What is cyclophosphamide? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Cyclophosphamide is a drug that is used primarily for treating several types of cancer. In order to work, cyclophosphamide first is converted by the liver into two chemicals, acrolein and phosphoramide. Acrolein and phosphoramide are the active compounds, and they slow the growth of cancer …
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Mesothelioma facts Mesothelioma is a cancer that arises from the cells lining the chest or abdominal cavities. Mesothelioma typically results from exposure to asbestos. When mesothelioma affects the chest, the doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special instrument called a thoracoscope. When mesothelioma affects the abdomen, the doctor may look inside the abdomen with a special tool …
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What is proton beam therapy and for what is it used? Proton beam therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses protons instead of X-rays (photons) and can be used for the treatment of various solid tumors, including liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC). Protons are positively charged particles that, produced with high energy, can destroy cancer cells. Proton …
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Thymoma facts A thymoma is a type of tumor or growth in the thymus gland. Thymic tumors are tumors of the thymus gland. Physicians describe thymomas in terms of their degree of spread. Most thymomas have the potential to behave like a cancer and spread beyond the thymus, but many appear to behave in a benign fashion and are noninvasive. …
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Key points Share Your Story Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may help prevent cancer. The following risk factors may increase the risk of liver cancer: Hepatitis B and C Cirrhosis Aflatoxin The following protective factor may decrease the risk of liver cancer: Hepatitis B vaccine Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study ways to prevent cancer. New …
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Tumor grade facts* *Tumor grade facts medical author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Tumor grade is a classification system based on the appearance of tumor cells under the microscope. Cancer cells that are described as low-grade (grade 1) have an appearance similar to normal cells. High-grade (grade 3) cancer cells appear distinctly abnormal under the microscope. Low-grade tumors are often referred …
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Paget disease of the breast facts* *Paget disease of the breast facts medically reviewed by Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, on 1/21/2015 Paget disease of the breast is a form of breast cancer that affects the skin of the nipple. The cause of Paget disease of the breast is poorly understood, but it may be related to tumor cells from other …
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Vaginal cancer facts* *Vaginal cancer facts by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Vaginal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the vagina. Vaginal cancer is not common. When found in early stages, it can often be cured. There are two main types of vaginal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Risk factors for vaginal cancer include …
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Urethral cancer facts* *Urethral cancer facts by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Urethral cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. It is a rare cancer that occurs more often in women than in men. Squamous cell carcinoma is the …
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What is radiation therapy? In radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy), invisible high-energy rays or beams of subatomic particles are used to damage cancer cells and can stop them from growing and dividing. This ultimately can kill the cancer cells treated with radiation. A specialist in radiation therapy is called a radiation oncologist. What are the types of radiation therapy? Readers …
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