Tobacco
It is the leading cause of cancer and of death from cancer. Smoking is associated with increased risk of cancers of lung, larynx, mouth, oesophagus, throat, bladder, kidney, liver, stomach, pancreas, colon, rectum, cervix and acute myeloid leukemia. Smokeless tobacco (snuff or chewing tobacco) is associated with increased risks of cancers of the mouth, oesophagus, and pancreas.
Alcohol
It can increase your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, larynx, liver and breast. The risk of cancer is much higher for those who drink alcohol and also use tobacco.
Obesity
Obese individuals have an increased risk of cancers of breast, colon, rectum, endometrium, oesophagus, kidney, pancreas, and gallbladder.
Age
Advanced age is a risk factor for many cancers. The median age of cancer diagnosis is 66 years.
Screening is recommended for cancers of breast, cervix, colon and lung.
Symptoms usually depend on the site and type of cancer.
Breast cancer
Lump in breast and axilla associated with or without ulceration or bloody nipple discharge.
Endometrial cancer
Bleeding per vagina.
Cervix cancer
Bleeding after sexual intercourse.
Ovary cancer
Nonspecific symptoms like abdominal distension, dyspepsia.
Lung cancer
Persistent cough, breathlessness, blood in the sputum, hoarseness of voice.
Head & neck cancer
Non healing ulcer or growth, lump in the neck.
Brain cancer
Persistent headache, vomiting, loss of consciousness, double vision.
Thyroid cancer
Lump in the neck.
Oesophagus cancer
Painful swallowing predominantly to solid food, weight loss.
Stomach cancer
Vomiting, dyspepsia, weight loss.
Colon & rectum cancer
Bleeding per rectum, alteration of bowel habits.
Liver cancer
Jaundice, pain and mass in right upper abdomen.
Carcinoma Pancreas
Weight loss, jaundice.
Skin carcinoma
Non healing ulcer or growth, mole with sudden increase in size,irregular border, induration or pain.
Kidney cancer
Blood in urine, abdominal lump.
Bladder cancer
Blood in urine.
Prostate cancer
Urgency, hesitancy and frequency while passing urine, bony pain.
Testis cancer
Swelling of testis, back pain, dyspnoea.
Bone cancer
Pain and swelling of bones.
Lymphoma
Fever, weight loss more than 10% body weight in preceding 6 months and drenching night sweats which constitutes the B symptoms, lump in neck, axilla or groin.
Blood cancer
Bleeding manifestations including bleeding gums, bleeding from nose, blood in vomitus, blood in sputum, blood stained urine, black coloured stools, fever, lump in neck, axilla or groin, lump in upper abdomen.
Diagnosis and staging
Diagnostic and staging investigations depend on the site and type of malignancy
Blood investigations including Haemoglobin, Total leucocyte count, Platelet count, Peripheral Smear, Red cell indices
Bone marrow studies including aspiration, Flow-cytometry, Cytogenetics, Fluorescent in situ hybridisation and molecular studies.
Excision biopsy of lymph node for Histopathological Examination (HPE), Immuno-histochemistry (IHC) and molecular studies.
Blood investigations including Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Serum Uric Acid, Renal Functions.
Imaging tests like Computerised Tomography (CT), Positron emission tomography (PET CT).
Bone marrow biopsy.
Biopsy for histopathology & IHC.
Imaging tests like Roentgenogram (X-ray), Ultrasonography, Computerised tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and PET CT.
Endoscopy including Naso-pharyngoscopy, Direct & Indirect Laryngoscopy, Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, Cystoscopy.
tumor markers including alphafetoprotein (AFP), Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), Carcinoembionic Antigen (CEA), CA 125, Prostate specific antigen (PSA).
Treatment depends on the site and type of cancer.
Breast cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and targeted therapy (Her 2 neu inhibitors).
Cervix cancer
Treatment options includes radiation, surgery and chemotherapy.
Endometrial cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Ovary cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, chemotherapy and targeted therapy (VEGF inhibitors).
Lung cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and targeted therapy (EGFR & ALK inhibitors).
Head & Neck Cancer - Treatment options includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and targeted therapy (EGFR inhibitors).
Brain cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and targeted therapy (VEGF inhibitors).
Thyroid cancer
Treatment options includes surgery and radioactive iodine.
Oesophageal cancer
Treatment options includes radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.
Stomach cancer
Treatment options includes chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and targeted therapy (Her 2 neu inhibitors).
Colon cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, chemotherapy and targeted therapy (EGFR & VEGF inhibitors).
Rectum cancer
Treatment options includes chemotherapy, radiation, surgery.
Liver cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, Trans-arterial chemotherapy (TACE), Radio-frequency abalation (RFA) and multi-kinase (Sorafenib).
Pancreas cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Skin cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, radiation, targeted therapy (BRAF & MEK inhibitors), Immunotherapy (CTLA 4 & PD 1 inhibitors) and chemotherapy.
Kidney cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, multi-kinase inhibitors and targeted therapy (mTOR & VEGF inhibitors).
Bladder cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Prostate cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, anti-androgens and immunotherapy.
Testis cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Bone cancer
Treatment options includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
It includes Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL):
Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)
Chemotherapy with ABVD or BEACOPP regimen and Involved field radiation therapy (IFRT).
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
Chemo-immunotherapy (R-CHOP) for B cell lymphomas and chemotherapy (CHOP) for T cell lymphomas.
Includes acute and chronic leukemias. Acute leukemias includes acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Chronic leukemias include chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Intensive chemotherapy phase for initial 6 months and maintenance chemotherapy for 2 years. Prophylactic cranial and stem cell transplantation for high risk patients.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Induction with chemotherapy (Daunorubicin + Cytarabine) followed by consolidation chemotherapy (High dose cytarabine). Stem cell transplantation for high risk patients.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): Chemo-immunotherapy (FCR or BR regimen) for symptomatic patients.
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
Targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (Imatinib) as first line treatment.
The three main divisions:
Medical oncology: focuses on treatment of cancer with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy.
Surgical oncology: focuses on treatment of cancer with surgery.
Radiation oncology: focuses on treatment of cancer with radiation.
Sub-specialties in Oncology:
Neuro-oncology: focuses on cancers of brain.
Ocular oncology: focuses on cancers of eye.
Head & Neck oncology: focuses on cancers of oral cavity, nasal cavity, oropharynx, hypopharyx and larynx.
Thoracic oncology: focuses on cancers of lung, mediastinum, oesophagus and pleura.
Breast oncology: focuses on cancers of breast
Gastrointestinal oncology: focuses on cancers of stomach, colon, rectum, anal canal, liver, gallbladder, pancreas.
Bone & Musculoskeletal oncology: focuses on cancers of bones and soft tissue.
Genitourinary oncology: focuses on cancers of genital and urinary system.
Gynecologic oncology: focuses on cancers of the female reproductive system.
Pediatric oncology: concerned with the treatment of cancer in children.
Hemato oncology: focuses on cancers of blood and stem cell transplantation
Preventive oncology: focuses on epidemiology & prevention of cancer.
Geriatric oncology: focuses on cancers in elderly population.
Pain & Palliative oncology: focuses on treatment of end stage cancer to alleviate the suffering.
Molecular oncology: focuses on molecular diagnostic methods in oncology.
Oncopathology: focuses on histopathological diagnosis of cancer
Nuclear medicine oncology: focuses on diagnosis and treatment of cancer with radiopharmaceuticals.
Psycho-oncology: focuses on psychosocial issues on diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients.
Veterinary oncology: focuses on treatment of cancer in animals.
Progress and future
Leukemia, Lymphoma, Germ cell tumors and early stage solid tumors which were once incurable have become curable malignancies now
Survival of cancer has significantly improved over the past years due to improved screening, diagnostic methods and treatment options with targeted therapy.
Large multi-centric Phase III randomised controlled clinical trials by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast & Bowel Project (NSABP) Medical Research Council (MRC), the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), and National Cancer Institute (NCI) have contributed significantly to the improvement in survival.
