Types Of Breast Cancer

There are several different types of breast cancer. Some cancer diagnoses are followed by the words in situ, meaning the cancer is contained to a single area, such as a milk duct or lobule, and shows no sign of invasion. If the cancer breaks through the basement membrane that lines the cells from the surrounding lobules or ducts, it is called infiltrating or invasive carcinoma. From there, the cancer can spread to blood vessels, lymph nodes and other parts of the breast. If not detected early, it also can spread to other parts of the body.

The most common types of breast cancer include:

- Infiltrating (or invasive) ductal carcinoma. This form of breast cancer is by far the most common, accounting for 70 to 80 percent of all cases, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). As the mass grows, it can lead to a dimpling of the breast or the nipple retracting inward.

- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Also known as intraductal carcinoma or non-invasive ductal carcinoma, DCIS refers to cancer cells confined to the milk duct of the breast with no evidence of invasion into the surrounding tissues. DCIS is now a common diagnosis due to the widespread use of screening mammography and usually shows up as calcifications on the mammogram. In situ cancers are noninvasive and are considered the earliest stage of breast cancer.

- Infiltrating (or invasive) lobular carcinoma. This invasive type of breast cancer can be difficult to detect because it often appears as a thickening within the breast and not a clearly defined mass. A small number of women diagnosed with infiltrating lobular carcinoma will develop the disease in both breasts. Lobular carcinoma accounts for less than 10 percent of invasive breast cancers, according the American Cancer Society (ACS).

- Inflammatory breast cancer. This form of the disease is considered a highly malignant type of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer can spread rapidly producing symptoms of swelling and redness and skin that is warm to the touch. The ACS estimates that approximately 1 to 3 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses are inflammatory breast cancer.

- Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). Also known as noninvasive lobular carcinoma, LCIS is more common among premenopausal women and often develops in both breasts or in several areas of one breast. Very few women diagnosed with LCIS develop an invasive form of breast cancer.

In addition to the more common forms of breast cancer, there are other rarer types of invasive breast cancers. These are:

- Paget’s disease. This disease is slow-growing cancer of the areola (pink area around the nipple) and nipple. Starting in the milk ducts of the nipple, Paget’s disease eventually grows onto the nipple itself. It is sometimes mistaken for eczema as it can create itchiness or a crusty appearance around the nipple. This form of breast cancer accounts for about 1 percent of all cases of breast cancer, according to the ACS.

- Medullary carcinoma. This type of infiltrating cancer is characterized by large cancer cells and a distinct margin between cancerous and normal tissue. It accounts for less than 5 percent of breast cancers, according to the ACS.

- Tubular carcinoma. This invasive cancer is a slow-growing form of breast cancer that is tube-shaped. It accounts for approximately 2 percent of all breast cancers, according to the ACS.

- Mucinous (colloid) cancers. This type of breast cancer contains a mucous protein within the cancer cells.

Other, extremely rare breast cancers include:

- Angiosarcoma, which is sometimes referred to as hemangiosarcoma
- Phyllodes tumor, which is normally seen in women of middle age who have a prior medical history of fibroadenomas
- Primary lymphoma

The NCI labels these as tumor subtypes that occur in the breast, but are not considered typical breast cancers.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men, excluding skin cancer, and is the second leading cause of cancer death. Risk factors include age (incidence increases in men over the age of 65 years). It is more prevalent in the western world and 10% of cases can be linked to family history.Prostate cancer is a continuum, progressing through localised, locally advanced, advanced and hormone-refractory stages. In general it is a slow growing cancer which is primarily under hormonal control i.e. testosterone. Choice of treatments which include watchful waiting, surgery (prostatectomy), radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy are dependent on the stage of disease.If detected early, using PSA determination, DRE examination and biopsies, and treated appropriately, survival rates are excellent.

Pathology of Prostate Cancer

Carcinogenesis is a multi-step accumulation of genetic lesions that may eventually result in uncontrolled cellular proliferation, and/or a decrease in cell death or apoptosis. When a normal prostate cancer cell loses the ability to respond to the usual controls that regulate cell division, it proliferates out of control. As the cancer growth progresses, the cells become less specialised, or less well differentiated, and the cancer becomes more dangerous.

The tumour can spread through invasion of local tissues, or through cells breaking away from the primary tumour and travelling through the lymphatic or circulatory systems to infect other parts of the body – a process called metastatic spread.The causes of prostate cancer are not clear, but androgens, mainly testosterone, are thought to play a part in initiating and promoting prostate cancer. Various growth factors, such as epidermal growth factor and insulin growth factor, may also play a role. Mutations in the androgen receptor are also believed to contribute to the development and/or progression of prostate cancer and are known to play a role in the progression of hormone-sensitive cancers to hormone insensitivity.

At least 95% of prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas, meaning that they arise in the glandular tissue derived from the epithelial cells of the prostate gland rather than the supporting, connective structures. Most prostate cancers (60–70%) arise in the peripheral zone of the prostate gland, with 5–15% arising in the central zone and the remainder developing in the transition zone.Prostate cancers are usually slow-growing. Microscopic foci (groups) of ‘latent’ prostate cancer cells have been detected in almost one-third of men over 50 years of age.

However, in many cases the disease does not reach a stage where it becomes clinically significant. This means that though many older men may die with prostate cancer, they do not necessarily die from prostate cancer.Attempts have been made to identify the ‘premalignant’ cells that progress to invasive cancer. The most likely candidate identified thus far is prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). PIN appears to be associated with a higher risk of developing cancer:
- autopsy studies reveal that PIN precedes the development of cancer by 10 years
- in a controlled study of 100 patients with high-grade PIN, 36% developed prostate cancer within 24 months, compared with only 13% of patients without PIN.

Breast Cancer

What is Breast Cancer?
Cancers occur when abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way. Almost all breast cancers occur in women - very few occur in men.
The cancer usually begins as a small lump in a breast and then grows, either slowly or quickly.

It can also spread to other parts of the body after a period of time. Early diagnosis is the key to survival.
In fact, most lumps in the breast are not cancers, they are benign and don't spread to other parts of the body. However, every lump in the breast needs careful checking by a healthcare professional.
Tumours can therefore be described as benign or malignant.
Benign tumours do not spread, but malignant tumours, as in breast cancer, are made up of cells that can spread to and damage other parts of the body.

How do you get Breast Cancer?
Although the exact causes of breast cancer have yet to be identified, the risk increases gradually with age and for certain people there may be a family hereditary (genetic) component.
Doctors know that 1 in 10 women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives.
Three-quarters of women who develop it do so after the menopause.
Some other things are known to increase the risk such as early puberty/late menopause, not having children or having a first child after the age of 30 years.
The risk can actually be lower if you have a short menstrual life, large family or first child before age 18 years.

How serious is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is potentially a very serious condition and can be life-threatening.
Early detection of breast cancer is therefore vital as it increases the chances of successful treatment.
Community screening programmes and mammograms are key to early detection and are integral tools in the fight against breast cancer.
Self-examination is also important and women should check their breasts regularly. If there are any changes in size or shape, lumps, tenderness or nipple discharge then a healthcare professional should be consulted.

How long does Breast Cancer last?
Doctors know that breast cancer develops in phases from early to advanced stages (when it has spread to other organs). The earliest stage may have taken only a few weeks to develop before it is detected. Early treatment, possibly involving surgery and radiation combined with drug treatment, is very important and will probably take several months. Hormone therapy may then be continued for a longer period.If a tumour is malignant this can form new tumours that doctors call a recurrence, secondaries or metastases.
The common places for breast cancer to spread are the bones (back or hips), the lungs, the liver and sometimes the brain
Recurrences do not occur in every woman who has had breast cancer and they do not occur in all of the places mentioned, usually only one place is affected.

How is Breast Cancer treated?
Typically, treatment of breast cancer will involve surgery followed by a combination of chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation. However, treatment can vary greatly from patient to patient depending on the stage of the cancer and whether recurrence has occurred.
-Surgery: Removal of the lump (called a lumpectomy) is the preferred technique. Removal of lymph nodes in the armpit may be undertaken as well. Removal of the breast (called a mastectomy) is only performed if absolutely necessary.
-Chemotherapy: Medicines that interfere with cancer cell growth and division are administered to reduce the size of tumours or kill them.
-Hormonal therapy: Hormones are chemical signals which are released by different parts of the body and can carried in the blood to some other area to have an effect. Oestrogen is a sex hormone that promotes the growth of some breast cancers. Hormonal treatments, such as anti-oestrogens, aromatase inhibitors or LHRH analogues, are designed to block the effects of oestrogen or its production, which stops or slows the growth of cancer cells.
-Radiation therapy: X-rays or other high-energy rays are applied to the tumour and surrounding areas to destroy cancer cells.

Large Scale Fires Disperse Asbestos

The Health Protection Agency has published a report about the potential health impact and levels of asbestos exposures from large scale fires. Asbestos causes a number of diseases and, in particular, is linked to the development of mesothelioma and lung cancer. The import, supply and use of asbestos was banned in 1999, but due to its extensive use in the building industry it is still found in many locations.

Large scale fires involving materials containing asbestos are relatively common in the UK and can cause significant public concern. This report explores the potential public health consequences of such incidents by reviewing the available evidence.

Professor Gary Coleman, Head of the Agency's Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division said "The available evidence was reviewed and this indicates that the levels of exposure to asbestos experienced by members of the public, following fires involving materials containing asbestos, will be very small. There is no direct evidence of long-term health risks, such as development of mesothelioma and lung cancer, from fires involving materials containing asbestos, and this risk is thought to be minimal provided that appropriate clean-up operations are undertaken."

The report found that a number of factors help to reduce exposure of the general public to asbestos following a fire involving materials containing asbestos. For example, not all the materials containing asbestos in a building may be involved in a fire; fibres may become trapped in larger pieces of material stopping them from being released into the environment; asbestos fibres which can be breathed in only make-up a part of the total released; some fibres may disintegrate due to the high temperatures in the fire; the weather, such as wind and rain, will affect local air concentrations; and the duration of exposure to asbestos during a fire will usually be short.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is also known as mesothelioma of the pericardium or cancer of the sac that holds the heart.
Your doctor may diagnose this cancer using a thoracoscope to perform a thoracoscopy, which might also involve opening up the chest cavity to remove the tumor.
Patients who develop excessive fluid around the heart, called an effusion, may have a sample of the fluid taken to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma. Fluid might also be drained to relieve symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. The procedure for drawing out this fluid is called “pericardiocentesis.”
For more information about the diagnosis of this disease, click here.

Symptoms

Symptoms can include chest pain and shortness of breath. The tumor and/or fluid that accumulates between the heart and the sac can compress the heart, causing such symptoms

Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

The treatment of mesothelioma, depends on a number of things, including mesothelioma, as the disease is advanced, the overall health and fitness of patients and their personal preferences.

There are various treatments that can be recommended for mesothelioma. Among active symptoms, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. A patient can only make this type of treatment, or a combination of them. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are treatments, which can be used for the treatment of symptoms of mesothelioma. Radiotherapy is, in general, in a manner aimed at preventing the spread of mesothelioma in the scars or biopsy.

Radiotherapy & Mesothelioma

Radiotherapy is the use of high radiation to kill cancer cells in the body. All cells in the treated part of the body, which have the potential of radiotherapy. Normal, healthy cells is to a certain degree rest. Radiation is used for the treatment of a certain sector of isolation of the body (for example, an area in the chest, which felt the pain). The processing sector is often seen as a field of radiotherapy.

A course of treatment is individual. The course can also be of several doses, which, as a general rule, in groups, or just a few. The number of fractions required would be necessary, it all depends on the height of the fabric, which is treated. Treatment of radiotherapy, it is not usual on the weekend. Radiotherapy mesothelioma may, in reducing the size of the tumor to help alleviate symptoms, such as pain or discomfort.

Radiation can also be applied to the scar left by a biopsy, or surgical drainage. This is designed to prevent the spread of mesothelioma in the page as perhaps microscopic deposits occurred in the loading and removing pipe, biopsy needles or surgical instruments. In mesothelioma radiotherapy may also carry out large areas. Any chest on top of the patients can be treated after surgery to kill diseased cells, it has not been possible during the operation to remove. (Please note that the surgery section for details about the surgery and mesothelioma). In small scars mesothelioma often with three doses (groups), radiation. When considering aimed at relieving symptoms such as pain up to 10 doses (groups) is needed. If after the operation, in a large area up to 30 treatments may be necessary.

Staging of Mesothelioma

When the diagnosis of cancer, it is necessary to know what kind of cancer (eg mesothelioma), but also the extent (stadium) of the disease. The stage describes the position and size of the cancer, and if yes or no there is evidence that it is only in the vicinity of tissues or other, more distant sites. The staging can be useful in assessing the prognosis, in the formulation of recommendations for the treatment and evaluation and comparison of the results of treatment. There are various systems required for the staging of mesothelioma. Here is an abbreviated version of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (IMIG) staging system, the most widely used:
-Stage 1 disease located on the pleura only on one side of the chest.
-Stage 2 disease on the pleura on one side of the chest, but the cancer cells have long pleura in lung tissue or underlying muscle of the diaphragm.
-Stage 3, the cancer has also promoted the pleura glands in the chest and / or increased deeper into the tissue around the pleura.
-Stage 4 cancer has widely spread to organs or tissues or far penetrated deep into the tissue near the pleura eg through the aperture in the abdomen, as opposed to the pleura in the lung or the spinal column or the muscles of the heart. To the staging of the extent of the disease in general, the computer can be carried out and all that is required. Further analysis is sometimes used in some centers on the inclusion of MRI imaging (MRI), ultrasound scan (SGB) and the Tomography by the issuance of positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

Diagnose of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer affecting the mesothelium, which is a thin membrane that lines the inner surface of the chest wall, where he is known as the chest and abdomen, where it is known as the peritonitis. It also surrounds the organs within these cavities such as the heart, lungs and intestines. It is much more common in the chest mesothelioma than in the abdomen.

It is about a case of peritoneal mesothelioma for every 12 cases of pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is not an easy disease to diagnose. Often a series of tests and hospital visits, and even then it is not always possible, that mesothelioma.

Symptoms & Referral

The first signs of the disease are rather vague. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue and weight loss. In most cases, the first sign of something wrong is when shortness of breath or chest pain occurs as a result of effusion. This is when fluid accumulates in space (pleural cavity) between the two layers of the pleural lining. At this stage, the patient is often visit their physician.

Picture Source - web.ics.purdue.edu

The GP often arrange a chest X-ray. However, the signs of mesothelioma on a chest X-ray is often unclear and X-rays can show thickening of the pleura or an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, which can also be caused by other conditions . Depending on the outcome of the X-ray, the doctor can take emergency patients to a hospital consultant specializing in lung cancer and mesothelioma.

The right side of the picture shows a normal lung and the left side shows a pleural effusion.

Asbestos Removal

Generally, asbestos is a risk that if you disturb or damage the fibers and cause to be released into the air. If asbestos-containing materials are in good condition and in a position where they will not be disturbed or damaged, it may be safer to leave them where they are and make sure that all the risks are properly managed. Professional advice should be sought.

Asbestos has been used in many different products and buildings from the 1950s until the mid-1980s. Many homes can contain asbestos-containing materials. If you are concerned about asbestos at home, and the potential for the removal, you should contact the local council in your area. They will be able to provide professional advice.

As alternative in finding a builder for asbesto removal, you can visit to http://www.findabuilder.co.uk/ or, alternatively, the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) can also recommend someone. Their website is http://www.arcaweb.org.uk/

The Couse of Mesothelioma

From all mesothelioma cases, asbestos is the most couse of mesothelioma.Asbestos is responsible for up to 9 out of 10 mesothelioma cases. There are thought to be other rare causes of the disease but none are fully understood at this time. The disease has been described in medical literature since 1870 although the first suspicion linking asbestos and mesothelioma did not appear in the U.K. until 1935 and a definite link was not reported until 1960.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral that is widely distributed in nature. Its name derives from the Greek meaning ‘inextinguishable’, which suggests its ability to resist heat and fire have always been understood. It is the ability to resist heat and fire that resulted in asbestos being used widely in industry, shipbuilding and construction particularly during and after World War II. Currently the largest producers of asbestos are Russia, China and Canada. Russia and China use a majority within their own country however Canada dominates the export market. There are still over 100 countries producing asbestos containing pipes and sheets to be used as low cost building material.

There are three main types of asbestos, blue (crocidolite), brown (amosite) and white (Chrysotile). They are all harmful but blue and brown asbestos are recognised as the most hazardous and have not been imported into the UK since 1985. However, they are still present in buildings and equipment produced before the ban. White asbestos was only banned in the U.K. in 1999.

It is asbestos dust or airborne fibres, which cause harm when inhaled or ingested. Asbestos materials left undisturbed probably poses no significant threat. Asbestos fibres are very fine and if they are breathed in they can reach the smallest areas of the lung where they cannot be breathed or coughed out. Once they have lodged in the lung the body’s defence mechanism tries to break them down and remove them which leads to swelling and inflammation in the surrounding area. The fibres can also penetrate the edge of the lung and settle in the pleural lining. The fibres can also be swallowed and in a similar way can lodge in the abdomen and work their way to the peritoneum that lines the abdomen where the same swelling and inflammation can occur.

If you have been exposed to asbestos at any time you are potentially at risk although it should be made clear that the majority of people who have been exposed to asbestos dust do not suffer ill health as a result. There is no way of identifying who or why some people go on to suffer and others remain unaffected.


Source : Mesothelioma UK.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is usually also known as ‘diffuse’ or ‘malignant’ mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the Mesothelium, which is a thin membrane that lines the inner surface of the chest wall where it is known as the pleura, and abdomen, where it is known as the peritoneum. It also surrounds the organs found within these cavities for example the heart, lung and intestines. It is far more common to have mesothelioma in the chest than in the abdomen, there is approximately 1 case of peritoneal mesothelioma to every 12 cases of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptom

It can take many years after being exposed to asbestos for mesothelioma to occur. The length of time taken is referred to as the latency period and is usually between 15-45 years.In the early stages when the mesothelioma is present as small lumps it will not show up on any scans or x-rays and is unlikely to cause any symptoms. As it progresses pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma can both cause general symptoms such as sweating, tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss. As the disease advances pleural mesothelioma typically causes patients to feel breathless and/or experience chest pain.

Breathlessness may be due to a combination of factors. The pleura being thickened can act like a rind around the lung restricting its movement and preventing the lung from expanding.Pain can be quite severe as the mesothelioma can extend into the tissues surrounding the pleura including nerves and bone. A variety of medication is available to combat any pain experienced.
Fluid may also accumulate in the space between the two layers of the pleura occupying space and again this restricts lung expansion. A cough or altered voice is also sometimes experienced. Peritoneal mesothelioma often causes swelling and pain in the abdomen.

Two kind of Mesothelioma

1. Pleural Mesothelioma

The pleural lining has two layers: the visceral (inner) layer is next to the lung and the parietal (outer) layer lines the chest wall. The pleura produces fluid that lubricates the space between the two layers, this allows the two layers to slide comfortably over each other as we breathe in and out.

Pleural mesothelioma causes the pleura to thicken. This thickening of the pleura might begin to press onto the lungs or attach itself to the inside of the chest wall. In either case the expansion of the lung becomes progressively restricted by the tumour. Fluid, sometimes several litres, can collect between the two layers of the pleura; this affects the lungs ability to expand and causes the person to feel breathless. This is known as a pleural effusion.

2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The peritoneum also has two layers the inner (visceral) layer which is next to the abdominal organs and the outer (parietal) layer which lines the abdominal wall.

Peritoneal mesothelioma causes the peritoneum to thicken and fluid to collect in the abdomen. This collection of fluid is called ascites and causes the abdomen to swell. Because pleural mesothelioma is more common and often spreads to the peritoneal cavity, it is sometimes necessary to determine if pleural mesothelioma is the primary cancer.