Stage 4 breast cancer is characterized by cancer cells that have spread to other organs. Symptoms include bone pain, weight loss and shortness of breath. Treatment options are designed to shrink tumors, reduce pain and prolong life. The five year survival rate is 16 to 20 percent.
Stage 3 breast cancer is an advanced form of the cancer characterized by a tumor and the presence of cancer cells in nearby lymph nodes. Stage 3 is divided into three sub-stages, depending on the location of the tumor and the specific lymph nodes to which the cancer has spread.
Stage 2 cervical cancer is described as cancer that has spread beyond the cervix and uterus, but hasn’t spread to the walls of the pelvis. One cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus. Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Primary malignant melanoma of the colon is very rare but can occur. Learn about this disease, including symptoms, risk factors, diagnostic tests, treatment options and outcome.
A PET scan can be used to detect the presence of bone cancer. A radioactive tracer is injected into the body and a scanner images the emissions. The radioactive material accumulates in cancer cells at a higher rate than normal cells. Learn more about PET scan for bone cancer.
Prostate cancer is a malignant growth in the prostate gland that surrounds the urethra, near the bladder. The disease can progress through four stages. Learn about early and advanced signs of prostate cancer in men.
Primary malignant melanoma of the anal canal is a challenging tumor in terms of diagnosis and treatment. This article provides and overview of some recent scientific literature on this rare condition.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the earliest stage of abnormal cell growth within a milk duct of the breast. Find out how early detection and immediate treatment of DCIS cancer can be done to prevent progression to full-blown breast cancer.