Cancer Facts
The Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center has expertise in all forms of cancer, including brain and nervous system cancers, head and neck cancers, prostate cancer, leukemias and lymphomas, lung cancers, breast and gynecologic cancers, colon, rectal, pancreas and liver cancers, skin cancer and childhood cancers.
To assist patients and family members in understanding common forms of cancer, the following information is provided.
Statistics are based on information from the American Cancer Society.
Bladder Cancer | Breast Cancer | Bronchus Cancer | Cervical Cancer
Childhood Cancer | Colon Cancer | Esophageal Cancer | Leukemia | Lung Cancer Lymphoma | Melanoma Cancer | Ovarian Cancer | Pancreatic Cancer
Prostate Cancer | Rectum Cancer | Skin Cancer | Urinary Cancer | Uterine Cancer
New Incidences
- It is estimated there will be 217,440 new breast cancer
cases in 2004 in the U.S. (1,450 male and 215,990 female).
- One of nine women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
- Breast cancer is the most common form of non-skin cancer among women.
- In Wisconsin alone, it is estimated that there will be 4,040 new female cases of breast cancer.
Survival Statistics
- Breast cancer is expected to kill 40,110 women in the U.S. during 2004.
- Breast cancer ranks second among cancer deaths in women (after lung cancer).
- Currently, there are more than 2 million breast cancer survivors in America.
- 97% of breast cancer patients survive.
Symptoms
- A lump, thickening, or swelling, dimpling of the skin, skin irritation, distortion, retraction of the nipple, scaliness, pain, tenderness of the nipple, rash across breasts, or nipple discharge.
Detection Methods
Three screening tools are used for the detection of breast cancer.
For women ages 20 to 39 the most important tests are:
- A monthly self breast exam.
- A clinical breast examination every three years.
For women 40 years of age and older it is essential to have:
- Monthly self breast exams.
- A clinical breast examination every year.
- A yearly mammogram exam.
Treatment Options
The decision of what type of treatment to use should be made by the patient and her physician. Depending on what stage of breast cancer the patient is at will determine the necessary treatment method. The therapeutic options are a mix of the following:
- Surgery.
- Systematic therapies, such as hormone therapy or chemotherapy.
- Radiation therapy.
Breast Cancer Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Some of the current research at the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center being conducted on breast cancer includes:
- Drug treatments to prevent breast cancer in women at high risk:
- Medical College of Wisconsin researchers have teamed up with researchers nationwide in studies comparing medications used to prevent and treat breast cancer.
- Understanding tumor formation:
- Researchers are learning to understand the genetic base for breast cancer tumor formation, which may lead to new ways of detecting breast cancer as early as possible.
- Lymph node mapping:
- This enables physicians to locate the sentinel node, the first lymph node into which a tumor drains. This procedure enables the surgeon to only remove lymph nodes that most likely contain cancer cells rather than all the lymph nodes under the armpit. Complications from the surgery are decreased and recovery time is improved.
The Medical College of Wisconsin's Cancer Center is a leader in research and treatment of breast cancer. Follow this link for resources on breast cancer. For more information on breast cancer research or patient care at the Medical College of Wisconsin, call (414) 805-4950.
Top
New Incidences
- In 2004, an estimated 10,520 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S., of which 110 will be Wisconsin residents.
Survival Statistics
- It is expected that cervical cancer will kill 3,900 women during 2004.
Symptoms
Symptoms are not usually prevalent until abnormal cervical cells become cancerous and invade nearby tissue.
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding.
- Heavier or longer menstrual bleeding.
- Bleeding after menopause or increased vaginal discharge may also be warning signs.
Detection Methods
- Pap test during pelvic exam.
Treatment Options
For pre-invasive lesions:
- Electrocoagulation (the destruction of tissue through intense heat by electric current).
- Cryotherapy (the destruction of cells by extreme cold).
- Laser ablation.
- Local surgery.
For invasive cervical cancers one or a combination of the following is typically used:
- Surgery.
- Radiation.
- Chemotherapy.
Top
New Incidences
Survival Statistics
-
An estimated 1,510 children between age 0-14 will die of cancer in 2004, about one-third of them from leukemia.
-
Cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death in children under the age of 14.
-
Mortality rates for childhood cancer have declined 49% since 1975.
Detecting various types of childhood cancers
- Leukemia - Accounts for about 30% of cancer cases in children under the age of 14. Symptoms may be recognized by pain in the bone and joints, weakness, bleeding, and fever.
- Brain and spinal cord cancers – Accounts for 21% of childhood cancer cases. Early stage symptoms may include: headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurred or double vision, dizziness, and difficulty in walking or handling objects.
- Neuroblastoma – Accounts for 7.3% of cancer cases in children. This sympathetic nervous system cancer can appear anywhere but typically occurs in the abdomen as a swelling.
- Hodgkin Lymphoma – Accounts for 4.4%, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (4.0%), of new cancer cases among children. Symptoms may cause a swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin; weakness; and fever.
Treatment Options
Treatment therapies should be determined by the child's family, pediatric experts, and social workers or psychologists depending on the type and stage of the cancer.
Childhood Cancer Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin
-
The Cancer Center is the first in Wisconsin to offer lymphocyte infusion for a second chance at remission after relapse.
-
The Cancer Center developed methods to protect the kidneys from damage during radiation treatments required for bone marrow transplantations.
-
The Cancer Center is the first in the world to offer and prove successful the standard procedures now in use to treat childhood leukemia and Wilms tumor.
The Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center is a national leader in pediatric cancer and bone marrow transplantation. Follow this link for resources on childhood cancer. For more information on childhood cancer research or patient care at the Medical College of Wisconsin, call (414) 456-4118.
Top
New Incidences
-
In 2004, there will be an estimated 146,940 new cases, of which 106,370 are colon cancer and 40,570 are rectal cancer.
-
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women.
-
In Wisconsin, there will be an estimated 2,900 new cases in 2004.
-
Incident rates declined 3% per year between 1998 to 2000 due to increased screenings, polyp removal and preventing the progression of polyps.
Survival Statistics
-
There will be an estimated 56,730 deaths in 2004 (28,320 male and 28,410 female).
-
Colon and rectal cancers account for about 10% of all cancer deaths.
-
Over the past 15 years, death rates have declined for colorectal cancers in men and women, at an average rate of 1.7%.
Symptoms
-
In early stages: this cancer causes no symptoms (usually).
-
In advanced stages: rectal bleeding, cramping in lower abdomen, and/or change in bowel habits.
Detection Methods
-
Adults at average risk should have one of the following beginning at age 50:
- A fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every year.
- A flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years.
-
A digital rectal exam should be done at the same time as a sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or double-contrast barium enema.
-
People at high risk (a close relative with a history of colon cancer, personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, etc.) should speak with their physician about the best detection methods.
Treatment Options
The decision of what type of treatment to use should be made by the patient and his or her physician. What stage of cancer the patient is in will determine the necessary treatment method.
-
Surgery is the most common form of treatment for colorectal cancers.
-
Chemotherapy alone or with radiation before or after surgery is given to most patients with an advanced form of colorectal cancer.
-
A permanent colostomy (creation of an abdominal opening for elimination of body waste) is seldom needed for colon cancer and is infrequently needed for rectal cancer.
Colorectal Cancer Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Some of the current research at the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center being conducted on colorectal cancers includes:
-
Dr. Mary Otterson and other faculty are currently working on the long-term effects of radiation therapy on colonic contractile activity using inbred strains of rats. The use of the inbred strains of rats will allow us to find the genes that predict a worse long-term outcome secondary to radiation.
-
Dr. David G. Binion and other faculty have an active research interest in studying the microvascular endothelial cells isolated from colorectal cancers. We have succeeded in isolating and culturing these cells, and are in the process of characterizing their differential gene expression, compared to endothelial cells isolated from normal areas of the large bowel. Targeting the microvascular endothelium, which grows to support the increased nutrient needs of the colon cancer is an emerging area in colon cancer biology, which has important therapeutic implications.
-
The Cancer Center is one of 15 participating centers in the National Polyp Study, which found that most colon cancers begin as polyps. The study resulted in standards urging early detection and removal of benign polyps.
The Medical College of Wisconsin's Cancer Center is a leader in research and treatment of colorectal cancers. Follow this link for resources on colorectal cancer. For more information on colorectal cancer research or patient care at the Medical College of Wisconsin, call (414) 456-6830.
Top
New Incidences
- It is estimated there will be 14,250 new cases of esophageal cancer in 2004 in the U.S.
- Esophageal cancer is about 3 times more common in men than women.
Survival Statistics
- There will be an estimated 13,300 deaths in 2004.
Symptoms
- Severe Weight loss.
- Pain in throat or back, behind breast bone or between shoulder blades.
- Difficult or painful swallowing.
- Hoarseness or chronic cough.
- Coughing up blood.
- Vomiting.
Detection Methods
Esophageal cancer is diagnosed by a combination of:
- Physical examination.
- Family history.
- Barium swallow or upper GI x-rays.
- Endoscopy.
- Computed tomography scan.
- Endoscopic ultrasound.
Treatment Options
The treatment of esophageal cancer depends on a number of factors, including size of tumor, location, and extent of the tumor. Treatment may include:
- Surgery, which is the most common treatment of esophageal cancer.
- Radiation therapy.
- Chemotherapy.
- Laser therapy.
- Photodynamic therapy.
Top
New Incidences
- In 2004, there will be an estimated 33,440 new cases (19,020 male and 14,420 female), of which 750 are expected to be Wisconsin residents.
- Leukemia is often thought of as primarily a childhood disease, but is actually diagnosed 10 times more often in adults than in children.
Survival Statistics
- It is expected that 23,300 people will die from this disease during 2004, 520 are expected to be residents of Wisconsin.
Symptoms
- Fatigue, paleness, weight loss, repeated infections, fever, easily bruising, nosebleeds or other hemorrhages. These symptoms may appear suddenly in children.
Detection Methods
- Difficult to diagnose early. When leukemia is suspected it can be confirmed through blood tests and/or a bone marrow biopsy.
Treatment Options
- Chemotherapy is the most effective treatment method.
- Various anticancer drugs; antibiotics and transfusions of blood components may play supportive roles.
- Bone marrow transplants.
Top
New Incidences
- It is estimated that in 2004 there will be 173,770 new cases (93,110 male and 80,660 female).
- Lung cancer accounts for 13% of all cancers diagnosed in the US.
- In Wisconsin, there will be an estimated 3,050 new cases in 2004.
Survival Statistics
- In 2004, there will be an estimated 160,440 deaths (91,930 male and 68,510 female).
- In Wisconsin alone during 2004, 2,820 will die from these cancers.
- Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women, accounting for 28% of all cancer deaths.
- Only 16% of cases are detected at an early stage.
- There is a 15% five-year relative survival rate for all stages of lung cancer.
Symptoms
- Chest pain.
- Persistent cough.
- Sputum streaked with blood.
- Recurring pneumonia or bronchitis.
Detection Methods
- Early detection of lung cancer is difficult.
- Fiberoptic examination of the bronchial passages, chest x-rays, and analysis of cells contained in sputum have shown limited effectiveness in early detection.
Treatment Options
- Treatment options are determined by the stage of the cancer.
- Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are used to treat lung cancer.
- Because most lung cancers are detected in a later stage, normally a combination of the three are used to treat the cancer.
The Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center has strong diagnostic and treatment programs for lung cancer. Follow this link for resources on lung cancer. For more information on lung cancer research or patient care at the Medical College of Wisconsin, call (414) 805-4600.
Top
New Incidences
- In 2004, an estimated 60,250 new cases will occur in 2004 (33,180 male and 29,070 female), which includes 7,880 cases of Hodgkin disease and 54,370 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
- There are 1,290 new cases of NHL expected to occur in Wisconsin during 2004.
Survival Statistics
- It is expected that lymphoma will kill 20,730 people in 2004 (Hodgkin disease: 1,320 and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: 19,410).
Symptoms
- Enlarged lymph nodes, itching, fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, and intermittent fever.
Treatment Options
For Hodgkin disease:
- Chemotherapy and/or in combination with radiotherapy.
For non-Hodgkin lymphoma:
- In localized stage: radiotherapy.
- In later stages: chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy with radiation.
Top
New Incidences
- It is estimated that in 2004 there will be 25,580 new cases of ovarian cancer.
- One in 70 women (about 1.4% of women) will develop ovarian cancer. The average age for developing ovarian cancer is 61.
- Of the gynecologic cancers, ovarian cancer is the second most common after uterine cancer. Yet, ovarian cancer accounts for more deaths per year than all the other gynecologic cancers combined.
Survival Statistics
- In 2004, there will be an estimated 16,090 deaths in the United States.
- In Wisconsin, it is estimated that 260 women will die from this cancer.
- In about 75% of cases, ovarian cancer will not be diagnosed until the cancer has spread beyond the ovary. This is because the symptoms are vague and can mimic other common medical problems. The chance of living for five years after diagnosis in these cases is 20% to 25%.
Symptoms
- Abdominal swelling or feeling of being bloated.
- Chronic abdominal pain and / or pelvic discomfort.
Detection Methods
To find the cause of these symptoms, the physician may do a number of tests:
- Pelvic exam; transvaginal ultrasound; CT scan; lower GI series; intravenous pyelogram; and blood test for CA-125, a tumor marker.
If these tests indicate possible ovarian cancer, then surgery is done to obtain biopsy tissue. If the tissue is cancerous, the surgeon will remove the ovary, nearby lymph nodes, and samples from the diaphragm, and abdominal organs. This is to determine if the cancer has spread, and where.
Treatment Options
Surgery to remove the ovarian tumor is the first step of treatment. A gynecologic oncologist has specialized training which is important in the optimal removal of ovarian cancer. Women with ovarian cancer have increased survival when the initial surgery is under the care of a gynecologic oncologist. Chemotherapy is often necessary after surgery. Radiation therapy sometimes is needed as well.
Promise of Research Studies are underway around the U.S. to improve prevention, detection and
treatment, such as:
- A class of drugs called Retinoids. During a study on breast cancer, Retinoids were found to decrease ovarian cancer.
- New potential blood markers, with the goal of establishing a panel of markers which will be more reliable than any one marker alone. One potential blood marker is LPA or lysophosphatidic acid.
- Multiple less exotic drugs, such as Tylenol and aspirin.
Ovarian Cancer Programs at the
Froedtert & Medical College Cancer Center
- The Gynecologic Oncology group consists of physicians specializing
in cancers of the ovaries, cervix, uterus, vulva, and fallopian tubes. They are based at the Froedtert & Medical College Cancer Center. The group consists of: Janet Osborne, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology; and Beth Erickson, MD, associate professor of radiation oncology.
- The Froedtert & Medical College Gynecologic Oncology Division is a member of the national Gynecologic Oncology Group, which carefully selects a limited number of institutions to collaborate on clinical trials. This offers patients of Medical College of Wisconsin physicians access to new treatments not available elsewhere in eastern Wisconsin. Currently, clinical trials are available for both early and advanced ovarian cancer.
- Medical College of Wisconsin gynecologic oncologists and radiation oncologists work as a unit and decide as a team on the optimal treatment plan. All cases are discussed at the weekly Tumor Board, the only one of its kind in the area, in which specialists in gynecologic oncology, radiation oncology, radiology and pathology provide expertise in developing treatment plans.
- Medical College of Wisconsin radiologists in the Pelvic Imaging group are highly skilled in using pelvic ultrasound and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to better define tumors for treatment. MRI of the abdominal-pelvic area is used to detect small peritoneal implants earlier than CT scans.
- To assist treatment planning, Glutathione assays of ovarian tissue are used to determine if a tumor will be resistant to chemotherapy. After chemotherapy, some patients with recurrent or persistent ovarian cancer are carefully selected for radiation therapy.
The Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center has strong research and treatment programs in ovarian cancer. Follow this link for resources on ovarian cancer. For more information on ovarian cancer research or patient care at the Medical College of Wisconsin, call (414) 805-6600.
Top
New Incidences
- An estimated 31,860 new cases are expected to occur in the U.S. during 2004 (15,740 male and 16,120 female).
Survival Statistics
- It is estimated that pancreatic cancer deaths will total 31,270 during 2004 (15,440 male and 15,830 female).
Symptoms
- Generally, no early symptoms.
- Tumors developing near the bile duct may cause blockage leading to jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Detection Methods
- Currently, only a biopsy is a proper indicator.
Treatment Options
Treatments below may extend survival and/or relieve symptoms, but seldom produce a cure:
- Surgery.
- Radiation therapy.
-
New Incidences
- There will be an estimated 230,110 new cases of prostate cancer nationwide in 2004.
- African-American men have a higher incident rate than Caucasian men.
- Prostate cancer incident rates increased dramatically between 1988 and 1992 due to earlier diagnosis with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood testing.
- One in six men are at risk of developing this disease.
- Prostate cancers comprise nearly 1/3 of all male cancers diagnosed in the United States.
- In Wisconsin, there will be an estimated 3,850 new cases in 2004.
Survival Statistics
- An estimated 29,900 men will die from prostate cancer in 2004.
- It is the second leading cause of cancer death among men.
- Prostate cancer that is discovered in the local and regional stages has a survival rate of 86%.
- The five-year relative survival rate for patients whose tumors are diagnosed at these stages is 100%.
Symptoms
- Inability to urinate, or difficulty starting or stopping urination.
- Weak or interrupted urine flow.
- The need to urinate frequently, especially at night.
- Blood in the urine, pain/burning during urination.
- Continual pain in lower back, pelvis, or upper thighs.
Detection Methods
- The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal exam should be offered annually beginning at age 50.
- Men at high risk, African-American men, or men who have had a first-degree diagnosis, should begin testing at age 45.
Treatment Options
The decision of what type of treatment to use should be made by the patient and his physician. Depending on what stage of cancer the patient is in will determine the necessary treatment method.
- Surgery, radiation, radioactive seed placement or cryosurgery (freezing).
- For a metastatic disease, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these are options as well.
Prostate Cancer Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Research on prostate cancer at the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center includes:
- Prostate cancer prevention trials.
- New treatment methods including new forms of freezing the prostate gland.
- Identifying the mechanisms that allow prostate cancer to escape the control of hormone therapy.
- Development of one off three federally funded prostate cancer tissue repositories.
- The effect of vitamin D on prostate cancer.
- New drugs to treat prostate cancer resistant to hormone therapy.
The Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center is a leader in research and treatment of prostate cancer. Follow this link for resources on prostate cancer. For more information on prostate cancer research or patient care at the Medical College of Wisconsin, call (414) 456-6950.
Top
New Incidences
- More than 1 million cases of basal cell or squamous cell cancers occur each year; most of which are highly curable.
- Melanoma is the most serious skin cancer. In 2004, it is expected that 55,100 people will be diagnosed (29,900 men and 25,200 women).
- Melanoma primarily affects Caucasians with rates more than 10 times higher than in African Americans.
Survival Statistics
- It is estimated that 10,250 deaths will occur in 2004 (7,910 from melanoma cancer and 2,340 from other non-epithelial skin cancers).
- In Wisconsin alone, 1,110 melanoma cancer deaths are expected during 2004.
Symptoms
- May include any change in skin (i.e. new spot or one that changes in size, shape, or color).
- A sore that doesn't heal.
- A mole or other dark-pigmented growth or spot on the skin that changes or spreading of pigmentation beyond its borders.
- Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or a change in the appearance of a bump or nodule.
- A change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness, and/or pain.
Detection Methods
- Identifying changes in skin growths or the appearance of new growths is the best method for early detection.
- Adults should practice regular skin self-exams.
- The ABCD rule will help a person recognize the warning signals:
- A. Asymmetry (one half of the mole does not match the other).
- B. Border irregularity (the edges are ragged, notched, or blurred).
- C. Color (the pigmentation is not uniform).
- D. Diameter (greater than six millimeters).
Treatment Options
Early-stage basal and squamous cell cancers can usually be removed in 90% of cases by:
- Surgical excision.
- Elecrtodessication and curettage (tissue destruction by heat).
- Cryosurgery (tissue destruction by freezing).
- Laser therapy.
- In some cases, radiation therapy may also be an option.
Top
New Incidences
It is expected that 60,860 new cases will occur in the U.S. during 2004 (44,640 male and 15,600 female).
In Wisconsin alone, 1,280 people will be diagnosed during 2004.
Survival Statistics
-
In 2004, it is estimated that there will be 12,710 deaths (8,780 male and 3,930 female).
Symptoms
Detection Methods
Treatment Options
-
Surgery, alone or in combination with other treatments, is typically used in more that 90% of cases.
-
With localized cases, immunotherapy or chemotherapy may be directly administered to the bladder.
Top
New Incidences
-
In 2004, 40,320 women in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with cancer of the uterine corpus (body of the uterus). Usually this cancer occurs in the endometrium or lining of the uterus.
-
An estimated 850 Wisconsin women will be diagnosed for during 2004.
Survival Statistics
Symptoms
-
Abnormal uterine bleeding.
-
Spotting is frequently an early sign.
-
Pain and systemic symptoms are typically later signs of uterine cancer.
Detection Methods
Treatment Options
Depending on the stage of the disease, one of the following or a combination may be used:
-
Surgery.
-
Radiation.
-
Hormones.
-
Chemotherapy.
Top
Bladder Cancer | Breast Cancer | Bronchus Cancer | Cervical Cancer
Childhood Cancer | Colon Cancer | Esophageal Cancer | Leukemia | Lung Cancer Lymphoma | Melanoma Cancer | Ovarian Cancer | Pancreatic Cancer
Prostate Cancer | Rectum Cancer | Skin Cancer | Urinary Cancer | Uterine Cancer