Description

Carcinoma of unknown primary is a diagnosis of any health professionals when you are not able to find where a cancer started. A cancer of unknown primary (cup) is an advanced cancer that has spread in the body.

Most often, the health care professionals to detect a cancer that grows in the place where it started. The place where a cancer started to grow is called the primary cancer. Sometimes health care professionals first to detect cancer when it spreads. When cancer spreads it is called metastatic cancer.

In the carcinoma of unknown primary, the health professionals to find the metastatic cancer. But I can not find the primary cancer. Carcinoma of unknown primary is also called primary cancer hidden.

The health care team often uses the type of primary cancer, you have to help decide on treatment. If you are found to have cancer of unknown primary, this piece of the lack of information. Your care team will work to find out what type of cancer you have.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of cancer of unknown primary, which include:

  • A cough that does not go away.
  • Feeling very tired.
  • A fever that does not have a clear cause.
  • Losing weight without trying.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Pain in one part of the body.
  • Swelling of the belly.
  • Swollen lymph nodes.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

Causes

The cause of cancer of unknown primary (cup) is often not known. Health professionals that the use of this diagnosis when they encounter signs that the cancer has spread, but can not find where the cancer started. The place where a cancer started to grow is called the primary cancer.

Carcinoma of unknown primary can happen if:

  • The primary cancer is too small to detect with imaging tests.
  • The primary cancer was killed by the body's immune system.
  • The primary cancer was removed in an operation for the other condition.

Risk factors

The risk of carcinoma of unknown primary may be related to:

  • Advanced age. This type of cancer occurs most often in people over 60 years of age.
  • Family history of cancer. If a close relative had cancer of unknown primary, you may have an increased risk of this cancer. There is also some evidence that carcinoma of unknown primary (cup) occurs more frequently in people with a family history of cancer that affects the lungs, kidneys, or colon.
  • Smoking cigarettes. People who smoke cigarettes may have a higher risk of carcinoma of unknown primary.

Diagnosis

To diagnose carcinoma of unknown primary, a health professional might start by examining your body. Other procedures may include imaging tests and a biopsy. If your health care team is the carcinoma of unknown primary, they will do other tests to find the place where the cancer began.

Physical examination

A health professional could examine his body to better understand your symptoms.

Imaging tests

Imaging tests create pictures of the body. You can show the location and size of the cancer. Imaging tests may include:

  • Computerized axial tomography scan, also called a CT or cat scan.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging, also called magnetic resonance imaging .
  • The positron emission tomography scan, also called a PET.

Biopsy

A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab. In the laboratory, the tests can show if the cells in the cancerous tissue. Other tests may indicate the type of cells involved in cancer. In the carcinoma of unknown primary, the tests show that the cancer cells spread from somewhere else.

Tests for the primary cancer

If the biopsy is located cells that spread from another place in your health care team works to find where to start. The place where a cancer started to grow is called the primary cancer.

The tests to detect the primary cancer may include:

  • Physical exam. A health professional can do a full body examination to look for signs of cancer.
  • Imaging tests. Imaging tests may include CT and PET.
  • The function of the organs of the tests. Blood test that measures the function of the body tell the health care team as well the organs are working. The results could provide clues on whether the cancer could be affecting certain organs, like the kidneys and liver.
  • Tumor marker tests. Some cancers of the release of proteins that can be detected in the blood. Tests to detect these proteins, called tumor markers tests, could help to find the primary cancer. Examples of tumor markers include evidence of prostate-specific antigen test for prostate cancer and cancer antigen 125 test for ovarian cancer.
  • Evidence of cancer cells in the lab. The health professionals in the lab could run more tests on the cancer cells for more clues on where to start.

At times, these tests can find the primary cancer. If this happens, you no longer have cancer of unknown primary. For some people, the primary cancer is never found. If this happens, your healthcare team will use the information from all the tests to be performed on a treatment plan.

Treatment

The treatment for carcinoma of unknown primary is often on medications. Treatments for cancer that uses drugs include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Carcinoma of unknown primary cancer is cancer that has spread in the body. Medicines for cancer can travel through the body and kill cancer cells. Sometimes health professionals that the use of other treatments, such as surgery and radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treats the cancer with strong medications. Many chemotherapy drugs exist. The majority of chemotherapy drugs are given through a vein. Some come in the form of a pill.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy for cancer is a treatment with a medication that helps the body's immune system destroys the cancer cells. The immune system fights diseases by attacking the germs and other cells that should not be in the body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the cells of the immune system find and kill cancer cells.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy for cancer is a treatment that uses drugs that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, specific treatments can cause cancer cells to die.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful rays of energy. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you. The machine directs radiation to precise points on your body.

The radiation therapy may be used for carcinoma of unknown primary, which only in some areas of the body. It can also be used to help control the symptoms, like a cancer growth is causing the pain.

Surgery

Surgery to cut the cancer can be used for carcinoma of unknown primary (cup), which in only one area. The health care teams may use the surgery to remove the cancer cells in the liver or in the lymph nodes.

Palliative care

Palliative care is a special type of health care that helps people with serious illnesses feel better. If you have cancer, palliative care can help relieve the pain and other symptoms. A team of health care professionals give to palliative care. This may include doctors, nurses and other specially trained professionals. Your goal is to improve the quality of life for you and your family.

Palliative care specialists work with you, your family and your health care team to help you to feel better. They provide an extra layer of support, while you have cancer treatment. You can have palliative care at the same time so strong cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

When palliative care is used along with other treatments, people with cancer may feel better and live longer.

Coping and support

Coping with carcinoma of unknown primary often means learning how to cope with anxiety. Many people with this cancer of the distress. Symptoms of anxiety include being worried, scared, sad, or angry about your cancer. These feelings can occur due to this diagnosis comes with many questions. A person with cancer of unknown primary can have a lot of tests and you never know exactly where the cancer started. Sometimes it is not clear what treatment is best.

With time, you will find what helps you to deal with feelings such as anguish and that of others. Until then, here are some ideas for coping with the situation.

Learn enough about cancer to make decisions about your care

Ask your health care team about your cancer, including your test results, treatment options, and, if you like, your prognosis. As you learn more about cancer, you can be more confident in making treatment choices.

Keep friends and family close

Keep your close relationships strong will help you deal with your cancer. Friends and family can provide the practical support you need, such as help to take care of your house if you're in the hospital. And that you can serve as emotional support when you feel overwhelmed by the cancer.

Find someone to talk to

Find a good listener who is willing to listen to you talk about your hopes and fears. This can be a friend or family member. The concern and understanding of a counselor, medical social worker, clergy member or cancer support group may also be useful.

Ask your health care team about support groups in your area. In the united States, other sources of information are the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. If your healthcare provider thinks you might have cancer, you may be referred to a specialist. Often this is a doctor who specializes in the care of people with cancer is called an oncologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do in advance, such as fasting before a specific test. Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the reason for your appointment.
  • Key personal information, including major stresses, recent life changes and family medical history.
  • All medications, vitamins or supplements that you are taking, including the dosage.
  • Questions to ask your doctor.

Consider bringing a family member or friend to help you remember the information they give you.

For carcinoma of unknown primary, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms?
  • Other that the most likely cause, what are other possible causes of the symptoms?
  • What tests do I need?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • There are restrictions that must be followed?
  • You should see a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you several questions, such as:

  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of cancer of unknown primary