Table Of ContentTHE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
CANCER
Carol Turkington
William LiPera, M.D.
The Encyclopedia of Cancer
Copyright © 2005 by Carol A. Turkington
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Turkington, Carol.
The encyclopedia of cancer / Carol Turkington, William LiPera.
p. ; cm.
ISBN 0-8160-5029-5 (hc: alk. paper)
1. Cancer—Encyclopedias. I. LiPera, William J. II. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Neoplasms—Encyclopedias—English. QZ 13 T939e 2004]
RC262.T86 2004
616.99’4’003—dc22 2004043444
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CONTENTS
Foreword v
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction ix
Entries A–Z 1
Appendixes 351
Glossary 395
Bibliography 397
Index 411
FOREWORD
n 2004 an estimated 1.4 million people in the clonal antibodies, cellular growth factors, anti-
IUnited States will have been diagnosed with can- angiogenesis agents, and targeted receptor and
cer, and 563,700 of these will die of their disease. enzyme inhibitors.
Good news, however, is on the horizon. Death The field of oncology is growing at an unprece-
rates from the four most common cancers—lung, dented pace. The information and jargon that
breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers—are on the patients and their families are subjected to often
decline. For all cancers combined, the death rate heightens the fear that naturally accompanies a
has begun to destabilize. cancer diagnosis.
The steep decline in lung cancer rates in men The purpose of this reference book is to detail, in
and the recent slowing of the increased rates in a clear and distinct manner, commonly used termi-
women demonstrate the value of eduction and the nology, the major cancers, their stages and compli-
impact of the antismoking campaign. Death rates cations, and cancer-screening and -prevention
from breast cancer continue to fall despite a grad- measures of which everyone should be aware.
ual long-term increase in the rate of new diag- All too often, when a patient is faced with a
noses. Both these observations may be due in part newly diagnosed cancer, fear, frustration, and
to the increased use of mammographic screening, anger take their toll. Although certainly justified,
but other factors may be responsible as well. the stress that accompanies the confusion is often
Many advances in oncology (the study of associated with natural misconceptions and should
tumors) have resulted from close interaction be quickly alleviated. Health-care givers are there
between the basic scientist and the clinical to provide the answers to the questions that often
researcher. Biomedical research has dramatically plague the patient. Clarification and reinforcement
enhanced our understanding of cancer and has of the multitude of new concepts the patient now
provided a new branch of biological cancer treat- faces will, we hope, relieve some of that anxiety.
ment that has moved from the scientist’s lab to the That is the goal and purpose of this book: with
patient’s bedside. increasing knowledge comes a positive attitude,
Biological therapy is an exciting and expanding which perhaps is the most critical factor in fighting
field, tailored specifically to fighting individual a disease that in so many cases is now curable.
cancers as well as alleviating many of the compli-
cations typically associated with chemotherapy —William LiPera, M.D.
and radiation. These treatments include mono-
v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
he creation of a detailed encyclopedia involves Cancer Hope Network; Cancer Information and
Tthe help and guidance of a wide range of Counseling Line; Cancer Information Service; Can-
experts. Without them, this book would not have cer Net; Cancer Research Institute; Cancer Sur-
been possible. vivors Network; CanSurmount; I Can Cope;
First of all, thanks to all the staff at Fox Chase International Union Against Cancer; CHEMOcare;
Cancer Center in Philadelphia, and to Drs. William Chemotherapy Foundation; National Association of
LiPera, Charles Pound, Mitchell Edelson, and Karen Hospital Hospitality; Hereditary Cancer Institute;
Krag. Also thanks to the staffs of the National Insti- National Cancer Institute; Hospice Education Insti-
tute of Mental Health, the American Medical Asso- tute; HospiceLink; and the National Hospice and
ciation, the National Institutes of Health, American Palliative Care Organization.
Heart Association, American Psychiatric Associa- Also, thanks to the National Hospice Founda-
tion, American Psychological Association, American tion, Cancer Legal Resource Center, American Col-
Society of Hematology, the Cancer Information Ser- lege of Radiology, American Society of Clinical
vice, the Food and Drug Administration, the Oncology, Association of Community Cancer Cen-
National Cancer Institute, and the American Board ters, American College of Radiology, American
of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. Institute for Cancer Research, Cancer Research
Thanks also to the National Prostate Cancer Foundation of America, Cancer Research Institute,
Coalition (NPCC); the National Institute of Nursing European Organisation for Research and Treat-
Research; American College of Obstetricians and ment of Cancer.
Gynecologists; Complementary and Alternative Thanks also to ENCOREplus, National Alliance
Medicine; Exceptional Cancer Patient, Inc.; Well of Breast Cancer Associations, National Breast
Spouse Foundation; Chemotherapy Foundation; Cancer Coalition, National Lymphedema Net-
American Society of Hematology; Cancer Liaison work, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Founda-
Program; Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative tion, Y-Me, Society of Gynecologic Oncologists,
Groups; Widowed Persons Service; National Society Breast Cancer Fund, Gilda’s Club Worldwide,
of Genetic Counselors; Centers for Disease Control Make Today Count, National Asian Women’s
and Prevention, Division of Cancer Prevention and Health Organization, National Women’s Health
Control; Fertile Hope; Klinefelter Syndrome and Information Center.
Associates; American Urological Association Alliance Thanks also to the librarians at the Hershey
for Prostate Cancer Prevention; American Founda- Medical Center medical library, the National
tion for Urologic Disease; American Prostate Soci- Library of Medicine, the Reading Public Library,
ety; CaP CURE; National Prostate Cancer Coalition; and the Pennsylvania State Library.
the Look Good . . . Feel Better program; Man to Finally, thanks to my agent, Gene Brissie of
Man, Men’s Cancer Resource Group; Patient Advo- James Peter Associates, to Bert Holtje, to my editor
cates for Advanced Cancer Treatments; Us Too James Chambers, to Vanessa Nittoli at Facts On
International; American Brachytherapy Society; File, and to Kara and Michael.
vii
INTRODUCTION
any people believe that their risk for cancer is There is no single treatment that is effective for
Mmuch higher than it was 10, 20, or 30 years all individuals. New treatments are available today
ago. It is true that the actual number of people who that were not even imagined a few years ago, and
are diagnosed and who die of cancer each year has medical researchers continue to find better ways to
indeed grown, but the number has increased not treat all types of cancer. Patients who have any
because we are more at risk, but because the United doubts should feel comfortable in asking more than
States population is growing larger, and its biggest one doctor about their diagnosis and treatment
segment is entering old age. plan. In fact, a patient’s doctor can help arrange an
Because cancer is more common among the appointment with another specialist—many health
elderly, it is not surprising that more cases are diag- insurance companies pay for other opinions and
nosed as the average age of the U.S. population some even require it.
increases. A closer inspection of the numbers by Still, for all that is known today about cancer,
age group shows the cancer risk for Americans is many Americans have a lot of misconceptions
actually dropping. Only a few decades ago, fewer about the disease. For example:
than one in 10 children with leukemia survived 10 Myth: What you do when you are young does not have
years after diagnosis. With modern chemotherapy, an impact on your chance of getting cancer later in life.
the cure rate for these children is now almost 80 The truth is that poor lifestyle choices young
percent. Similar progress has been made fighting people make can increase their risk of developing
Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bone and kidney cancers in cancer—especially smoking, poor diet, lack of
children, and testicular cancer. activity, sun exposure, and multiple sex partners
The fact is, a person’s risk of being diagnosed (increasing the risk of human papillomavirus, a risk
with cancer and the risk of dying of cancer both factor for cervical cancer). More than two-thirds of
have decreased since the early 1990s. Fewer than all fatal cancer cases can be prevented with simple
half the people diagnosed with cancer today will lifestyle changes.
die of the disease. Some will be completely cured, Myth: The medical industry will not tell the public
and many more people survive for years with a about a cure for cancer because they make too much
good quality of life, thanks to treatments that con- money treating cancer patients.
trol many types of cancer. First of all, it is unlikely that there will ever be
It’s important to remember that “cancer” is not one all-encompassing cure for cancer, because
one disease but many different diseases with differ- cancer is actually many different diseases, and for
ent causes. For that reason, one breakthrough cure several forms of cancer, cures are already available
for cancer that will solve the problem for everyone for most patients. It is also important to remember
is unlikely. Instead, every year will bring new meth- that scientists and doctors have family members
ods and treatments to cure different types of cancer. and loved ones who die of cancer just as often as
ix
