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Common Types of Cancer Breat Cancer is also known as mammary cancer results from several factors such as ionizing radiation, diety, familiar history or exposure to genetic mutagens. Cervix Cancer: is named for the part of the body in which it begins. Cancers of the cerix also are named for the type of cell in which they begin. Most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcionmas. Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that form the surface of the cervix. Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL): NHL is a broad category encompassing 20 different malignancies of B-cell or T-cell origin, which vary considerably in proliferation rate, histology, immunophenotype, cytogenetics, and ultimately in response to therapy. Cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone (CHOP) has been the standard of therapy for aggressive NHLs, curidng greater than 30% of patients with diffuse large-cell NHL. A cHOP/rituximab comnbination has also become a popular regimen based on results from separate phase II/III trials evaluating the combination using different schedules in elderly patients with aggressive B-cell NHLs. Ritximab is a chimeric antibody that binds to the CD20 antigen, which is expressed on a majority of B-cell lymphomas. Since the early 1980s, following the first report of Burkitt's like lymphoma in homosexual men, there has been a steady increase in the reported incidence of NHL developing in patients with AIDS. Vaginal cancers are rare entitiels, which are frequently associated with cervical or vulvar cancers. The upper vagina seems to be involved in most instances. If the cervix is involved with an invasive cancer with concomitant vaginal involvement, it is diagnosed as a primary cervical caner with extension into the vagina. The incidence of the disease is between 35 and 90 years, with most seen in the 60-79 year age range. Depending upon where the carcinoma is located, extension with regard to lymph node metastasis mimics the adjacent organ. If disease is in the upper vagina, it follws a spead pattern of cervical cancer, with metastasis to the obturator, iliac, and hypogastric lymph nodes. Treatment is tailored to the extent of the disease. Large cancers are treated initially with external irradiation, which hopefully will shrink the tumor so local therapy will be more effective. External irradiation in a dose of 4000-5000 cGy is given initially for bulky stage I and II cancers. Some type of local therapy is then used, which may consist of vaginal ovids or a similar applicaitonthat will cover the whole vagina, delivering a surface dose of 6000 cGy, or higher doses is two applicaitons are used. One study concluded that a total radiation dose over 75 Gy including brachytherapy does great than 30 Gy provide a significant increase in residual-free survival. Depending upon the location of the primary tumor, the draining lymph nodes are also treated with external irradiation.
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