Cancer is one of the fatal diseases and has claimed several lives over the years. Today, a huge population is affected by this deadly disease and the inability to cure this disease in the final stages is nearly impossible. One of the most common forms of cancer to affect 1 in every 7 men in the United States is prostate cancer. 1 in 39 men have reportedly died of prostate cancer; the reason being that the condition was diagnosed in the advanced stages. Prostate cancer affects the prostate gland, which is situated under the bladder. The primary function of the prostate is to produce semen. The prostate gland is an integral part of the male reproductive system. The cancerous cells grow and multiply uncontrollably in the prostate gland, and this is when a man is detected with prostate cancer. When the cancerous cells grow and spread outside the prostate gland, it is defined as an ‘advanced’ stage. Like every other kind of prostate cancer, the condition is curable if it is detected in the early stages. However, treatment of advanced prostate cancer is complex, and there are no treatments available to cure this stage of cancer. Symptoms of advanced prostate cancer Men will notice symptoms quite early in the development of prostate cancer.

Metastatic breast cancer is also known as Stage IV breast cancer or advanced breast cancer. This is the most advanced stage of breast cancer, where the cancerous cells have spread to the other parts of the body and are no longer present only in the breast region. In most cases of metastatic breast cancer, the cancerous cells have spread to the brain, liver, bones, or lungs. Despite spreading to the rest of the body, it is treated under metastatic breast cancer treatments. Nearly 154,000 people have been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in the US. It has been observed that metastatic breast cancer reoccurs a few years after the completion of treatment for early stages of breast cancer. Thus, a person with a previous history of breast cancer is at extremely high risk of metastatic breast cancer. No metastatic breast cancer treatment ensures a complete cure for cancer. All treatments are aimed at improving the quality and length of life of the patient. The goal of every type of metastatic breast cancer treatment is to slow down the progress of cancer with minimal pain and side-effects. The type of metastatic cancer treatments depends on the characteristics of the cancerous cells, the extent to which the cancer cells have spread, general health of the patient, age, the symptoms of the disease, and previous treatments of breast cancer.

Melanoma, or malignant melanoma, is a type of cancer that grows in the melanocytes and can develop anywhere on the skin. Although less common than other types of cancers, melanoma is the most dangerous condition because it can metastasize at a rapid pace and cause a serious illness, leading to death. Typically caused by overexposure to sunlight, the DNA in the skin cells get damaged and begin to grow out of proportion. The condition is widely diagnosed among a larger population of adults under the age of 40. Moreover, people with a lighter skin tone and females have a greater risk of suffering from melanoma. The condition also has a genetic link; people who have a family history of melanoma are likely at risk to be affected. When melanoma spreads to other parts of the body or is at an advanced stage, it is considered as metastatic melanoma. It may also popularly be referred to as stage IV melanoma. In metastatic melanoma, the disease often spreads to the lungs, liver, brain, skin tissues, and lymph nodes. Melanoma occurs on the surface of the skin and thus, it can be can be seen. However, in the early stages, there are no signs and can lead to late detection.

Lung cancer begins when the lung cells grow to be abnormal and multiply uncontrollably. As there is a rapid growth of the cancerous cells in the body, tumors form and start spreading to other areas of the body. There are different types of lung cancer such as Adenocarcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and other subtypes such as sarcomatoid carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma. This non-small cell lung cancer is less common as compared to the other types. Adenocarcinoma Majority of lung cancer cases are of adenocarcinomas. They can occur in many parts of the body. These cancers occur in current or former smokers mainly, however, they are found in non-smokers as well. This cancer affects women more than men, and among other cancers, this cancer affects younger people more. Squamous cell carcinoma Of all the lung cancers, the occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma is 20% to 30% in people. This cancerous cells start affecting the flat cells and lie inside the lung airways. This cancer is linked to the history of smoking and is mostly found in central part of the lungs. Large cell carcinoma This cancer covers 10% to 15% of all lung cancers. This cancer can occur in any part of the lung.

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, affects the colon as well as the rectum. It is one of the most common types of cancer that affects men and women across the country equally. This type of cancer develops in the inner lining of the colorectal tube. The colorectal tube can be a breeding ground for polyps and small tumors that can turn malignant. Although most polyps and tumors are benign, studies have shown that usually, polyps developing inside the glandular tissue of the intestinal lining can turn precancerous. These precancerous polyps can lead to metastatic colorectal cancer if left untreated. The development of cancer is related to size as polyps less than a centimeter in size have roughly 1% chance of turning into adenomatous (malignant) polyps. The ones that are bigger than two centimeters are more prone to turn malignant. The growth of colorectal cancer can be controlled and treated if the tumor is localized. At the same time, metastatic colorectal cancer can spread to other parts of the body including lymph nodes, organs, tissues, and the bloodstream as it spreads through the walls of the bowel. Mentioned below are some risk factors that might cause colorectal cancer: Abdominal diseases An underlying condition can increase one’s risk of developing metastatic colon cancer.

Also called the emperor of maladies, cancer affects nearly 1 million people in the country. It is also the second leading cause of death globally, heart disease being the leading cause. Most of the time, cancer affects those people whose family has a history of cancer. Genes carrying cancer-triggering cells are passed down from one generation to the next. In other cases, prolonged exposure to radiation or toxic substances can chemically induce cancer. This exposure can be a result of occupational hazards, lifestyle choices such as smoking, or due to radiation therapy. Cancer can be of many types. We have listed 4 types of cancers  below: Carcinoma is a type of cancer that mainly affects the epithelial tissue lining that covers most organs and the internal pathways and forms the skin layer. Major organs at risk include the esophagus, lungs, stomach, breast, pancreas, colon, rectum, and gland cells. Sarcomas mainly affect the bones and soft connective tissues in the body. There are over 70 different types of sarcomas that mainly affect the muscles, blood vessels, nerves, tendons, fat deposits, and also the lining of the joints. Leukemia is not a single cancer but a broad category of cancers that affect blood cells.

Esophageal cancer affects the long hollow tube called the esophagus that runs from the throat to the stomach. Unhealthy lifestyle choices like tobacco and alcohol consumption and other factors like obesity can elevate the risk of this form of cancer. Early detection facilitates successful treatment, and doctors might recommend several options to manage esophageal cancer symptoms. Here are a few effective treatment methods: Chemotherapy This treatment is used if the cancerous tumor is inaccessible or if cancer has metastasized (spread to distant parts of the body). Chemotherapy medications are often administered intravenously to destroy cancer cells, but they also damage healthy cells as they are unable to differentiate between normal and malignant cells. While normal cells are able to rejuvenate, chemotherapy can cause serious side effects that must be managed with medications. Targeted therapy Some mutations of esophageal cancer can be difficult to treat with chemotherapy, so medications that target specific weaknesses of the malignant cells are also given to increase the effectiveness of treatment. Targeted therapy is usually given to patients with advanced stages of esophageal cancer. Immunotherapy This is one of the most recent forms of cancer treatment. Immunotherapy simply enhances the patients’ immune response to cancer, and the enhanced immune system recognizes and targets malignant or cancerous cells specifically.

The esophagus is a thin tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. Esophageal cancer mostly develops in the lining of this tube and as the condition progresses, it may spread to nearby parts via metastasis. The exact cause of this progressive condition is unknown. However, there are several risk factors that increase the chances of developing cancer. Here is a brief overview of them. Age The risk increases with age as the body’s ability to protect and promote the healthy repair of damaged cells deteriorates. Thus, men and women between the ages of 45 to 50 and above are at a higher risk of cancer. Gender and ethnicity Esophageal cancer is more common among men in comparison to women. Ethnicity also plays a crucial role as the condition is more prevalent among those of African-American descent. The risk needs to be strictly monitored with these two factors. Obesity Obesity or being overweight in general is another common risk factor. One must also take into account the damage done to the body due to an improper diet and the resulting weight gain. A diet that has no nutritional value also increases the risk of vitamin deficiencies, which has recently been linked to the development of esophageal cancer.

Lung cancer is defined as the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs. Instead of developing into healthy lung tissue, these abnormal cells fail to carry out any of the functions of the lung. Their exponential growth is life-threatening as they may form tumors and prevent the healthy tissues from doing their job. Furthermore, these primary lung cancer cells may travel to other parts of the body. This results in metastatic lung cancer. Unfortunately, lung cancer signs and symptoms may take years to develop fully, and only manifest in later and more advanced stages of the disease. For approximately 40 percent of cases, diagnosis is only possible in advanced stages. Even though the disease gives you little to no warning, there are a few lung cancer symptoms that you can watch out for. Those who are at a high risk for lung cancer are advised to sign up for early screening. Early detection of lung cancer symptoms makes a huge difference in your survival rate. If any of the following innocuous-looking symptoms persist, do not ignore them, and instead, seek professional help immediately. 1. Persistent Cough Most people tend to ignore a persistent cough by saying that it is “just a cough”, and nothing to worry about.