For almost 2% of cancer patients, the cancer is only found after it has spread to a secondary site. These cancers are called carcinoma of unknown primary site or cancer of unknown primary (CUP). The primary site at times is unidentifiable because the tumor may be very small, the body caused it to shrink, or it was unintentionally removed during surgery.
These cancers could be adenocarcinoma, poorly differentiated carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or neuroendocrine carcinoma. The American Cancer Society reports that an estimated 2 to 5 percent of cancer patients have metastatic tumors, and routine testing cannot locate the origin.
Statistics
CUP claims 2% of all cancer diagnoses, with 32,880 people (16,270 men and boys and 16,610 women and girls) diagnosed with CUP.
Risk Factors And Symptoms
Risk factors include:
- Age (60)
- Tobacco use includes cigarette smoking, chewing tobacco, and cigar smoking
- Excessive sun exposure
- Exposure to large amounts of radiation, chemicals in some manufacturing industries
- Poor nutrition
- Lack of exercise
- Family history of breast, ovarian, or colorectal cancer
Symptoms include pain in a specific area of the body, such as the chest, belly, or bones, loss of appetite, weight loss, a lump in any part of the body, including the lymph nodes, a persistent cough or hoarseness, changes in bowel or bladder habits, unusual bleeding or discharge, and persistent fever or night sweats.
Prevention
- Avoid recreational sun tanning outdoors
- Use indoor tanning beds
- Wear sun-protective clothing
- Use broad-spectrum sunscreen
- Protect your skin from the sun
Treatment
Targeted therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and and radiation therapy are the treatment options.
