Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is cancer?

A. Cancer is a group of diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. These cancer cells, which can originate almost anywhere in the body, can invade nearby tissues and spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.

Q. How many people have cancer?

A. More than one million people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Almost half of American men and one-third of American women will have some type of cancer at some point during their lifetime. While anyone can get cancer at any age, about 77 percent of all cancers are diagnosed in people age 55 and older. The rate of occurrence varies by racial and ethnic groups.

Q. What are the different types of cancer?

A. The main types of cancers are: carcinomas, sarcomas, lymphomas, leukemia and myeloma.

• Carcinomas are the most common types of cancer. They arise from the cells that cover external and internal body surfaces such as the skin, lung, breast, and colon.

• Sarcomas are cancers arising from cells found in the supporting tissues of the body such as bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue and muscle.

• Lymphomas are cancers that arise in the lymph nodes and tissues of the body's immune system.

• Leukemia is cancer that starts in immature blood cells that grow in the bone marrow and cause abnormal blood cells to accumulate in large numbers in the bloodstream.

• Myeloma is a cancer that develops in the plasma cells of bone morrow.
  

Q. What causes cancer?

A. Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA, a substance in every cell that directs all activity of the cell. Usually when DNA becomes damaged, the body is able to repair it; however, some times it is not repaired and the cell becomes abnormal. Scientists are working to better understand what causes DNA to become damaged. Some people inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. More often, though, a person's DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment or by things people do, like smoking.

Q. What are the signs and symptoms of cancer?

A. The signs and symptoms vary depending on the specific kind of cancer, but there are some general signs and symptoms that may indicate a need for testing. These include fatigue, a sore that does not heal, nagging cough, pain, unexplained weight loss, fever and changes on the skin. Although there could be other reasons for these sign and symptoms, anyone experiencing these should consult their physician.

Q. Are all tumors cancerous?

A. No. Some tumors are benign (non-cancerous) and do not spread to other parts of the body. Cancerous tumors are called malignant.

Q. What is a risk factor?

A. A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors can be changed, such as factors in the environment or lifestyle choices. Others, such as age, family history and race, cannot.

Q. What are risk factors for cancer?

A. Risk factors vary by kind of cancer. For example, a person who has had unprotected exposure to the sun has a risk factor for skin cancer. Someone who has used tobacco products has greater risk of developing lung and/or mouth cancer.

Q. What are treatment options for cancer?

A. Standard types of treatment for cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biological therapy. These treatments may be used alone or combined for the best treatment option. Surgery and radiation therapy are considered local treatments, meaning they affect cancer cells in the tumor and near it. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biological therapy are systemic treatments, meaning they travel through the bloodstream reaching cancer cells all over the body. Patients should work closely with their physicians and oncologist to determine the best individualized treatment options.

Q. What is staging?

A. Staging is the process of determining how far the cancer has spread. It is important to know the stage of the cancer before determining which treatment options are best. Most often, physicians use the TNM system for staging. This system gives three key pieces of information:

• T describes the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread to nearby tissue and organs.

• N describes how far the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

• M shows whether the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other organs of the body.

  
  

Q. What are clinical trials?

A. Clinical trials are studies of new or experimental treatments in patients. This type of study is only done when there is reason to believe that the treatment being studied may be valuable to the patient. There are three phases of clinical trials a treatment must complete before it is eligible for approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Phase I is to study the best way to give a new treatment and study its safety. Phase II is designed to see if the treatment works. Phase III involves large numbers of patients and divides patients into two groups—a control group and the group receiving the new treatment.

Q. Is there a cure for cancer?

A. According to the National Cancer Institute, there are approximately 9.8 million cancer survivors in the United States of America. Early detection and treatment increase a patient’s chance of entering remission.

Q. What is remission?

A. Remission is a decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer. In partial remission, some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared. In complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared, although cancer still may be in the body.

Q. What is the survival rate for cancer?

A. Survival rates vary by kind of cancer, but for all cancers diagnosed between 1995 and 2000, the 5-year relative survival rate is 64 percent, up from 53 percent between 1983 and 1985. This increase is largely attributed to earlier detection and new or improved treatments.

Q. What is community-based cancer care?

A. Community-based cancer care integrates all aspects of outpatient cancer care, from laboratory and radiology diagnostic capabilities, to chemotherapy and radiation therapy in treatment centers located within patients’ communities.

Q. What are the benefits of community-based cancer care?

A. The convenience of community-based cancer care enables patients to access the most advanced cancer technologies in one location within their communities. This eliminates the burden of often extensive travel to distant locations, and the shuffling between clinics for care. It also allows patients to be near their supportive circle of friends and family during their treatment.

Q. What support and services does US Oncology provide?

A. Through a strategic alliance, they provide our practices with unparalleled access to world class management services and clinical support and resources. These services include complete non-medical business functions for our locations, such as billing and collections, patient data management and accounting. They also provide us with access to one of the largest cancer research networks and advances therapies so that we may offer them to our patients. Their extensive network of more that 1,000 physicians and 2,500 nurses allows us to regularly interact with many leading cancer experts to share learning and tap into the latest thinking on patient care. Finally, their extensive reimbursement expertise enables us to help you obtain the maximum coverage from your medical insurance plan and hopefully reduce the financial burden of treatment.