Ovarian cancer grows fast and is easy to spread.

Usually it has no obvious early symptom and is often discovered accidentally in gynecological examinations or when it become palpable in the abdomen after growing to certain size and reaches out of the pelvic cavity, or when complications are detected. Ovarian cancer usually has reached its late stage when discovered. Symptoms of ovarian cancer vary according to the size of the cancer, time of occurrence, and whether there are complications or not. Then what are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

Common symptoms of ovarian cancer

1. Discomfort in lower stomach or sinking pain in one side of the lower stomach happen occasionally in the early stage. 2. Abdominal distension: as the cancer grows fast, abdominal distension, lump and ascites may occur in a short time. Small tumors can only be detected in pelvic examination. As they become bigger gradually and reach out of the pelvic cavity, they will be palpable on the stomach. 3. Compression: When the tumor infiltrates the surrounding tissues or compresses the nerves, stomachache, waist pain or sciatica will be caused. When it compresses the pelvic vein, edema of the lower extremities will occur. Big tumor can compress the bladder causing frequent urination, difficult urination and urine retention. When it compresses the rectum, difficult defecation will be caused, while compressing to the gastrointestinal tract can cause symptoms of digestive problems and compressing to the diaphragm can cause difficult breathing and failure to lie flat. 4. Due to the fast growth of the tumor, innutrition and marasmus will occur and results in dyscrasia. 5. Related symptoms caused by cancer transfusion: Malignant ovarian cancer seldom causes pain. However, if the tumor cracks down, bleeds or is infected, or when it infiltrates and compresses the nearby organs, stomachache and waist pain will be caused. 6. If both the ovaries are damaged by cancer tissues, menstrual disorder and amenorrhea will be caused, while lung metastasis will cause cough, hemoptysis and hydrothorax and bone transfusion can cause local pain in the transferred lesion. Intestinal transfusion can cause blood in stools, more seriously, intestinal obstruction. 7. If it is functioning tumor, related symptoms of excessive estrogen or androgen will occur, such as early dysfunctional uterine bleeding, vaginal bleeding after menopause or masculine signs. Advanced ovarian cancer patients will have symptoms of obvious marasmus, severe anemia or other symptoms of cachexia. During gynecological examination, scattered solid nodules and lumps can be touched in both sides of the posterior fornix of vagina. They are solid, fixed, and rugged, usually accompanied with bloody ascites. Sometimes, swollen lymph nodes are palpable in groin, armpit, or supraclavicular.

Bladder cancer is any of several types of malignancy arising from the epithelial lining (i.e., the urothelium) of the urinary bladder. Rarely the bladder is involved by non-epithelial cancers, such as lymphoma or sarcoma, but these are not ordinarily included in the colloquial term "bladder cancer." It is

a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine; it is located in the pelvis. The most common type of bladder cancer recapitulates the normal histology of the urothelium and is known as transitional cell carcinoma or more properly urothelial cell carcinoma. It is estimated that there are 383,000 cases of bladder cancer [2] worldwide.

[1]

Signs and symptoms[edit]

Bladder cancer characteristically causes blood (redness) in the urine. This blood in the urine may be visible to the naked eye (gross/macroscopic hematuria) or detectable only by microscope (microscopic hematuria). Hematuria is the most common symptom in bladder cancer. Other possible symptoms include pain during urination, frequent urination, or feeling the need to urinate without being able to do so. These signs and symptoms are not specific to bladder cancer, and are also caused by non-cancerous conditions, including prostateinfections, over-active bladder and cystitis. There are many other cause of haematuria, such as bladder or ureteric stones, infection, kidney disease, kidney cancers and vascular malformations.

Causes[edit]
Tobacco smoking is the main known contributor to urinary bladder cancer; in most populations, smoking is associated with over half of bladder cancer cases in men and one-third of cases among [3] women. There is a linear relationship between smoking and risk, and quitting smoking reduces the [4] [5] risk. Passive smoking has not been proven to be involved. In a 10-year study involving almost 48,000 men, researchers found that men who drank 1.5 liters of water per day had a significantly reduced incidence of bladder cancer when compared with men who drank less than 240mL (around 1 cup) per day. The authors proposed that bladder cancer might partly be caused by the bladder directly contacting carcinogens that are excreted in urine, although this has not yet been [6] confirmed in other studies. Thirty percent of bladder tumors probably result from occupational exposure in the workplace to carcinogens such as benzidine. 2-Naphthylamine, which is found in cigarette smoke, has also been shown to increase bladder cancer risk. Occupations at risk are bus drivers, rubber workers, motor mechanics, leather (including shoe) workers, blacksmiths, machine setters, and [7] mechanics. Hairdressers are thought to be at risk as well because of their frequent exposure to permanent hair dyes.

Endometrial Cancer
By Ashley Henshaw January 3, 2012

AA

One of the types of cancer that women are at risk for is endometrial cancer, which affects the uterus. Though it can be dangerous, the good news is that endometrial cancer is often diagnosed in its early stages, giving the patient much better chances of survival than if the cancer were detected in its advanced stages.

Definition
Endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the uterus. More specifically, this type of cancer starts in the endometrium, which is the layer of cells that makeup the lining of the uterus. Technically, endometrial is one type of uterine cancer. However, out of all of the types of cancer that can form in the uterus, endometrial cancer is the most common.

Types
Endometrial cancers are adenocarcinomas. This means that they affect cells in the glands of the endometrium. There are a few different types of adenocarcinomas that can affect the endometrium: Endometroid: This type of adenocarcinoma occurs in the cells of glands that look a lot like the normal endometrium. According to the American Cancer Society, over 80% of endometrial cancer cases are endometroid adenocarcinomas. Squamous cell: This type of adenocarcinoma contains squamous cells, which are flat, thin cells found on the surface of the cervix. Clear-cell and serous: These two types of endometrial adenocarcinomas that are somewhat rare and much more aggressive than other types of the cancer. When they are diagnosed, these types of cancer have usually already spread to other parts of the body.

Symptoms
One of the advantages of this type of cancer is the obvious symptoms. Because endometrial cancer typically causes sudden and apparent changes in a womans body, it can often be diagnosed early on in its development. Some of the key signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer are: Bleeding between periods Prolonged bleeding during periods Vaginal bleeding after menopause has occurred Vaginal discharge which is abnormal, watery or blood-tinged Pain during intercourse Pelvic cramping Lower abdominal pain

Causes And Risk Factors

Endometrial cancer is caused by a genetic mutation in the cells of the endometrium. One this occurs, these cells start growing and multiply rapidly and do not die as early as a normal cell would.

This causes a mass of abnormal cells which eventually forms a tumor. From there, cancer cells from the tumor may start to invade other parts of the body if the cancer goes untreated. There are several risk factors which increase a womans risk of getting endometrial cancer, including: Hormonal changes: The ovaries produce two main hormones progesterone and estrogen. When the balance between these hormones is changed, the risk for endometrial cancer increases. This may occur as a result of a health condition which increases or decreases the levels of one of these hormones. For example, obesity, diabetes and irregular ovulation patterns can also cause hormone imbalances in the body. Years of menstruation: The more years a woman menstruates, the higher her risk for endometrial cancer will be. Women who start their period early (before age 12) and those who start menopause at an older age fall into this category. Never being pregnant: Women who have never been pregnant have a higher risk of getting endometrial cancer than those who have been pregnant at least once. Age: The risk of developing endometrial cancer increases with age. According to MayoClinic.com, most of the cases of endometrial cancer occur in older women who have already gone through menopause. HNPCC: HNPCC stands for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. Women with this disease and those who have a family member with HNPCC may have an increased risk of getting endometrial cancer. Hormone therapy: Women who have had the hormone therapy drug tamoxifen have an increased risk of getting endometrial cancer. However, for some women there are enough benefits to taking this drug to risk a higher incidence of endometrial cancer. For example, some women with breast cancer take tamoxifen to help treat their disease.

Prevention
There is no sure way to prevent endometrial cancer. However, taking the following steps can greatly reduce a womans risk for the disease: Maintain a healthy weight Exercise regularly Think about taking birth control pills, which reduce the risk for endometrial cancer Discuss risks vs. benefits with your doctor when undergoing hormone therapy

Treatment
When a woman has been diagnosed with endometrial cancer, there are several treatment options. Most women with endometrial cancer are advised to have their uterus removed. In many cases, the fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed as well. Radiation is often used to kill cancer cells and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. Radiation involves the use of high-power energy beams to get rid of dangerous cells in the body. Chemotherapy, which involves the use of drugs to kill cancer cells, may also be utilized.

Another treatment option is hormone therapy. Women may need drugs to increase either the progesterone or estrogen in their body in an effort to balance out the levels of these two hormones. This is often an option suggested for women with advanced endometrial cancer.

Prostate cancer is a very common form of male cancer. So whether someone is newly diagnosed or looking for information in helping a loved one understand and cope with this condition, here youll find all the information needed to understand prostate cancer.

Definition
Prostate cancer is the most common form of male cancer in the United States. It affects the prostate gland, a small, walnut-shaped gland located under the bladder and in front of the rectum in men. This gland produces seminal fluid, which is responsible for nourishing and transporting sperm for reproduction.

There are different types of prostate cancer. Some progress very slowly and require little treatment, while others progress very quickly and require very aggressive treatment. It is rare for prostate cancer to occur in men under the age of 40, and most cases are diagnosed in men over the age of 65. Each year there are more than 240,000 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed and sadly nearly 34,000 men lose their battle with this cancer each year. If caught early, it is highly treatable and the overall outlook is good. Currently in the United States there are more than 2 million prostate cancer survivors.

Causes And Risk Factors

To date, the exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown. What is known is that the cancer develops when the genetic mutations in an abnormal cells DNA causes the abnormal cell to grow and multiply out of control. These cells dont die, as healthy cells do. The continuous growth and multiplication causes a tumor to develop. Once a tumor develops, men often experience problems with urination and sexual abilities. This is what takes them to their doctor, though many men wait until its too late because they are simply too embarrassed to talk to their doctors about the problem. There are a number of risk factors associated with prostate cancer: Age: This is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer. It rarely develops before the age of 40, but after 50, the risk increases dramatically. African-American background: Prostate cancer is more prevalent in African-American men, than those from any other background. African-American men are more often diagnosed in more advanced stages and are more than two times more likely to die of prostate cancer than men of other backgrounds.

Family history of prostate cancer: As with many types of cancer, prostate cancer is known to run in families. Men with a family history are more than twice as likely to develop prostate cancer themselves. One in 10 who develops prostate cancer has a family history of the cancer. Geographic location: Ones geographic location may increase the risk of prostate cancer.For example, more white men develop prostate cancer when living in New England and in the northwest region of the country than anywhere else. Unhealthy diet: Diets high in fat and calories are shown to increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. An inactive lifestyle: Those who get little to no exercise are more likely to develop prostate cancer.

Symptoms
In the early stages of prostate cancer, men may experience no symptoms at all. As the disease progresses, they may experience the following symptoms: Difficulty urinating Decreased force in the stream of urine

Blood in urine Blood in semen Leg swelling Pelvic area discomfort

Bone pain Like many forms of cancers, the symptoms associated with prostate cancer are non-specific and can also be associated with a number of other conditions, such as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), also known as an enlarged prostate. A doctor will likely perform a physical exam as well as a blood test to measure the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). These two things together will tell the doctor if the problem is cancer or something else. While recommendations differ, most experts recommend routine prostate cancer screenings for men over the age of 50. Of course any man who experiences any of the above symptoms should see their doctor immediately to discuss their concerns and be screened for prostate cancer.

Treatment
The type of treatment that a man will receive will be determined by their doctor but will likely include surgery, radiation and hormone therapy. In some cases though, particularly those that arent advanced and arent progressing quickly, a doctor may take a wait and see approach. Surgery is used to remove the tumor, or in some cases to remove the whole prostate, depending upon how far the tumor has spread. In the past there was a concern about men being able to retain sexual function after the surgery but advances in surgical techniques have been able to preserve sexual function in some cases.

Radiation therapy is sometimes used in addition to surgery or instead of surgery. The radiation is aimed directly at the tumor in order to destroy it. It can also be used in later stages to help reduce pain. Hormone therapy is a very effective form of treatment for prostate cancer. Hormones are administered that reduce the levels of androgens (male hormones) in the body. These hormones cause the tumors in the prostate to grow. The drawback to this therapy is that it can become less effective over time and men may experience some feminizing side effects such as decreased sexual drive and tender breast tissue. Chemotherapy is also used in treating prostate cancer. However, it is only used in specific situations in which there is a concern that the cancer may return, otherwise, it is not used in most cases.

Prognosis
The prognosis for prostate cancer is very good, provided that the cancer has not metastasized, meaning it has not spread to other areas of the body. When it is confined to the prostate and surrounding tissue the 5-year survival rate is nearly 100 percent. If the cancer spreads, the 5-year survival rate is not so good, only about 29 percent. However, only about 4 percent of cases are diagnosed in this extremely late stage. With routine screening prostate cancer can be detected as early as possible. With treatment, prostate cancer survivors can move on with their lives in good health and never look back.

Vaginal cancer is any type of cancer that forms in the tissues of the vagina. Primary vaginal cancer is rare in the general population of women and is usually a squamous-cell carcinoma. Metastases are more common. Vaginal cancer occurs more often in women over age 50, but can occur at any age, even in infancy. It often can be cured if found and treated in early stages. Surgery alone or surgery combined with pelvic radiation is typically used to treat vaginal cancer. here are two primary types of vaginal cancer: squamous-cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.
[1]

Vaginal squamous-cell carcinoma arises from the thin, flat squamous cells that line the vagina. This is the most common type of vaginal cancer. It is found most often in women aged 60 or older. Vaginal adenocarcinoma arises from the glandular (secretory) cells in the lining of the vagina that produce some vaginal fluids. Adenocarcinoma is more likely than squamous cell cancer to spread to the lungs and lymph nodes. It is found most often in women aged 30 or younger. A specific subtype of adenocarcinoma (clear cell adenocarcinoma) occurs in a small percent of women (termed "DES-Daughters") born between 1938 and 1973 (later outside the United States) that were exposed to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero. DES was prescribed to 5 to 10 million [2] mothers in that timespan to prevent possible miscarriages and premature birth. Typically, patients present with DES-related adenocarcinoma before age 30, but increasing evidence suggests possible effects or cancers (including other forms of vaginal glandular tumors) at a later age for DES-exposed women. DES-exposure in women is also linked to various infertility and pregnancy complications.

Daughters exposed to DES in utero may also have an increased risk of moderate/severe cervical [3] squamous cell dysplasia and an increased risk of breast cancer. Approximately one in 1,000 (0.1%) DES Daughters will be diagnosed with clear cell adenocarcinoma. The risk is virtually non-existent [4] among premenopausal women not exposed to DES. There are also less common forms of vaginal cancer: Vaginal germ cell tumors (primarily teratoma and endodermal sinus tumor) are rare. They are found most often in infants and children. Sarcoma botryoides, a rhabdomyosarcoma also is found most often in infants and children.

Signs and symptoms[edit]

Often, there are no symptoms, and the cancer is found through a routine gynecologic exam. If there are symptoms, they are commonly abnormal vaginal bleeding, which may be post-coital, intermenstrual, [5] prepubertal, or postmenopausal. Other, less specific signs include difficult or painful urination, pain during intercourse, and pain in the pelvic area. Women who suspect exposure to DES should undergo a more extensive gynecological exam on a regular basis because the normal exam procedure does not closely examine the areas of the vagina usually obscured by the speculum in standard gynecological exams. See: Recommendations for DES-exposed patients.

Fallopian tube cancerBack to top

This information is about primary fallopian tube cancer, which means the cancer first started to grow in this area. Sometimes cancers that start in other areas, such as the ovaries, womb or cervix, can spread to the fallopian tubes. This is known as a secondary fallopian tube cancer and is treated according to where it started (the primary cancer). There are different types of fallopian tube cancer. The most common type is adenocarcinoma, which starts in the cells that form part of the lining of the fallopian tubes.

Causes of fallopian tube cancerBack to top

The exact cause of fallopian tube cancer is not known. Its more common in women in their 50s and 60s. The only known risk factor is an inherited faulty gene. Our genes carry the information thats passed on (inherited) from our parents. Doctors have identified two genes that may cause fallopian tube cancer. These are known as the BRCA genes. Doctors think that a faulty BRCA gene may cause around 15% of fallopian tube cancers. The BRCA genes are also linked to breast and ovarian cancer. Your GP can refer you to a family cancer clinic if you have two or more close relatives (mother, sisters, daughters) with breast or ovarian cancer, or one close relative with both of these cancers. We have more information about genetics and cancer.

Signs and symptoms of fallopian tube cancerBack to top

Symptoms of fallopian tube cancer may include any or all of the following:

pain in the tummy (abdominal pain) a swollen tummy (abdomen) abnormal vaginal bleeding (bleeding after the menopause or in between periods) watery discharge (that may be bloodstained) from the vagina.

These symptoms can be caused by other conditions but its important to have them checked by your doctor. You should always see your GP about abnormal vaginal bleeding.

How fallopian tube cancer is diagnosedBack to top

Usually you begin by seeing your GP, who will examine you and may arrange for you to have some tests. Your GP may refer you immediately to a gynaecologist (a specialist in the female reproductive system). The gynaecologist will do an internal vaginal examination to check for any lumps or swellings. You may also have an examination of your back passage (rectum). Your specialist will arrange for you to have some of the following tests.

Blood tests
You will usually have a blood test to check your general health and how well organs such as your kidneys and liver are working. You may have a blood test to check if you have higher than normal levels of a protein called CA125. CA125 is a protein that most women have in their blood. A raised level of CA125 is sometimes linked with fallopian tube cancer or ovarian cancer.

Ureteral cancer is cancer of the ureters, muscular tubes that propel urine from thekidneys to the urinary [1] [1] bladder. It is also known as ureter cancer, renal pelvic cancer, and rarely ureteric cancer or uretal [1][2] cancer. Cancer in this location is rare. Ureteral cancer is usually transitional cell carcinoma. Transitional cell carcinoma is "a common cause [1] of ureter cancer and other urinary (renal pelvic) tract cancers."
[2][3]

Epidemiology[edit]
Between 1988 and 2001 in the United States, cancer surveillance reports to SEER included 1,333 cases of ureteral cancer in adults: 808 male and 525 female, 1,158 white and 42 black. Of the total, 1,251 (94%) [2] were transitional cell carcinoma of the papillary type. "Five-year relative survival rates from cancers of [2] the ureter were similar among males vs. females..."

Symptoms[edit]
Symptoms of ureteral cancer may include "blood in the urine (hematuria); diminished urine stream and straining to void (caused by urethral stricture); frequent urination and increased nighttime urination (nocturia); hardening of tissue in the perineum, labia, or penis;itching; incontinence; pain during or after sexual intercourse (dyspareunia); painful urination (dysuria); recurrent urinary tract infection; urethral [4] discharge and swelling".

Risk factors[edit]
Tobacco smoking is associated with an increased risk of ureteral cancer.
[5]

Cervical cancer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cervical Cancer

Classification and external resources

Histopathologic image (H&E stain) of carcinomain situ, stage 0.

ICD-10

C53

ICD-9

180

OMIM

603956

DiseasesDB

2278

MedlinePlus

000893

eMedicine

med/324 radio/140

MeSH

D002583

Cervical cancer is a malignant neoplasm arising from cells originating in the cervix uteri. One of the most common symptoms of cervical cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage.[1] Treatment usually consists of surgery (including local excision) in early stages, and chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in more advanced stages of the disease. Cancer screening using the Pap smear can identify precancerous and potentially precancerous changes in cervical cells and tissue. Treatment of high-grade changes can prevent the development of cancer in many victims. In developed countries, the widespread use of cervical screening programs has dramatically reduced the incidence of invasive cervical cancer.[2] Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection appears to be a necessary factor in the development of almost all cases (90+%) of cervical cancer.[1][3] HPV vaccines effective against the two strains of this large family of viruses that currently cause approximately 70% of cases of cervical cancer have been licensed in the U.S, Canada, Australia, and the EU.[4][5] Since the vaccines only cover some of the cancer-causing ("high-risk") types of HPV, women should seek regular Pap smear screening, even after vaccination.[6] The cervix is the narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top of the vagina. Most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, arising in the squamous (flattened) epithelial cells that line the cervix. Adenocarcinoma, arising in glandular epithelial cells is the second most common type. Very rarely, cancer can arise in other types of cells in the cervix.

Signs and symptoms[edit]

Cervix in relation to upper part of vagina and posterior portion of uterus.

The early stages of cervical cancer may be completely asymptomatic. Vaginal bleeding, contact bleeding, or (rarely) a vaginal mass may indicate the presence of malignancy. Also, moderate pain during sexual intercourse and vaginal discharge are symptoms of cervical cancer. In advanced disease, metastases may be present in the abdomen, lungs or elsewhere. Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include: loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, pelvic pain, back pain, leg pain, swollen legs, heavy bleeding from the vagina, bone fractures, and/or (rarely) leakage [7] of urine or faeces from the vagina.

[1][2]

Causes[edit]
Infection with some types of human papilloma virus (HPV) is the greatest risk factor for cervical cancer, [8] [8] followed by smoking. Other risk factors include human immunodeficiency virus. Not all of the causes of [9] cervical cancer are known, however, and several other contributing factors have been implicated.

Human papillomavirus[edit]
Human papillomavirus type 16 and 18 are the cause of 70% of cervical cancer globally while 31 and 45 [10][11] are the cause of another 10%. Women who have many sexual partners (or who have sex with men who have had many other partners) [12][13] have a greater risk. Of the 150-200 types of HPV known, 15 are classified as high-risk types (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 73, and 82), 3 as probable high-risk (26, 53, and 66), and 12 as low-risk (6, 11, 40, [16] 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 70, 72, 81, and CP6108). Genital warts, which are a form of benign tumor of epithelial cells, are also caused by various strains of HPV. However, these serotypes are usually not related to cervical cancer. It is common to have multiple strains at the same time, including those that can cause cervical cancer along with those that cause
[14][15]

warts. The medically accepted paradigm, officially endorsed by the American Cancer Society and other organizations, is that a patient must have been infected with HPV to develop cervical cancer, and is hence viewed as a sexually transmitted disease (although many dispute that, technically, it is the causative agent, not the cancer, that is a sexually transmitted disease), but most women infected with [17] high risk HPV will not develop cervical cancer. Use of condoms reduces, but does not always prevent transmission. Likewise, HPV can be transmitted by skin-to-skin-contact with infected areas. In males, there is no commercially available test for HPV, although HPV is thought to grow preferentially in [citation needed] the epithelium of the glans penis, and cleaningof this area may be preventative.

Smoking[edit]
Smoking has also been linked to the development of cervical cancer. There are a few different ways that smoking can increase the risk of cervical cancer in women which can be by direct and indirect [18][20][21] methods of inducing cervical cancer. A direct way of contracting this cancer is a female smoker [18] has a higher chance of CIN3 occurring which has the potential of forming cervical cancer. When CIN3 lesions lead to cancer, most of them have the assistance of the HPV virus, but that is not always the case [21] which is why it can be considered a direct link to cervical cancer. An indirect means of developing this cancer by smoking is that it can lead to human papillomavirus which can result in cervical [19] cancer. Heavy smoking and long term smoking seem to have more of a risk of getting the CIN3 lesions [22] than lighter smoking or not smoking at all. Although smoking has been linked to cervical cancer, it aids [20] in the development of HPV which is the leading cause of this type of cancer. Also, not only does it aid in the development of HPV, but if the woman is already HPV-positive she is at an even greater likelihood [22] of contracting cervical cancer.
[18][19][20]