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Posts Tagged ‘Cervical’

By learning a little about these cancers you can know what actions you can take to possibly save your life or the life of someone you care about.

Small Cell Cervical Cancer Survival Rates

Breast Cancer

The most common cancer that women may have to face in their lifetime is breast cancer.  This disease can strike at any age, but it most common among women 40 and older.  There are certain risk factors that may dramatically increase your chances of getting breast cancer, such as a family history of breast cancer.  All women should know about breast cancer and what they can do about it.

 Steps You Can Take

The very best way to defend against breast cancer is to detect it as early as possible when it is much easier to treat.  Early detection is the best weapon against breast cancer.

All women should have yearly mammograms starting at age 40. All women should have a clinical breast exam at least once every 2 or 3 years for women in their 20′s and 30′s, and every year for women in their 40′s or older. Women should report any changes in their breasts immediately to their doctor. All women should perform a breast self-exam at least once per month starting in their 20′s.

Women who are at an elevated risk for breast cancer (women who have a family history of breast cancer, a genetic tendency, or have had past breast cancer) should learn about the benefits of starting cancer screenings earlier, or have additional tests such as a breast x-ray, ultrasound, or MRI.  These women should talk with their doctors about these options. 

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer can affect women as well as men.  Any adult can get colorectal cancer.  It is most common among people 50 years old and above.  If you have a personal or family history of cancer, or have polyps in the colon or rectum, or inflammatory bowel disease, then you are more likely to have colon cancer.  Other risk factors are a diet consisting of high-fat foods (especially foods from animal sources), being overweight, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Steps You Can Take

Almost all colon cancer starts as a polyp in the colon.  If precancerous polyps are found and removed, then colon cancer has a great chance of being prevented.  Regular testing can find polyps before they become cancerous, and possibly save lives.

Lung Cancer Secrets Revealed Click here

Eat a low-fat diet with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables to help prevent colon cancer. If you are 50 or older here are five recommendations about testing options. Yearly fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) or fecal immunochemcial test (FIT) is recommended. Every five years a flexible simoidoscopy is recommended. Combine yearly FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years is the preferred option. Double contrast barium enema is recommended every 5 years. Every 10 years a colonoscopy is recommended. See your doctor and discuss these options and your risk for colon cancer. 

Introduction

In cervical cancer, screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination have gradually shifted the focus towards preventative, rather than therapeutic strategies. In endometrial cancer, the focus has been on surgery, as it is considered a surgically-managed disease with a limited role for drug therapy. However, despite these therapeutic attitudes, opportunities remain in both markets.

Scope

*Cervical and endometrial cancer overview, including disease definition, epidemiology, discussion of unmet needs, and market potential

*Current treatment of cervical and endometrial cancer and ongoing controversies

*Examination of the late-phase cervical and endometrial cancer pipeline, including drug profiles of late-stage agents

*Stakeholder opinions based on qualitative interviews with key opinion leaders from the US and EU

Highlights

Treatment outcomes are still poor for patients with metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer, creating an opportunity for drug developers. The developing countries also offer a large and growing patient base for companies developing cheaper versions of preventative vaccines, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals.

Endometrial cancer is the most common female genital tract malignancy in the US and Europe. Its incidence is expected to rise in the future, in line with the aging population and the increase in the prevalence of conditions such as obesity and diabetes, which have been implicated in the development of the disease.

In recent years, there has been increased interest in the development of molecular targeted therapies for endometrial cancer. This has been coupled with a changing attitude towards the management of the disease, with a greater interest in the role of drug therapy. As a result, the potential of this market may increase in the future.

Reasons to Purchase

*Estimate the number of treatable patients and understand where unmet needs exist for drug development opportunities

*Understand opportunities and threats in the cervical and endometrial cancer markets

*Analyze the current cervical and endometrial cancer pipeline and the potential of late-stage drugs

Table of Contents :

What is Cervical Cancer ?

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers that affect a woman’s reproductive organs. Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cases of cervical cancer.

When exposed to HPV, a woman’s immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm. In a small group of women, however, the virus survives for years before it eventually converts some cells on the surface of the cervix into cancer cells. Half of cervical cancer cases occur in women between ages 35 and 55.

Thanks largely to Pap test screening, the death rate from cervical cancer has decreased greatly over the last 50 years. Still, every year more than 11,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, and nearly 4,000 die of cervical cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Around the world, cervical cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer death in women.

Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

You may not experience any cervical cancer symptoms – early cervical cancer generally produces no signs or symptoms.

As the cancer progresses, these cervical cancer symptoms and signs may appear : -

* Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause

* Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor

* Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse

Causes of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer most commonly begins in the thin, flat cells that line the bottom of the cervix (squamous cells). Squamous cell carcinomas account for about 80 percent of cervical cancers. Cervical cancer can also occur in the glandular cells that line the upper portion of the cervix. Called adenocarcinomas, these cancers make up about 15 percent of cervical cancers. Sometimes both types of cells are involved in cervical cancer. Very rare cancers can occur in other cells in the cervix.

What causes squamous cells or glandular cells to become abnormal and develop into cancer isn’t clear. However, it’s certain that the sexually transmitted infection called human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a role. Evidence of HPV is found in nearly all cervical cancers. However, HPV is a very common virus and most women with HPV never develop cervical cancer…

Treatments of Cervical Cancer

Limited, noninvasive cancer

Treatment of cervical cancer that’s confined to the outside layer of the cervix typically requires treatment to remove the abnormal area of cells. For most women in this situation, no additional treatments are needed.

Procedures to remove noninvasive cancer include : -

* Cone biopsy (conization) : – During this surgery, the doctor uses a scalpel to remove a cone-shaped piece of cervical tissue where the abnormality is found.

* Laser surgery : – This operation uses a narrow beam of intense light to kill cancerous and precancerous cells.

* Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) : – This technique uses a wire loop to pass electrical current, which cuts like a surgeon’s knife, and remove cells from the mouth of the cervix.