Most common cancers

Most common cancers

1.     Prostate Cancer. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the U.S. and the American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates there will be 220, 800 new cases diagnosed in 2015.

2.     Bladder Cancer. The ACS estimates there will be 74, 000 new cases of bladder cancer diagnosed in the U.S. in 2015. There will be an estimated 16, 000 deaths attributable to the cancer in 2015.

3.     Lung Cancer. The ACS estimates there will be 221, 200 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in the U.S. during 2015. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death among men and women in the U.S.

4.     Breast Cancer. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in the U.S.  The ACS estimates there will be 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed among women in the U.S. by the end of 2015 and an estimated 40,290 deaths as a result of breast cancer in 2015.

5.     Endometrial Cancer. The ACS estimates 54, 870 new cases of endometrial cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2015. There will also be an estimated 10, 170 deaths due to the cancer in 2015.

6.     Colorectal Cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women in the U.S. The ACS estimates there will be 132, 700 new cases diagnosed in 2015.

7.     Kidney Cancer. The ACS estimates 61, 560 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2015.

8.     Melanoma. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer.  The ACS estimates there will be 73, 870 new cases of melanoma diagnosed in the U.S. in 2015.

9.     Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. The ACS estimates there will be 71, 850 new cases of NHL diagnosed in the U.S. by the end of 2015. There will be an estimated 19, 790 deaths due to NHL in 2015.

10.  Thyroid Cancer. Thyroid cancer is the most rapidly increasing diagnosed cancer in the U.S. The ACS estimates there will be 62, 450 new cases of the cancer diagnosed in 2015.

Bone marrow transplant

A bone marrow transplant is also known as a stem cell transplant. It is a procedure that is designed to replace unhealthy bone marrow (diseased or damaged) with healthy bone marrow. It is performed after a patient has high-dose chemotherapy or radiation treatment for conditions that do not respond to standard doses.

A bone marrow transplant may be used to treat people with:

·       Life-threatening blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma

·       Diseases which result in bone marrow failure like aplastic anemia

·       Other immune system or genetic diseases

What is bone marrow? Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside bones that produces blood cells, including white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. When bone marrow is damaged, it no longer produces these cells. This can cause weakness, anemia, infections, excessive bleeding and even death. When high doses of chemotherapy and radiation are used to kill cancer cells, bone marrow cells also may be destroyed. Bone marrow and stem cell transplants enable doctors to treat cancer with aggressive chemotherapy and radiation because they can replace the bone marrow cells destroyed in the treatment.

A bone marrow transplant may cause the following symptoms:

·       Chest pain

·       Drop in blood pressure

·       Fever, chills, flushing

·       Funny taste in the mouth

·       Headache

·       Hives

·       Nausea

·       Pain

·       Shortness of breath

Colon cancer and red meat

Research suggest there is a link between eating red and processed meats and developing colon cancer. If you are eating red meat three or more times weekly you might be inadvertently increasing your risk of colon cancer. For the most part, this includes people who eat some type of red meat almost every day, as well as eats much more than the recommended amount. The recommended amount is a four ounce serving.

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. About 90 percent of cases occur in people aged 50 or older. And on average, the risk of developing colon cancer is about 1 in 20. However, this may vary depending on individual risk factors. Early detection is key. With regular screening, colon cancer can be found early. This is when treatment is most effective.

Signs and symptoms of colon cancer

·       Abnormal bowel habits (i.e. constipation, diarrhea, or a change in the consistency of your stool)

·       Rectal bleeding or bloody stool

·       Continuous abdominal pain

·       The feeling of incomplete emptying of bowel

·       Weakness or fatigue

·       Unexplained weight loss

Risk factors for Colorectal Cancer:

·       Age 50 and over (90% of new cases occur in people ages 50 and over)

·       Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis

·       People with an immediate family member with a history of colon cancer have 2-3 times the risk of developing colon cancer

·       African-Americans have a 20% higher risk of developing colon cancer and a 45% higher mortality rate

·       Lifestyle factors – Physical inactivity, a diet low in fruits, vegetables, fiber and high in fat, being overweight or obese, alcohol and tobacco use