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Cancer of the Unknown Primary Site
One of the rare types of cancer known as CUPS.
Cancer of the Unknown Primary Site or CUPS is one of the rare types of cancer. This metastatic tumor is found away from the primary cancer site.
Nearly 1 in 75 women and 1 in 83 men will develop unknown primary cancer in their lifetime.
CUPS is often detected by a biopsy showing cancer from part of the body that did not produce that type of cancerous growth,thus making it difficult to detect the cancer's origin.
This is actually one of the rare types of cancer, and studies have confirmed that generally a primary tumor may be too small for detection and causes CUPS to appear in other areas of the body.
Almost 2-4% of all CUPS patients have primary sites that are never found.
Unfortunately when a CUPS (Cancer of the Unknown Primary Site) style tumor is detected it is in its metastatic stage which could well have a poor outcome. There is a life expectancy of around 8 months for a majority of these patients.
The most common sites for CUPS are metastasis in the lungs, lymph nodes, bones and the liver
Exposure to radiation is linked to CUPS, such as in the cases of long term side effects of chemotherapy.
Also, some of the latest cancer research is studying if certain food additives such as nitrates might play a role. There is strong indications towards aspartame cancer.
If CUPS is detected in the upper body areas above the diaphragm, then a common source is the lungs. If it is discovered in the lungs then then gastrointestinal tract and pancreas could be the primary site.
Testing for Cancer of Unknown Primary
When CUPS is found in the neck and lymph node area, a thoroughexamination is required of the throat, nasopharynx and respiratory tract.
For women a thorough gynecological examination is required, including a pap smear, rectal examination and a pelvic CT or ultrasound, especially if there are groin lymph node enlargements.
Cancer blood tests are required that check for liver and kidney functions, as well as serum tumor markers.
Chest X-rays, mammograms, abdominal CT scans, PET scans, MRI,ultrasound and nuclear scans of bone, liver and thyroid, and endoscopic and biopsy tests are all required in some form of another, depending on your condition.
There are specific treatments pending on the grading of the tumor.
Midline Tumor - Middle part of body
Neck Lymph Nodes
Armpit Lymph Nodes
Peritoneum - abdominal cavity
CUPS presenting Single Metastasis
Neuroendocrine CUPS
Multiple Skeletal Lesions
All are treated differently, and if there are any Cancer of the Unknown Primary Site tumors that are not in the above categories they are usually treated with empiric chemotherapy, although some patients choose an alternative treatment used for brain cancer cures.
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