According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cancer is the second leading cause of death in Americans after heart disease. This fact contributes to the dread and terror that can accompany a cancer diagnosis.
Here's a look at the 10 cancers that killed the most people in the United States.
The most lethal cancer in the US is lung and bronchial cancer. It most frequently affects people between the ages of 55 to 65, which is mostly brought on by smoking and tobacco products.
According to the National Cancer Institute, rectal cancer develops in the last few inches of the large intestine next to the anus. On the other hand, colon cancer develops in the tissues of the colon. Screening is advised to discover polyps before either of them develops into cancer.
Skin cancer is the most frequent cancer in women in the United States, followed by breast cancer. However, from 2003 to 2008, research portrayed that there were around 2,000 occurrences that men can also get it. In women, the milk-producing glands or the ducts that transport milk is where cancer typically develops.
See Also: What Are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?
The tissues of the pancreas, which help regulate digestion and metabolism, are where pancreatic cancer first appears. It frequently progresses covertly and fast, making detection and early management challenging.
According to the NCI, this malignancy is the second greatest cause of cancer mortality in men after lung and bronchial cancer. The prostate gland, which creates the seminal fluid used to transport sperm, is where prostate cancer typically begins to grow slowly.
Leukemia comes in a variety of forms, but all of them cause an excessive generation of abnormal white blood cells in the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and lymphatic system.
A type of white blood cell called a lymphocyte is affected by this cancer, characterized by enlarged lymph nodes, fever, and weight loss.
Liver cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer worldwide but is rare in the US. Intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma, which develops in the duct that transports bile from the liver to the small intestine, is a similarly related cancer.
According to the NCI, ovarian cancer was the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. According to the Mayo Clinic, ovarian cancer is easier to treat but harder to detect in its early stages. Early signs include pelvic pain, the need to urinate, and abdominal discomfort.
This cancer typically develops in the esophagus’s lower region and in the cells that line the esophagus, the tube that transports food from the throat to the stomach.
Cancer can have many different causes. According to scientists, the combination of numerous elements results in cancer.
Various lifestyle choices that may increase your risk of developing adult malignancies include smoking, eating a lot of fat, and working with hazardous chemicals.
Genetics, inheritance, and family history may influence many childhood cancers.
The stem cells in the bone marrow have defects that cause them to produce cancerous or aberrant cells when they divide to make more of them.
Certain childhood malignancies, such as Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, have an increased risk of developing AIDS.
Children exposed to these agents may occasionally acquire second cancer later in life. These potent anticancer substances can change immune system components or cells.
Surgery: Surgery's main objective is to remove cancer, if possible.
Chemotherapy: Drugs are used in chemotherapy to kill cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy: High-powered energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, are used in radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy devices can either be implanted inside or outside of your body.
Bone Marrow Transplant: Your bone marrow stem cells or those from a donor can be used in a bone marrow transplant, often known as a stem cell transplant.
Immunotherapy: The biological therapy known as immunotherapy uses the immune system to treat cancer. Your immune system can "see" cancer and fight it with the help of immunotherapy.
Targeted drug therapy: Targeted medication therapy focuses on specific cancer cell defects that enable cancer cells to survive.
See Also: Minimally Invasive Surgery and Its Benefits: An Overview
At Far North Surgery, we strive to offer superior, safe, and compassionate healthcare services to meet our patients’ needs. Our team is led by our core values for patient-driven care that involves accountability for results, respect for individuals, dedication to constant advancement, and responsibility for cost-effectiveness.
Our nationally renowned doctors are Dr. Madhu Prasad and Dr. Sherry Johnson. Learn more about the facilities provided to treat cancer at the Far North Surgery in Anchorage, AK. Contact us to schedule an appointment with us.