Top cancers in the U.S. and links to the disease
A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing and terrifying event, particularly when it includes one of the more dangerous forms of the disease.
Early diagnosis can help mitigate the health problems and could even save your life. The impacts are far-reaching, touching the lives of the patient and everyone around them. In some cases, a fatal diagnosis can leave relatives struggling to overcome the hardships, even if they are able to recover from the loss of a wage earner that supported the family. Mesothelioma lawsuit settlements, for example, have helped some families continue on after their painful loss.
These are some of the more dangerous forms of cancer affecting millions across the U.S. and some of the links associated with the diseases.
Prostate Cancer
This cancer affecting men is one of the most deadly in the U.S. One in every seven men will be diagnosed with this cancer in their lifetime. In many cases, the cancer is not discovered until it is advanced, often in men over 65. African American men are more likely to have cancer than men who are white, Asian, or Hispanic. Heredity is considered a factor. Prostate exams have been identified as a way to detect cancer, with increased education among men helping to identify and treat the disease.
Also Read:
- Mesothelioma causes, symptoms, treatment and prognosis
- Mesothelioma Information – 10 Most Asked Q & A
Pancreatic Cancer
One of the deadliest forms of the disease is pancreatic cancer. Heredity plays a large role, doctors have discovered, and smoking, obesity, or people with chronic pancreatitis also are more likely to get pancreatic cancer. One in 67 people are diagnosed with it. It’s difficult to detect pancreatic cancer early, which is why it is so hard to treat once the more advanced disease is discovered. Only six percent of those diagnosed survive beyond five years.
Breast Cancer
This cancer mostly affects women, although some men are diagnosed in the U.S. One in eight women in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer, while one in 1,000 men are diagnosed. While breast cancer is most common in women after menopause, younger women also are being diagnosed more with advancements in detection. Some of the factors increasing the likelihood of breast cancer include heredity, obesity, alcohol, dense breast tissue, and in women who have never been pregnant. Regular mammograms have helped increase detection of breast cancer, in addition to new methods of identifying genes associated with the disease.
