2024-07-19 05:00:57
A study published this week by the University of Cambridge in the UK shows that a cancer diagnosis remains a major health concern. In rare cases, patients who already have the disease may still be diagnosed with another tumor—a situation that can be extremely challenging for both the individual and the medical team.
This happens, for example, when a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer and, during a test, doctors discover another primary tumor, such as lung, ovarian, or bowel cancer.
“These primary cancers can occur randomly: this is what we call sporadic cancer. For example, a woman may have sporadic breast cancer and sporadic lung cancer due to smoking. Or she may have a disease associated with a genetic predisposition such as the BRCA gene mutations), along with breast and ovarian cancers,” explains oncologist Wesley Pereira Andrade.
For the chief physicians of the Brazilian Breast Society (SBM) and the Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology (SMCO), the biggest challenge is treating both diseases simultaneously. The medical team must determine which cancer has the worst prognosis, that is, the cancer that is most life-threatening to the patient, in order to organize treatment.
“Sometimes we need to start a neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the goal of shrinking the tumor. We have to choose which tumor to prioritize,” Andrade said.
9 images to close the modal.
According to the US National Cancer Institute (Inca), cancer is one of the world’s major public health problems and one of the four leading causes of death under the age of 70 in many countries. Since this is an increasingly common problem, the sooner it’s caught, the better your chances of recovery.
Boonchawede Makavande 2 Germany 9
Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the signals your body is sending. Although some tumors cause no symptoms, cancer often causes changes in the body. Know some of the signs that may be present when a disease is present
Phynart Studio/Getty Images3 de 9
Weight loss without obvious reasons may be one of the main symptoms of different types of cancer, such as stomach cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, etc.
Flashpop/Getty Images4 de 9
Persistent changes in skin texture for no apparent reason may also be a warning sign, especially when swelling and lumps appear in the breasts, neck, groin, testicles, armpits, and stomach
FG Trade/Getty Images5 de 9
Although a persistent cough is a common symptom of a variety of illnesses, if it lasts for more than four weeks, you should get checked out. For example, if it’s accompanied by shortness of breath and rapid blood flow, it might be a sign of lung disease.
South_agency/ Getty Images6 de 9
Another characteristic sign of the presence of cancer is a change in the appearance of the mole. Also check for changes in size, color, and shape, especially if they peel, bleed, or retain fluid.
Peter Dazeli/Getty Images 7 de 9
The presence of blood in your stool or urine may be a sign of kidney, bladder or bowel cancer. Additionally, pain and dysuria should be checked.
RealPeopleGroup/Getty Images8 de 9
Pain that lasts for more than four weeks with no apparent cause, whether frequent or intermittent, may be a sign of cancer. This is because some tumors can press on bones, nerves and other organs, causing discomfort.
ljubaphoto/Getty Images9 de 9
Severe, recurring heartburn is painful, apparently won’t go away, and can be a sign of many types of illness, such as throat or stomach cancer. Additionally, dysphagia and pain should be investigated as they may be signs of esophageal disease.
DjelicS/Getty Images Cancer Treatment
Doctors explained that chemotherapy is not a universal treatment and works on the entire body to treat any type of tumor. This term is a general name for a class of treatments that encompasses many types of drugs that target each type of cancer or its mutations. “For example, we have chemotherapy for bowel cancer and another for breast cancer,” Andrade explains.
When a patient needs surgery to treat two different cancers, the surgeries can be performed at the same time if they are not too complex.
But when one of the surgeries is more complex, priority is given to the most aggressive cancer or the cancer where surgery will have the least impact on patient morbidity, so that a quick recovery can occur for the next surgery.
In all cases, this is often a delicate situation for the patient, who will undergo more intensive treatments and require more time away from daily life and family and friends.
Focus on health editorial No Instagram And stay updated with all the latest news on this topic!
1721380320
#Doctors #teach #treat #cancers #discovered #time
