Nasopharyngeal cancer

 

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare type of head and neck cancer. It starts in the upper part of your throat, behind the nose. This area is called the nasopharynx.

The nasopharynx is precariously placed at the base of your skull, above the roof of your mouth. Your nostrils open into the nasopharynx. When you breathe, air flows through your nose into your throat and nasopharynx, and eventually into your lungs.

Symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer may include:

• Blurry or double vision
• Difficulty speaking, including hoarseness
• Ear infections that keep coming back
• Face pain or numbness
• Headache
• Hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or a feeling of fullness in the ear
• Lump in neck or nose
• Nosebleeds
• Stuffy nose

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A carcinoid tumor

A carcinoid tumor starts in the hormone-producing cells of various organs. Carcinoid tumors most often develop in the gastrointestinal tract, in organs such as the stomach or intestines, or in the lungs. However, a carcinoid tumor can also develop in the pancreas, a man’s testicles, or a woman’s ovaries. More than one carcinoid tumor can occur in the same organ.

 

Here is a general overview of where carcinoid tumors begin:

• 39% occur in the small intestine.
• 15% occur in the rectum.
• 10% occur in the bronchial system of the lungs.
• 7% occur in the appendix.
• 5% to 7% occur in the colon.
• 2% to 4% occur in the stomach.
• 2% to 3% occur in the pancreas.
• About 1% occurs in the liver.
• They rarely occur in ovaries, testicles, and other organs.

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A carcinoid tumor

A carcinoid tumor starts in the hormone-producing cells of various organs. Carcinoid tumors most often develop in the gastrointestinal tract, in organs such as the stomach or intestines, or in the lungs. However, a carcinoid tumor can also develop in the pancreas, a man’s testicles, or a woman’s ovaries. More than one carcinoid tumor can occur in the same organ.

Here is a general overview of where carcinoid tumors begin:

• 39% occur in the small intestine.
• 15% occur in the rectum.
• 10% occur in the bronchial system of the lungs.
• 7% occur in the appendix.
• 5% to 7% occur in the colon.
• 2% to 4% occur in the stomach.
• 2% to 3% occur in the pancreas.
• About 1% occurs in the liver.
• They rarely occur in ovaries, testicles, and other organs.

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Brain Tumor

 

Brain tumor occurs when abnormal cells form within the brain. All types of brain tumors may produce symptoms that vary depending on the part of the brain involved. These may include headaches, seizures, problem with vision, vomiting, and mental changes. The headache is classically worst in the morning and goes away with vomiting. More specific problems may include difficulty in walking, speaking and with sensation. As the disease progresses unconsciousness may occur.

Treatment may include some combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

• Surgery: complete or partial resection of the tumor with the objective of removing as many tumor cells as possible.
• Radiotherapy: the most commonly used treatment for brain tumors; the tumor is irradiated with beta, x rays or gamma rays.
• Chemotherapy: is a treatment option for cancer, however it is seldom used to treat brain tumors as the blood and brain barrier prevents the drugs from reaching the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy can be thought of as a poison that prevents the growth and division of all cells in the body including cancerous cells. This causes the significant side effects experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy.

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Choriocarcinoma

Choriocarcinoma is a fast-growing form of cancer that occurs in a woman's uterus (womb). The abnormal cells start in the tissue that would normally become the placenta. This is the organ that develops during pregnancy to feed the fetus. Choriocarcinoma is an uncommon cancer that occurs during pregnancy. A baby may or may not develop in this type of pregnancy.

The cancer may occur after a normal pregnancy. But it most often occurs with a complete hydatidiform mole. The abnormal tissue from the mole can continue to grow even after it is removed, and can turn into cancer. About half of all women with a choriocarcinoma had a hydatidiform mole, or molar pregnancy.

Choriocarcinomas may also occur after an early pregnancy that does not continue (miscarriage), or after an ectopic pregnancy or genital tumor.

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