cancer

Uterine cancer facts* Uterine cancer is the abnormal growth of any cells that make up tissue of the uterus. *Uterine cancer facts medical author: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD The uterus is a hollow organ in females located in the pelvis, commonly called the womb. The uterus functions to support fetal development until birth. The …

Lymphedema facts Lymphedema is impaired flow of the lymphatic system that causes swollen extremities. Lymphedema is a condition that results from impaired flow of the lymphatic system. Symptoms of lymphedema include swelling in one or more extremities. The swelling may range from mild to severe and disfiguring. Primary lymphedema is present at birth; secondary lymphedema develops as a result of …

What is filgrastim (Neupogen), and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Filgrastim (Neupogen) is a man-made protein that is similar to the naturally occurring protein, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). G-CSF is produced in the body by the immune system and stimulates the formation of one type of white blood cell, the neutrophil. Neutrophils take part in the inflammatory reaction. …

What is a biologic drug (biologics)? A biologic drug (biologics) is a product that is produced from living organisms or contain components of living organisms. Biologic drugs include a wide variety of products derived from human, animal, or microorganisms by using biotechnology. Types of biologic drugs include vaccines, blood, blood components, cells, allergens, genes, tissues, and recombinant proteins. Biologic products …

Liposarcoma facts Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story A liposarcoma is a malignancy that develops in deep soft tissue fat. Liposarcoma is a malignant tumor that arises from deep soft tissue fat. What triggers the development of liposarcoma is unknown. Liposarcoma risk factors may include radiation, family cancer syndromes, a damaged lymph system, and/or exposure to certain chemicals. Liposarcomas do …

What is altretamine, and what is it used for? Altretamine is an oral drug that is used to treat ovarian cancer. The precise mechanism by which altretamine exerts its anti-cancer effect is unknown. It was approved by the FDA in 1990. What brand names are available for altretamine? Hexalen Is altretamine available as a generic drug? No. Do I need …

What facts should I know about pancreatic cancer? Picture of a Man with Pancreatic Cancer by iStock The pancreas, located in the abdomen, has cells with endocrine (hormonal) and exocrine (digestive) functions; cancer cells can develop from both types of functional cells. Most pancreatic cancers are adenocarcinomas. Few patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have identifiable risk factors. Pancreatic cancer is …

Male breast cancer facts Male breast cancer accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers. Male breast cancer is rare and accounts for only about 1% of all breast cancers. Breast cancer risk in men is increased by elevated blood levels of estrogen, previous radiation exposure, and a family history of breast cancer. Mutations in specific genes, including BRCA2 mutations, …

What kind of drug is Herceptin (trastuzumab), and how does it work? Herceptin is an intravenous drug that is part of a chemotherapy regimen that is used to prevent recurrence of breast cancer, and for the treatment breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast (metastasized). It belongs to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. Other monoclonal antibodies include …

What is Mohs surgery? Picture of Mohs surgery scar Mohs surgery, also referred to as Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), is a special technique that utilizes both pathology and surgery to remove skin cancers in a physician's office. Tissue containing the tumor is frozen on a cryostat, and very thin horizontal slices of tissue are cut from the bottom-most layers of …