Cancer
7 Rare Cancers: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
Over the recent times, it is
heart-breaking to see so many individuals lose their precious lives to cancer.
Cancer is one of the most dangerous life-threatening diseases in the world as
it can impact any part of your body. We all know that cancer comes in different types, and it is crucial that we educate
ourselves on the several types of cancers and the various symptoms that is
associated with each cancer type. From cervical cancer to breast cancer, lung
cancer to thyroid cancer, endometrial cancer to stomach cancer, the list goes on. But there
are some rare types of cancer which we might not have even heard of. Let us get
to learn about seven rare types of cancer, its symptoms, and its treatment.
Rare cancers, as defined by the National
Cancer Institute, affect less than 15 per 100,000 people each year. Most types
of cancer are rare, and they are often harder to prevent, diagnose, and treat
than the more common cancers. Anal, stomach, and laryngeal malignancies are all
examples of uncommon forms of the disease.
1. Anal Cancer
Anal carcinoma is a rare type of cancer
that develops in the anal canal. The anal canal is a small tube at the end
of your rectum through which faeces leave your body. It can cause signs and
symptoms like:
- Rectal Bleeding
- Pain around the
anus
- Itching in the
anus
- Change in the
bowel movements
To diagnose anal cancer, your doctor might
need your medical history, your age, and your signs and symptoms. In addition
to that, a few tests are also used to diagnose anal cancer. The tests include,
Anoscopy, Biopsy, Ultrasound, X-ray, CT scan, Positron emission tomography
(PET) scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and Digital rectal
examination (DRE).
The treatment for anal cancer includes,
surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, radiosensitizers, and immunotherapy.
2. Lymphoma Cancer
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops
in lymphocytes, which are part of the immune system and help the body fight off
infections. Lymphocytes can be found in the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and
lymph nodes. The signs and symptoms of this cancer include:
- Shortness of
breath
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Cough
- Itchy skin
The diagnosis for Lymphoma cancer includes
tests like, Blood tests, PET scan, MRI, Chest X-ray, Bone scan and Abdominal
ultrasound. The treatment option varies from chemotherapy, radiation therapy,
biological therapy, stem cell transplant and bone marrow transplant.
3. Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
Chronic myeloid (myelogenous) leukaemia
(CML) is a type of blood cancer that starts in your bone marrow in the
blood-making myeloid cells or stem cells. It is a type of cancer that affects
the white blood cells and is most common in people over 60 to 65 years old.
Innovative treatments have turned CML from a life-threatening illness into a
chronic illness. The signs and symptoms include:
- Bone pain
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
The diagnosis for Chronic myeloid
leukaemia includes physical examination, Blood tests, and Bone marrow tests. CML
is now mostly treated with a drug called imatinib. The treatment includes chemotherapy
and stem cell transplant.
4. Heart Cancer
Heart cancer occurs when malignant cells
develop uncontrollably on or around the heart. Most tumours that form in the
heart are not cancer. However, some heart tumours are cancerous. Most cases of
heart cancer are sarcomas, which develop in the body's softer tissues. The
symptoms of heart cancer are:
- Chest pain
- Arrhythmia
- Chronic back pain
- Fainting
To people who are suffering with these
symptoms, a doctor will need the following tests to diagnose: Chest X-ray,
Electrocardiogram, Coronary angiography, Echocardiogram and CT scan. The
treatment includes chemotherapy, radiation, and management of symptoms.
5. Wilms Tumours
Wilms tumour, also called nephroblastoma,
is a type of childhood cancer that begins in the kidneys. It is the most common
kind of cancer in children that affects the kidneys. It usually affects around
children of ages from 3 to 4 years.
The most common symptoms are:
- Pain in the
abdomen
- Swelling in the
stomach
- Fever
- Hypertension
The diagnosis includes physical exam, tests
like CT scan, X-rays, MRI scan, blood and urine tests and biopsy. The treatment
includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
6. Male Breast Cancer
Male breast cancer is a rare cancer that
develops in a man's breast tissue. Even though breast cancer is most often
thought of as a disease that affects women, it does occur even in men. The most
common symptoms are:
- Painless lump in
breast tissue
- Discharge from
nipple
- Redness in nipple
The diagnosis includes breast exam,
mammogram, and biopsy. The treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy,
surgery, and hormone therapy.
7. Esophageal Cancer
Esophageal cancer is cancer that starts in
the esophagus, a long, thin tube that runs from your throat to your stomach.
Your esophagus moves food from the back of your throat to your stomach so that
it can be digested. The symptoms are:
- Chronic chest pain
- Weight loss
- Coughing
- Vomiting
Esophageal cancer can be diagnosed with
tests like Biopsy, ultrasonography, Barium swallow, and PET scan. The treatment
of this cancer includes radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery.
It is not easy to come across these seven uncommon forms of cancer. An oncologist is someone you may consult if you have concerns or questions regarding cancers.
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Diagnosis typically involves a combination of medical history, imaging tests (like CT scans or MRIs), biopsies, and sometimes genetic testing.
Rare cancers are types of cancer that occur in a small percentage of the population, making them less common and often less studied.
Symptoms vary but can include unexplained pain, weight loss, fatigue, and unusual lumps or growths.