Duodenal cancer is a rare form of cancer in the gastrointestinal tract. When cancer cells begin to form in the duodenum, tumors can block food from passing through the digestive tract.

When food is unable to pass through the small intestine or when the body is unable to absorb necessary vitamins, you may experience a number of symptoms:

• abdominal cramping
• nausea
• constipation
• vomiting
• acid reflux
• weight loss
• bloody stools

In most cases, symptoms from duodenal cancer will appear in the later stages of the disease once the tumor has grown large enough to block food passage. At that point, you may notice an abdominal mass.

Duodenal cancer can be classified into five major types:

Diagnosing duodenal cancer can be difficult because symptoms occur in later stages of the disease. This can also make it difficult to treat.

Duodenal cancer can be diagnosed in five different stages:

Some procedures to help detect cancer in your small intestine include:

• tests that generate detailed images of your GI tract, such as an MRI or CT scan
• endoscopy, which involves examining the inside of your GI tract using a flexible tube with a small camera attached
• removal of a small amount of tissue for analysis, called a biopsy
• barium swallow, which is an X-ray procedure that examines your upper GI tract

Treatment for this rare cancer greatly depends on the stage it has been diagnosed. However, the most common and effective treatment option is surgery alone or accompanied by chemotherapy, radiation, or both.

Doctors will try to remove tumors in the duodenum to allow food passage from the stomach. Another surgical option is the Whipple procedure, which removes the duodenum, gallbladder, and a portion of the pancreas.

An alternative to surgery is chemotherapy to destroy malignant cancer cells. However, this treatment method can cause a number of side effects, including:

• hair loss
• nausea
• vomiting
• fatigue
• weight loss

Some people choose to participate in more holistic treatments, often by incorporating home remedies and herbs into their daily routine. Some herbal remedies can help to minimize cancerous tumors and improve uncomfortable symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you do want to try using such treatments. They may have suggestions for which to try or concerns about reactions that could occur with medications you’re taking.

Duodenal cancer affects the first part of the small intestine. It can be life-threatening if left untreated. Because it’s so rare, research is still being done to find more effective treatments and ways to detect the cancer earlier.

Duodenal cancer can be difficult to treat because symptoms occur later in the disease. If your family has a history of cancer, Duodenal Cancer Symptoms and Treatment or if you begin to experience irregular symptoms, visit your doctor. Early detection can provide the best opportunity to treat and eliminate cancer.

Doctors use staging as a general guideline to figure out how far along the cancer is. It’s important for a doctor to know the stage of the cancer because it helps determine the best treatment plan for you. It’s also a good way to estimate your long-term outlook.

Stage 0 colon cancer is the earliest stage, and stage 4 is the most advanced stage. Here’s how the stages are defined:

Stage 0. Also known as carcinoma in situ, in this stage abnormal cells are only in the inner lining of the colon or rectum.

Stage 1. The cancer has penetrated the lining, or mucosa, of the colon or rectum and may have grown into the muscle layer. It hasn’t spread to nearby lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.

Stage 2. The cancer has spread to the walls of the colon or rectum, or through the walls to nearby tissues, but hasn’t affected the lymph nodes.

Stage 3. The cancer has moved to the lymph nodes but not to other parts of the body.

Stage 4. The cancer has spread to other distant organs, such as the liver or lungs.

You might not experience colon cancer symptoms at all, especially in the early stages. If you do experience symptoms in stages 0 through 2, they’ll often include:

constipation

diarrhea

changes in stool color

changes in stool shape, such as narrowed stool

blood in the stool

bleeding from the rectum

excessive gas

abdominal cramps

abdominal pain

Many of these symptoms can also be caused by other, less serious, conditions. However, it’s a good idea to see a doctor if you’ve had any of these symptoms for longer than a week or two. You and your doctor can talk about your symptoms and decide if colon cancer screening is appropriate.

Stage 3 or 4 symptoms (late-stage symptoms)

Colon cancer symptoms are more noticeable in stages 3 and 4. In addition to the above symptoms, you might also experience:

excessive fatigue

unexplained weakness

unintentional weight loss

changes in your stool that last longer than a month

a feeling that your bowels won’t completely empty

vomiting

If colon cancer spreads to other parts of your body, you may also experience:

jaundice, or yellow eyes and skin

swelling in the hands or feet

breathing difficulties

chronic headaches

blurry vision

bone fractures

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Symptoms by stage

It might surprise you to learn that there is more than one type of colon cancer. There are different types of cells that turn cancerous and there are cells in different parts of the digestive tract that can lead to colon cancer.

The most common type of colon cancer starts from adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinomas form within the cells that make mucus in either the colon or rectum. According to the ACSTrusted Source, adenocarcinomas make up most colon cancer cases.

Less commonly, colon cancers are caused by other types of tumors, such as:

lymphomas, which can form in lymph nodes or in the colon first

carcinoids, which start in hormone-making cells within your intestines

sarcomas, which form in soft tissues such as muscles in the colon

gastrointestinal stromal tumors, which can start off as benign and then become cancerous (They usually form in the digestive tract, but rarely in the colon.)

Researchers are still studying the causes of colon cancer.

Cancer may be caused by genetic mutations that can either be inherited or acquired. These mutations don’t guarantee you’ll develop colon cancer, but they do increase your chances.

Some mutations may cause abnormal cells to accumulate in the lining of the colon, forming polyps. These are small, benign growths. However, untreated polyps can become cancerous. Removing these growths through surgery can be a preventive measure.

There are some risk factors that can increase your chances of developing colon cancer. Having one of these risk factors doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get colon cancer, but it does make it more likely than if you had no risk factors.

Risk factors you can’t change

Some factors that increase your risk of developing colon cancer can’t be changed. For instance, your age, ethnicity, and family health history can all impact your risk of colon cancer.

Risk factors you can’t control include:

being over 50

a prior history of colon polyps

a prior history of bowel diseases

a family history of colorectal cancer

having certain genetic syndromes, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)

being of African or Ashkenazi Jewish descent

Risk factors you can avoid

Other risk factors are avoidable. This means you can change them to decrease your risk of developing colon cancer. Avoidable risk factors include:

being overweight or having obesity

being a smoker

being a heavy drinker

having type 2 diabetes

having a sedentary lifestyle

consuming a diet high in processed meats

An early diagnosis of colon cancer gives you the best chance of curing it. Since colon cancer often has no symptoms during the early stages, it is often caught during routine screenings.

The US Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) and the ACSTrusted Source now recommend colon cancer screening starting at 45, in light of younger people getting diagnosed with colon cancer.

The American College of Gastroenterology recommends that people start colon cancer screening at 40 years old.

Your doctor will start by getting information about your medical and family history. They’ll also perform a physical exam. They may press on your abdomen or perform a rectal exam to determine whether lumps or polyps are present.

Fecal testing

The ACSTrusted Source recommends yearly fecal testing. Fecal tests are used to detect hidden blood in your stool. There are two main types, the guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) and the fecal immunochemical test (FIT).

Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)

Guaiac is a plant-based substance used to coat a special card that your stool sample is placed upon. If any blood is present in your stool, the card will change color.

You’ll have to avoid certain foods and medications, such as red meat and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), before this test. They may interfere with your test results.

Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)

The FIT detects hemoglobin, a protein found in the blood. It’s considered more precise than the guaiac-based test.

That’s because the FIT is unlikely to detect bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract (a type of bleeding that is rarely caused by colorectal cancer). Additionally, the results of this test aren’t affected by foods and medications.

At-home tests

Because multiple stool samples are needed for these tests, your doctor will likely provide you with test kits to use at home.

You can also buy at-home test kits from companies such as LetsGetChecked and Everlywell.

These kits often require you to send a stool sample off to a lab for evaluation. Your test results should be available online within 5 business days. Afterward, you’ll have the option to consult with a medical care team about your test results.

The Second Generation FIT can also be purchased online, but the stool sample doesn’t have to be sent to a lab. Test results are available within 5 minutes. This test is accurate, FDA-approved, and able to detect additional conditions such as colitis. However, there’s no medical care team to consult with if you have questions about your results.

Blood tests

Your doctor may run blood tests to get a better idea of what’s causing your symptoms. Liver function tests and complete blood counts can rule out other diseases and disorders.

Sigmoidoscopy

Minimally invasive, sigmoidoscopy allows your doctor to examine your sigmoid colon, the last section of your colon, for abnormalities. The procedure, also known as flexible sigmoidoscopy, involves a flexible tube with a light on it.

The USPSTF recommends a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or every 10 years along with a yearly FIT test.

The ACSTrusted Source recommends a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years.

Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy involves the use of a long tube with a small camera attached. This procedure allows your doctor to see inside your colon and rectum to check for anything unusual. It’s usually performed after less invasive screening tests indicate that you might have colon cancer.

During a colonoscopy, your doctor can also remove tissue from abnormal areas. These tissue samples can then be sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Out of the existing diagnostic methods, sigmoidoscopies and colonoscopies are the most effective at detecting benign growths that may develop into colon cancer.

The USPSTF and the ACSTrusted Source recommend a colonoscopy every 10 years.

X-ray

Your doctor may order an X-ray using a contrast solution that contains the chemical element barium.

Your doctor inserts this liquid into your bowels through the use of a barium enema. Once in place, the barium solution coats the lining of the colon. This helps improve the quality of the X-ray images.

CT scan

CT scans provide your doctor with a detailed image of your colon. A CT scan that’s used to diagnose colon cancer is sometimes called a virtual colonoscopy.

Treatment of colon cancer depends on a variety of factors. A doctor will determine the best treatment plan for you based on your overall health and the stage of your colon cancer.

Surgery

In the earliest stages of colon cancer, it’s often possible for your surgeon to remove cancerous polyps through surgery. If the polyp hasn’t attached to the wall of the bowels, you’ll likely have an excellent outlook.

Your surgeon may need to remove a portion of the colon or rectum and the neighboring lymph nodes If your cancer has spread into your bowel walls. Your surgeon might be able to reattach the remaining healthy portion of the colon to the rectum. If this isn’t possible, they may perform a colostomy. This involves creating an opening in the abdominal wall for the removal of waste. A colostomy may be temporary or permanent.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. For people with colon cancer, chemotherapy commonly takes place after surgery and is used to destroy lingering cancerous cells. Chemotherapy also controls the growth of tumors.

Chemotherapy drugs used to treat colon cancer include:

capecitabine (Xeloda)

fluorouracil

oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)

irinotecan (Camptosar)

Chemotherapy often comes with side effects that need to be controlled with additional medication.

Radiation

Radiation uses a powerful beam of energy, similar to that used in X-rays, to target and destroy cancerous cells before and after surgery. Radiation therapy commonly occurs alongside chemotherapy.

Other medications

Targeted therapies and immunotherapies may also be recommended. Drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat colon cancer include:

bevacizumab (Avastin)

ramucirumab (Cyramza)

ziv-aflibercept (Zaltrap)

cetuximab (Erbitux)

panitumumab (Vectibix)

regorafenib (Stivarga)

pembrolizumab (Keytruda)

nivolumab (Opdivo)

ipilimumab (Yervoy)

They can treat metastatic, or late-stage, colon cancer that doesn’t respond to other types of treatment and has spread to other parts of the body.

It can be alarming and stressful to get a serious diagnosis like colon cancer. Fortunately, colon cancer is treatable, especially when detected early. In fact, according to the ACS, colon cancer that’s diagnosed before it has spread past the colon and rectum has a 91 percent 5-year survival rateTrusted Source. Additionally, these survival rates are based on data from 2010 to 2016. New cancer treatments have led to increasingly improved outcomes in more recent years.

However, colon cancer cases have also risen among younger people in recent years. According to the ACSTrusted Source, while colon cancer deaths declined in older adults, deaths in people younger than 50 years old increased between 2008 and 2017.

Certain risk factors for colon cancer, such as family history and age, aren’t preventable.

However, lifestyle factors that may contribute to colon cancer are preventable, and changing them might help lower your overall risk of developing this disease.

You can take steps now to reduce your risk by:

decreasing the amount of red meat you eat

avoiding processed meats, such as hot dogs and deli meats

eating more plant-based foods

decreasing dietary fat

exercising daily

losing weight, if your doctor recommends it

quitting smoking

reducing alcohol consumption

decreasing stress

managing preexisting diabetes

Another preventive measure? Getting a colonoscopy or other cancer screening when you turn 45 years old. The earlier the cancer is detected, the better the outcome.

Surgery is often the first step in treating colon cancer. Your next steps will depend on how you respond to surgery and what further treatments you need.

No matter what happens on your treatment journey, Colon Cancer Symptoms and Treatment you’ll need support Colon Cancer Symptoms and Treatment along the way. It’s important to talk to your medical team and loved ones and to feel comfortable reaching out for help. Colon Cancer Symptoms and Treatment Check out the resources below to Colon Cancer Symptoms and Treatment start building a Colon Cancer Symptoms and Treatment support system.

Breast Cancer Symptoms and Treatment, occurs when changes called mutations take place in genes that regulate cell growth. The mutations let the cells divide and multiply in an uncontrolled way. Breast cancer is cancer that develops in breast cells. Typically, the cancer forms in either the lobules or the ducts of the breast. Lobules are the glands that produce milk, and ducts are the pathways that bring the milk from the glands to the nipple. Cancer can also occur in the fatty tissue or the fibrous connective tissue within your breast. The uncontrolled cancer cells often invade other healthy breast tissue and can travel to the lymph nodes under the arms. Once the cancer enters the lymph nodes, it has access to a pathway to move to other parts of the body. See pictures and learn more about the structure of the breast.

In its early stages, breast cancer may not cause any symptoms. In many cases, a tumor may be too small to be felt, but an abnormality can still be seen on a mammogram.

If a tumor can be felt, the first sign is usually a new lump in the breast that was not there before. However, not all lumps are cancer.

Each type of breast cancer can cause a variety of symptoms. Many of these symptoms are similar, but some can be different. Symptoms for the most common breast cancers include:

• a breast lump or tissue thickening that feels different from surrounding tissue and is new
• breast pain
• red or discolored, pitted skin on the breast
• swelling in all or part of your breast
• a nipple discharge other than breast milk
• bloody discharge from your nipple
• peeling, scaling, or flaking of skin on your nipple or breast
• a sudden, unexplained change in the shape or size of your breast
• inverted nipple
• changes to the appearance of the skin on your breasts
• a lump or swelling under your arm

If you have any of these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have breast cancer. For instance, pain in your breast or a breast lump can be caused by a benign cyst.

Still, if you find a lump in your breast or have other symptoms, contact your doctor for further examination and testing.

There are several types of breast cancer, and they’re broken into two main categories: invasive and noninvasive. Noninvasive breast cancer is also known as breast cancer in situ.

While invasive cancer has spread from the breast ducts or glands to other parts of the breast, noninvasive cancer has not spread from the original tissue.

These two categories are used to describe the most common types of breast cancer, which include:

• Ductal carcinoma in situ. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive condition. With DCIS, the cancer cells are confined to the ducts in your breast and haven’t invaded the surrounding breast tissue.
• Lobular carcinoma in situ. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is cancer that grows in the milk-producing glands of your breast. Like DCIS, the cancer cells haven’t invaded the surrounding tissue.
• Invasive ductal carcinoma. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most common type of breast cancer. This type of breast cancer begins in your breast’s milk ducts and then invades nearby tissue in the breast. Once the breast cancer has spread to the tissue outside your milk ducts, it can begin to spread to other nearby organs and tissue.
• Invasive lobular carcinoma. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) first develops in your breast’s lobules and has invaded nearby tissue.

Other, less common types of breast cancer include:

• Paget disease of the nipple. This type of breast cancer begins in the ducts of the nipple, but as it grows, it begins to affect the skin and areola of the nipple.
• Phyllodes tumor. This very rare type of breast cancer grows in the connective tissue of the breast. Most of these tumors are benign, but some are cancerous.
• Angiosarcoma. This is cancer that grows on the blood vessels or lymph vessels in the breast.

The type of cancer you have helps guide your treatment options and long-term outcome.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), IBC makes up only 1 to 5 percentTrusted Source of all breast cancer cases.

With this condition, cells block the lymph nodes near the breasts, so the lymph vessels in the breast can’t properly drain. Instead of creating a tumor, IBC causes your breast to swell, look red, and feel very warm. Your breast may appear pitted and thick, like an orange peel.

IBC can be very aggressive and can progress quickly. For this reason, it’s important to contact your doctor right away if you notice any symptoms.

Triple-negative breast cancer is another rare disease type. It affects only about 10 to 15 percentTrusted Source of people with breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

To be diagnosed as triple-negative breast cancer, a tumor must have all three of the following characteristics:

• It lacks estrogen receptors. These are receptors on the cells that bind, or attach, to the hormone estrogen. If a tumor has estrogen receptors, estrogen can stimulate the cancer to grow.
• It lacks progesterone receptors. These receptors are cells that bind to the hormone progesterone. If a tumor has progesterone receptors, progesterone can stimulate the cancer to grow.
• It doesn’t have additional human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) proteins on its surface. HER2 is a protein that fuels breast cancer growth.

If a tumor meets these three criteria, it’s labeled triple-negative breast cancer. This type of breast cancer tends to grow and spread more quickly than other types of breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancers are difficult to treat because hormonal therapy for breast cancer is not effective.

Doctors divide breast cancer into stages based on the size of the tumor and how much it has spread.

Cancers that are large or have invaded nearby tissues or organs are at a higher stage than cancers that are small or still contained in the breast. To stage breast cancer, doctors need to know:

• if the cancer is invasive or noninvasive
• how large the tumor is
• whether the lymph nodes are involved
• if the cancer has spread to nearby tissue or organs

Breast cancer has five main stages: stages 0 to 4.

Stage 0 breast cancer

Stage 0 is DCIS. Cancer cells in DCIS remain confined to the ducts in the breast and have not spread into nearby tissue.

Stage 1 breast cancer

• Stage 1A. The primary tumor is 2 centimeters (cm) wide or less. The lymph nodes are not affected.
• Stage 1B. Cancer is found in nearby lymph nodes. Either there is no tumor in the breast, or the tumor is smaller than 2 cm.

Stage 2 breast cancer

• Stage 2A. The tumor is smaller than 2 cm and has spread to 1 to 3 nearby lymph nodes, or it’s between 2 and 5 cm and hasn’t spread to any lymph nodes.
• Stage 2B. The tumor is between 2 and 5 cm and has spread to 1 to 3 axillary (armpit) lymph nodes, or it’s larger than 5 cm and hasn’t spread to any lymph nodes.

Stage 3 breast cancer

• Stage 3A.
  • The cancer has spread to 4 to 9 axillary lymph nodes or has enlarged the internal mammary lymph nodes. The primary tumor can be any size.
  • Tumors are greater than 5 cm. The cancer has spread to 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes or any breastbone nodes.
• Stage 3B. A tumor has invaded the chest wall or skin and may or may not have invaded up to 9 lymph nodes.
• Stage 3C. Cancer is found in 10 or more axillary lymph nodes, lymph nodes near the collarbone, or internal mammary nodes.

Stage 4 breast cancer (metastatic breast cancer)

Stage 4 breast cancer can have a tumor of any size. Its cancer cells have spread to nearby and distant lymph nodes as well as distant organs.

The testing your doctor does will determine the stage of your breast cancer, which will affect your treatment.

Although they generally have less of it, men have breast tissue just like women do. Men can develop breast cancer too, but it’s much rarer.

According to the ACSTrusted Source, breast cancer is 70 times less common in Black men than in Black women. It’s 100 times less common in white men than in white women.

That said, the breast cancer that men develop is just as serious as the breast cancer that women develop. It also has the same symptoms. If you’re a man, follow the same monitoring instructions as women and report any changes to breast tissue or new lumps to your doctor.

Breast cancer survival rates vary widely based on many factors.

Two of the most important factors are the type of cancer you have and the stage of the cancer at the time you receive a diagnosis. Other factors that may play a role include:

• your age
• your gender
• your race
• the growth rate of the cancer

Research from 2021Trusted Source shows there’s a higher mortality rate in People of Color with breast cancer diagnoses compared with white people. One reason for this may be healthcare disparities.

The good news is breast cancer survival rates are improving.

According to the ACSTrusted Source, in 1975, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer in women was 75.2 percent. But for women diagnosed between 2008 and 2014, it was 90.6 percent.

The 5-year survival rates for breast cancer differ depending on the stage at diagnosis. They range from 99 percent for localized early stage cancers to 27 percent for advanced metastatic cancers.

To determine if your symptoms are caused by breast cancer or a benign breast condition, your doctor will do a thorough physical exam in addition to a breast exam. They may also request one or more diagnostic tests to help understand what’s causing your symptoms.

Tests that can help your doctor diagnose breast cancer include:

• Mammogram. The most common way to see below the surface of your breast is with an imaging test called a mammogram. Many women ages 40 and older get annual mammograms to check for breast cancer. If your doctor suspects you may have a tumor or suspicious spot, they will also request a mammogram. If an atypical area is seen on your mammogram, your doctor may request additional tests.
• Ultrasound. A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of the tissues deep in your breast. An ultrasound can help your doctor distinguish between a solid mass, such as a tumor, and a benign cyst.

Your doctor may also suggest tests such as an MRI or a breast biopsy.

If you don’t already have a primary care doctor, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.

Breast biopsy

If your doctor suspects breast cancer based on tests like a mammogram or an ultrasound, they may do a test called a breast biopsy.

During this test, your doctor will remove a tissue sample from the suspicious area to have it tested.

There are several types of breast biopsies. With some of these tests, your doctor uses a needle to take the tissue sample. With others, they make an incision in your breast and then remove the sample.

Your doctor will send the tissue sample to a laboratory. If the sample tests positive for cancer, the lab can test it further to tell your doctor what type of cancer you have.

Your breast cancer’s stage, how far it has invaded (if it has), and how big the tumor has grown all play a large part in determining what kind of treatment you’ll need.

To start, your doctor will determine your cancer’s size, stage, and grade. Your cancer’s grade describes how likely it is to grow and spread. After that, you can discuss your treatment options.

Surgery is the most common treatment for breast cancer. Many people have additional treatments, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, or hormone therapy.

Surgery

Several types of surgery may be used to remove breast cancer, including:

• Lumpectomy. This procedure removes the tumor and some surrounding tissue, leaving the rest of the breast intact.
• Mastectomy. In this procedure, a surgeon removes an entire breast. In a double mastectomy, they remove both breasts.
• Sentinel node biopsy. This surgery removes a few of the lymph nodes that receive drainage from the tumor. These lymph nodes will be tested. If they don’t have cancer, you may not need additional surgery to remove more lymph nodes.
• Axillary lymph node dissection. If lymph nodes removed during a sentinel node biopsy contain cancer cells, your doctor may remove additional lymph nodes.
• Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Even though breast cancer may be present in only one breast, some people elect to have a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. This surgery removes your healthy breast to lower your risk of developing breast cancer again.

Radiation therapy

With radiation therapy, high-powered beams of radiation are used to target and kill cancer cells. Most radiation treatments use external beam radiation. This technique uses a large machine on the outside of the body.

Advances in cancer treatment have also enabled doctors to irradiate cancer from inside the body. According to Breastcancer.org, this type of radiation treatment is called brachytherapy.

To conduct brachytherapy, surgeons place radioactive seeds, or pellets, inside the body near the tumor site. The seeds stay there for a short period of time and work to destroy cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment used to destroy cancer cells. Some people may undergo chemotherapy on its own, but this type of treatment is often used along with other treatments, especially surgery.

Some people will have surgery first followed by other treatments, such as chemo or radiation. This is called adjuvant therapy. Others may have chemotherapy first to shrink the cancer, called neoadjuvant therapy, then surgery.

In some cases, doctors prefer to give chemotherapy before surgery. The hope is that the treatment will shrink the tumor, and then the surgery will not need to be as invasive.

Chemotherapy has many unwanted side effects, so discuss your concerns with your doctor before starting treatment.

Hormone therapy

If your type of breast cancer is sensitive to hormones, your doctor may start you on hormone therapy. Estrogen and progesterone, two female hormones, can stimulate the growth of breast cancer tumors.

Hormone therapy works by blocking your body’s production of these hormones or by blocking the hormone receptors on the cancer cells. This action can help slow and possibly stop the growth of your cancer.

Additional medications

Certain treatments are designed to attack specific irregularities or mutations within cancer cells.

For example, Herceptin (trastuzumab) can block your body’s production of the HER2 protein. HER2 helps breast cancer cells grow, so taking a medication to slow the production of this protein may help slow cancer growth.

Your doctor will tell you more about any specific treatment they recommend for you.

Breast cancer can cause a range of symptoms, and these symptoms can appear differently in different people.

If you’re concerned about a spot or change in your breast, it can be helpful to know what breast problems that are actually cancer look like.

If you detect an unusual lump or spot in your breast or have any other symptoms of breast cancer, make an appointment to visit your doctor.

Chances are good that it’s not breast cancer. For instance, there are many other potential causes for breast lumps.

But if your problem does turn out to be cancer, keep in mind that early treatment is the key. Early stage breast cancer can often be treated and cured if found quickly enough. The longer breast cancer can grow, the more difficult treatment becomes.

If you’ve already received a breast cancer diagnosis, keep in mind that cancer treatments continue to improve, as do outcomes. So follow your treatment plan and try to stay positive.

Find out more about the outlook for different stages of breast cancer.

Bezzy Breast Cancer is a free app for people who have faced a breast cancer diagnosis. The app is available on the App Store and Google Play. Download here.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women.

According to the ACSTrusted Source, in the United States in 2021, an estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in women, and 2,650 cases diagnosed in men. An additional 49,290 cases of DCIS were diagnosed in women. An estimated 44,130 breast cancer deaths occurred in 2021, including 43,600 women and 530 men.

There are several risk factors that increase your chances of getting breast cancer. However, having any of these doesn’t mean you will definitely develop the disease.

Some risk factors can’t be avoided, such as family history. You can change other risk factors, such as smoking. Risk factors for breast cancer include:

• Age. Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you age. Most invasive breast cancers are found in women over 55 years old.
• Drinking alcohol. Alcohol use disorder raises your risk.
• Having dense breast tissue. Dense breast tissue makes mammograms hard to read. It also increases your risk of breast cancer.
• Gender. According to the ACSTrusted Source, white women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than white men, and Black women are 70 times more likely to develop breast cancer than Black men.
• Genes. People who have the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are more likely to develop breast cancer than people who don’t. Other gene mutations may also affect your risk.
• Early menstruation. If you had your first period before you were 12 years old, you have an increased risk of breast cancer.
• Giving birth at an older age. People who have their first child after 35 years old have an increased risk of breast cancer.
• Hormone therapy. People who took or are taking postmenopausal estrogen and progesterone medications to help reduce their signs of menopause symptoms have a higher risk of breast cancer.
• Inherited risk. If a close female relative has had breast cancer, you have an increased risk of developing it. This includes your mother, grandmother, sister, or daughter. If you don’t have a family history of breast cancer, you can still develop breast cancer. In fact, most people who develop it have no family history of the disease.
• Late menopause start. People who start menopause after they’re 55 years old are more likely to develop breast cancer.
• Never having been pregnant. People who have never become pregnant or carried a pregnancy to full term are more likely to develop breast cancer.
• Previous breast cancer. If you have had breast cancer in one breast, you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in your other breast or in a different area of the previously affected breast.

While there are risk factors you can’t control, following a healthy lifestyle, getting regular screenings, and taking any preventive measures your doctor recommends can help lower your risk of developing breast cancer.

Lifestyle factors

Lifestyle factors can affect your risk of breast cancer.

For instance, people who have obesity have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Maintaining a nutrient-dense diet and getting regular exercise as often as possible could help you lose weight and lower your risk.

According to the American Association for Cancer Research, alcohol misuse also increases your risk. This can be having more than two drinks per day or binge-drinking.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about what amount they recommend for you.

Breast cancer screening

Having regular mammograms may not prevent breast cancer, but it can help reduce the chance that it will go undetected.

The American College of Physicians (ACP) provides the following general recommendations for women at average risk of breast cancer:

• Women ages 40 to 49. An annual mammogram isn’t recommended, but discuss your preferences with your doctor.
• Women ages 50 to 74. A mammogram every other year is recommended.
• Women 75 years and older. Mammograms are no longer recommended.

The ACP also recommends against mammograms for women with a life expectancy of 10 years or less.

These are only guidelines.

Recommendations from the ACSTrusted Source differ. According to the ACS, women should:

• have the option of receiving annual screenings at 40 years old
• begin annual screenings at 45 years old
• move to screening every other year at 55 years old

Specific recommendations for mammograms are different for everyone, so talk with your doctor to see if you should get regular mammograms.

Preventive treatment

You may have an increased risk of breast cancer due to hereditary factors.

For instance, if your parent has a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, you’re at higher risk of having it as well. This significantly raises your risk of breast cancer.

If you’re at risk for this mutation, talk with your doctor about your diagnostic and prophylactic treatment options. You may want to be tested to find out whether you have the mutation.

And if you learn that you do have it, talk with your doctor about any preemptive steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. These steps could include a prophylactic mastectomy, or surgical removal of a breast. You may also consider chemoprophylaxis, or taking medication, such as Tamoxifen, to potentially reduce your breast cancer risk.

In addition to mammograms, breast exams are another way to watch for signs of breast cancer.

Self-exams

Many people do a breast self-examination. It’s best to do this exam once per month, at the same time each month. The exam can help you become familiar with how your breasts usually look and feel so that you’re aware of any changes that occur.

Keep in mind, though, that the ACSTrusted Source considers these exams to be optional, because current research hasn’t shown a clear benefit of physical exams, whether performed at home or by a doctor.

Breast exam by your doctor

The same guidelines for self-exams provided above are true for breast exams done by your doctor or other healthcare professional. They won’t hurt you, and your doctor may do a breast exam during your annual visit.

If you’re having symptoms that concern you, it’s a good idea to have your doctor do a breast exam. During the exam, your doctor will check both of your breasts for abnormal spots or signs of breast cancer.

Your doctor may also check other parts of your body to see if the symptoms you’re having could be related to another condition.

Primary brain cancer, also known simply as brain cancer, is an overgrowth of cells in your brain that forms masses called brain tumors. This is different than cancer which starts in another part of your body and spreads to your brain. When that happens, it’s called secondary or metastasized brain cancer.

Some types of cancerous brain tumors can grow very quickly. These malignant tumors can disrupt the way your body works. Brain tumors can be life threatening and need to be treated as soon as they’re detected.

Brain cancer is quite uncommon. According to estimates from the American Cancer Society, people have less than a 1 percentTrusted Source chance of developing a malignant brain tumor in their lifetime.

The symptoms of brain cancer depend on the size and location of the brain tumor. Brain cancer shares many symptoms with several less serious conditions, especially in the early stages.

Many of these symptoms are incredibly common and unlikely to indicate brain cancer. But if you’ve been experiencing these symptoms for more than a week, if they’ve come on suddenly, if they’re not relieved by over-the-counter pain medications, or if you’re alarmed by any of them, it’s a good idea to have them checked out by a doctor.

Common brain cancer symptoms include:

• headaches that are usually worse in the morning
• nausea
• vomiting
• a lack of coordination
• a lack of balance
• difficulty walking
• memory lapses
• difficulty thinking
• speech problems
• vision problems
• personality changes
• abnormal eye movements
• muscle jerking
• muscle twitching
• unexplained passing out, or syncope
• drowsiness
• numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
• seizures

The prognosis for brain cancer is greatly improved by early detection. If you experience any of the above symptoms with regularity or think that your symptoms might be more significant, see a doctor as soon as possible for an evaluation.

Brain tumors are named based on where they’re located in your brain or upper spine. Tumors are also given a grade. The grade of a tumor tells you how fast it’s expected to grow. Grades go from 1 to 4, with grade 1 growing the slowest and grade 4 growing the fastest.

Some of the most common types of brain tumors include:

• Glioma. Gliomas are brain tumors that originate in the glial cells and account for about 3 out of 10 cases of brain cancer.
• Astrocytoma. Astrocytomas are a type of glioma that include glioblastomas, the fast-growing type of brain tumor.
• Meningioma. Often benign and slow-growing, meningioma tumors grow in the tissue that surrounds your brain and spinal cord and are the most common typeTrusted Source of brain tumor in adults.
• Ganglioglioma. Gangliogliomas are slow-growing tumors found in the neurons and glial cells that can normally be treated with surgery.
• Craniopharyngiomas. Craniopharyngiomas are slow-growing tumors that form between the pituitary gland and the brain and often press on optic nerves, resulting in vision difficulties.
• Schwannomas. Schwannomas are slow-growing tumors that form around the cranial nerves are almost always benign.
• Medulloblastoma. Medulloblastomas are fast-growing tumors that form on the brain’s nerve cells and are more common in childrenTrusted Source.

If you have symptoms of a brain tumor, your doctor may perform one of the following to make a diagnosis:

• a neurological examination to determine if a tumor is affecting your brain
• imaging tests, like CT, MRI, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, to locate the tumor
• a lumbar puncture, which is a procedure that collects a small sample of the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord, to check for cancer cells
• a brain biopsy, which is a surgical procedure in which a small amount of the tumor is removed for diagnostic testing and to determine if your tumor is malignant

There are several treatments for brain cancer. Treatment for primary brain cancer will be different from treatment for cancers that have metastasized from other sites.

You may receive one or more treatments depending on the type, size, and location of your brain tumor. Your age and general health will also be factors.

Brain tumor treatments include:

• Surgery. Brain surgery is is the most common treatment for brain tumors. Depending on location of the tumor, it might be able to be removed fully, partially, or not all.
• Chemotherapy. These drugs can destroy cancer cells in your brain and shrink your tumor. You might recieve chemotherapy orally or intravenously.
• Radiation therapy. This technique uses high-energy waves, like X-rays, to destroy tumor tissue and cancer cells that can’t be surgically removed.
• Combination therapy. Receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the same time is called combination therapy.
• Biologic drugs. These drugs boost, direct, or restore your body’s natural defenses against your tumor. For example, immunotherapy is a commonly used class of biologic drug that works by increasing your immune system’s ability to target and fight cancer.
• Other medications. Your doctor may prescribe medications to treat symptoms and side effects caused by your brain tumor and brain cancer treatments.
• Clinical trials. In advanced cases of brain cancer that don’t respond to treatment, clinical trial therapies and medications may be used. These are treatments that are still in the testing phase. Clinical trails for brain cancer could include an immunotherapy trial and a CAR T cell therapy trial.
• Rehabilitation. You might need to attend rehabilitation sessions if your cancer or treatment has affected your ability to talk, walk, or perform other daily functions. Rehabilitation includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other therapies that can help you relearn activities.
• Alternative therapies. There isn’t much scientific research that supports using alternative therapies to treat brain cancer. But some healthcare professionals do recommend steps like a blanced diet and vitamin and mineral supplementation to replace nutrients lost from your cancer treatment. Talk with your doctor before you change your diet, take any supplements or herbs, or pursue any other alternative therapies.

There’s no way to prevent brain cancer, Brain Cancer Symptoms and Treatment but you can reduce your risk by avoiding:

• exposure to pesticides and insecticides
• exposure to carcinogenic chemicals
• smoking
• unnecessary exposure to radiation

Brain cancer is a frightening diagnosis to receive, Brain Cancer Symptoms and Treatment but new treatments and research are improving the odds and increasing the survival rates for people with brain cancer.

The exact 5-year survival rates vary widely between types of brain tumors and factors like your age at diagnosis and the stage of the tumor. For instance, meningiomas are the most common brain tumor type in adults. They have a 5-year survivalTrusted Source rate of 84 percent for adults between 20 and 44 and 74 percent for adults between 55 and 64.

Keep in mind that those numbers are based on past data, and current survival rates are likely to be even higher. Your doctor can talk with you about the stage of your brain tumor and your individual outlook.

Bone Cancer Symptoms and Treatment, occurs when a tumor, or atypical mass of tissue, forms in a bone. These are called bone sarcomas. A tumor may be malignant, which means it’s growing aggressively and spreading to other parts of the body. A malignant tumor is often referred to as cancerous. Bone cancer can begin in any bone in your body, but it most commonly starts in the pelvic bone or the long bones in your legs or arms, such as your shinbone, femur, or upper arm. Cancer that begins in the bones is uncommon. However, it can be aggressive, so early detection is important. Cancer may also begin in another area of the body and spread to the bone. Cancer is usually named for the location where it starts.

Primary bone cancers are the most serious of all bone cancers. They form directly in the bones or surrounding tissue, such as cartilage.

Cancer can also spread, or metastasize, from another part of your body to your bones. This is known as secondary bone cancer, and this type is more common than primary bone cancer.

Common types of primary bone cancers include:

Osteosarcoma (osteogenic sarcoma)

Osteosarcoma, or osteogenic sarcoma, generally affects children and adolescents, but it can also occur in adults. It has a tendency to originate at the tips of the long bones in the arms and legs.

Osteosarcoma may also start in the hips, shoulders, or other locations. It affects the hard tissue that provides the outer layer of your bones.

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary bone cancer, causing 2 in 3 bone cancer cases.

Ewing’s sarcoma

Ewing’s sarcoma is the second most common type of primary bone cancer. It either begins in the soft tissues surrounding the bones or directly in the bones, and it often affects children and young adults.

The long bones of your body — such as your arms and legs — and the pelvis are commonly affected.

Chondrosarcoma

Chondrosarcoma most commonly begins in the bones of the pelvis, thigh areas, and shoulders of older adults.

It forms in the subchondral tissue, which is the tough connective tissue between your bones. These tumors are generallyTrusted Source slow-growing. This is the least common primary cancer involving the bones.

Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the most common type of cancer affecting the bones.

However, it’s not considered a primary bone cancer because it begins in the plasma cells. It occurs when cancer cells grow in the bone marrow and cause tumors in various bones. MM usuallyTrusted Source affects older adults.

The symptoms of bone cancer can include:

• pain and swelling in the affected bones
• a palpable hard mass in the long bones of your limbs, pelvis, or chest
• feeling tired or fatigued
• pain in your bones that wakes you up at night
• bone pain that can start after minor trauma
• decreased range of motion

Less common symptoms can include:

• easily broken bones
• weight loss
• fever

While pain is the most common symptom of bone cancer, not all types of bone cancer cause pain.

If you experience any of the symptoms above, it is best to make an appointment with a doctor to determine whether or not your symptoms are caused by bone cancer.

The cause of bone cancer isn’t exactly known, but there are certain factors that may contribute to or increase a person’s chances of forming atypical growths in the bone. These include:

Atypical cellular growth

Healthy cells continually divide and replace older cells. After completing this process, they die. However, atypical cells continue living. They start forming masses of tissue that turn into tumors.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy, which kills dangerous cancer cells, can be used to treat bone cancer.

However, osteosarcoma may form in some people who receive the treatment. The use of high doses of radiation may contribute to its development.

Chromosomal mutations

For osteosarcoma in particular, 70 percentTrusted Source of cases demonstrated some atypical characteristics in the chromosomes.

Genetic mutations that raise the risk of developing bone cancer may be inherited, though this is rare. Mutations can also happen as the result of radiation or seem to have no specific cause.

The following may be risk factors for bone cancer:

• having a family history of cancer, especially bone cancer
• having received radiation treatment or therapy in the past
• having Paget’s disease, which is a condition that causes the bones to break down and then grow back atypically
• currently or previously having had multiple tumors in your cartilage, which is the connective tissue in your bones
• having Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Bloom syndrome, or Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, which may increase your risk of developing cancers

Doctors classify primary bone cancer in stages. These different stages describe where the cancer is, what it’s doing, and how much it has affected other parts of your body:

• Stage 1 bone cancer hasn’t spread from the bone.
• Stage 2 bone cancer hasn’t spread but may become invasive, making it a threat to other tissue.
• Stage 3 bone cancer has spread to one or more areas of the bone and is invasive.
• Stage 4 bone cancer has spread to the tissues surrounding the bone and to other organs, such as your lungs or brain.

Your doctor may use the following methods to determine the stage of cancers in the bones:

• a biopsy, which analyzes a small sample of tissue to diagnose cancer
• a bone scan, which checks the condition of the bones
• a blood test to establish a baseline for use during treatment
• imaging tests that include X-rays, as well as PET, MRI, and CT scans, to get in-depth views of the bones’ structure

Grading

Following a biopsy, medical professionals may assign tumors a grade based on how they look under a microscope. The grade is a measure of the likelihood that they will grow and spread, based on how closely they resemble typical cells.

Usually, the more atypical they appear, the faster they may grow and spread. Bone cancer may be designated as low grade or high grade.

A higher grade can mean that the cells appear more atypical and may spread faster, while a lower grade can mean that the cells appear more similar to typical cells and may spread more slowly.

Determining the grade can help doctors decide on the best treatment.

Treatment depends on:

• the stage and grade of cancer
• your age
• your overall health
• the size and location of the tumor

Medications

Medications that treat bone cancer include:

• chemotherapy drugs for MM
• pain medications to relieve inflammation and discomfort
• bisphosphonates to help prevent bone loss and protect bone structure
• cytotoxic drugs to prohibit or stop the Bone Cancer Symptoms and Treatment growth of cancerous cells
• immunotherapy drugs to encourage the body’s immune system to kill cancer cells

Surgery

A doctor may surgically remove tumors or affected tissue. Surgery to remove and replace damaged bone is an option to stop cancers that spread quickly.

For extensive bone damage in the arms or legs, amputation may be needed.

Radiation therapy

A doctor may recommend radiation therapy to kill the cancer cells. This therapy may be used in addition to another type of treatment to slow the growth of cancer cells.

Radiation may also be used if not enough of the tumor can be removed through surgery.

Complementary therapy

The doctor may add additional therapies that include herbal treatments to your care plan. However, this must be done with careful consideration, as some alternative treatments may interfere with chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Complementary therapies may help provide relief from symptoms and improve your quality of life and well-being. Other options can include:

• meditation
• yoga
• aromatherapy

The 5-year survival rate for bone cancer greatly depends on the location and the stage of cancer when you’re first diagnosed.

The biggest indicator of the outlook for people with osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma is whether or not the cancer has spread to other parts of the body at the time of diagnosis.

For cancer that has not spread, the survival rate is between 70 and 80 percent.

For those with chondrosarcoma, the outlook is often related to the grade of the tumor. This type of tumor is commonly low grade, which has a 90 percent survival rate.

These are general statistics. Your outlook may look different based on your age and overall health. The most important thing you can do to increase your chances of recovery is to follow your treatment plan.

Clinical trials test treatments that have not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a specific diagnosis. They may provide another option for those who have not seen success with traditional therapy options.

This treatment may be free or Bone Cancer Symptoms and Treatment covered by insurance, depending on whether the sponsor is covering the costs of treatment for the individuals enrolled in a clinical trial.

Many of the cancer treatments common today once started out in clinical trials. The information gathered in clinical trials helps inform future treatment.

If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial, Bone Cancer Symptoms and Treatment talk with your doctor about your options or search for clinical trialsTrusted Source in your area.

Cancer that originates in the bones is uncommon compared to other types of cancer. Bone Cancer Symptoms and Treatment The type of bone cancer and how early it is detected can affect your outlook.

To diagnose bone cancer, a doctor will perform a biopsy. They will likely perform other imaging tests in order to determine your cancer’s stage and develop a treatment plan.