Table Of Content

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER Carol Turkington William LiPera, M.D. The Encyclopedia of Cancer Copyright © 2005 by Carol A. Turkington All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Facts On File, Inc. 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 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 Facts On File books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Facts On File on the World Wide Web at http://www.factsonfile.com Text and cover design by Cathy Rincon Printed in the United States of America VB Hermitage 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is printed on acid-free paper. 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