The word cancer is enough to scare us when diagnosing a disease, regardless of its type and stage. A common type of cancer can incur such a response. Imagine the case with rare cancer for which no effective treatment is available! Though not frequently occurring, they are equally deadly, if not more. One should not rule out the probability of catching one because this is where the rare cancers get the advantage. Their late diagnosis spins matters out of control and aggravates the already delicate situation. So to have prior knowledge about these rare, deadly cancers, here’s a list for you.
1.Mesothelioma:
Mesothelioma attacks the linings of our body organs. Depending upon the site, it has various forms. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common and the deadliest one, where only 12% of the patients have a survival rate of 5 years. It is the cancer of the pleural membrane, the lining of the lungs. Due to the stealth with which it develops, overlapping symptoms with lung cancer, and the long latency period, it usually goes undiagnosed. Approximately 3,000 cases of mesothelioma occur annually in the US.
The only known reason that triggers this cancer is asbestos exposure. It is a naturally occurring heat and chemical-resistant mineral with microscopic fibers. Many industries would use this mineral for various products, such as building and insulating materials, negligently exposing thousands of their workers to its lethal effects. So, if you think you or your loved one is bearing the consequences of a similar situation, the company owes you compensation. Even though compensation can not give you your life back, it can ease some financial burdens. One way to achieve this is through trust funds. Many companies that went bankrupt filed for the mesothelioma trust fund to save money and pay for the future claims of the mesothelioma victims. So check out if your company is one of them and look into the criteria to receive the compensation. If you are a good candidate, claim your right and get some financial burden off your shoulders.
2.Esophageal Cancer:
Imagine getting smacked by pain every time you swallow a bite of food. That is what esophageal cancer does! It is the cancer of the food pipe, a tube that extends from your throat to the stomach. It can occur in any part of the tube. Depending upon the cells it targets, there are two types. Adenocarcinoma occurs in the lower portion and hits the glands of the esophagus that secrete mucus. On the other hand, squamous cell carcinoma occurs in the upper and middle part of the tube and targets flat cells present at the surface of the esophagus.
Some risk factors expedite the onset of the disease, such as alcohol consumption, smoking, radiation treatment in the chest or abdomen, bile reflux, etc. The symptoms include difficulty in swallowing, rapid weight loss, digestion issues, heartburn, pain in the chest, and hoarseness. If the situation aggravates, the patient may not be able to intake any food or liquid.
According to the American Cancer Society, there are approximately 17,000 new cases of esophageal cancer annually in the USA. So watch out for the symptoms, especially if they are persistent, and consult your doctor for screening tests.
3.Chronic Myeloid Leukemia:
Our bone marrow is responsible for producing blood cells and replenishing our blood vessels with their mature and functional forms. However, myeloid leukemia does not let that happen. Leukemia is the cancer of the blood-forming cells present in the bone marrow that produces abnormal cells. Eventually, they outnumber the normal ones and make their way to the bloodstream.
Myeloid leukemia is specifically the cancer of myeloid cells in the bone marrow that were supposed to give rise to red blood cells, white blood cells other than lymphocytes, and platelets. In this case, the only possible treatment is a bone marrow transplant, and the blood has to be replaced with the donor’s until that happens.
4.Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM):
It is a rare type of brain cancer that is very aggressive and highly malignant. The cells divide rapidly, invading the brain, and can sometimes dislodge and spread to other body areas. GBM specifically targets the astrocytes, the cells essential for the support and working of neurons. The symptoms include frequent headaches, dizziness, memory loss, seizures, speech problems, and an affected vision. Approximately 0.59-5 per 100,000 individuals report this brain cancer worldwide annually.
5.Hepatoblastoma:
Hepatoblastoma is liver cancer and usually occurs in children in the first three years of their life. It involves abnormal tissue development in the liver, starting from the right lobe, and can also metastasize to other parts of the organ. Children who have hepatitis B infection in early life, are underweight and born prematurely have more chances of developing this cancer. The symptoms depend upon the extent of tumor formation and whether it has spread to other body parts or not. They include a swollen abdomen, drop in weight, nausea, jaundice, and anemia. The American Childhood Cancer Organization estimates about 50-70 cases of hepatoblastoma per year across the USA.
Why Are These Cancers Incurable?
When it comes to these cancers, they are usually incurable as there is a low likelihood of eradicating every cancerous cell. Until that happens, achieving a complete cure is not possible. Treatments undoubtedly control their growth, but the disease can sprout again if not completely removed. Though it is the case with all the cancers, the oncologists usually do not have experience with rare cancers due to their low incidence, as they have with the common ones. Secondly, their epidemiology and dynamics is a challenging study that is not well-addressed. The patients also have limited therapeutic options to choose from, and every treatment may not suit well to each patient. If one treatment fails, there are not many options to explore.
The rare cancers are also usually misdiagnosed, e.g., mesothelioma can be confused with lung cancer, and the patient does not receive the treatment accordingly. It further makes the already incurable cancer robust.
Conclusion:
Though there is a low likelihood of these rarities striking you, the existence of such cancers is, nonetheless, a fact. Before dismissing your symptoms, observe if they are persistent and do a complete background check of your family history and lifestyle. It can be very frustrating not being able to understand what is happening to your body. So, in addition to the common cancers, be aware of the uncommon ones so they can not pounce on you while you are unprepared.