond the initial site of disease. If it does, further tests can reveal the primary site of the disease. If this is the case, treatment will be based on the primary site. You’ll likely need several tests to determine the exact type of cancer. But even if your doctor can’t pinpoint the primary source, further tests will help him to determine a course of treatment.
If cancer has spread beyond your primary cancer, the condition is called lymphoma. This type of cancer spreads through the bloodstream and forms new tumors in distant parts of the body. Despite its name, cancer still has the same name, regardless of the area in which it started. For instance, breast cancer that spread to the lungs is still breast cancer metastatic cancer. Hence, the cancer has a name that matches where it has spread.
