Aggressive cancers, such as those of the pancreas, lung or appendix, drastically reduce life expectancy. What are the means of prevention against these devastating diseases?
Tl;dr
- “Lightning” or “aggressive” cancers spread quickly and reduce life expectancy.
- Aggressive cancers can affect any location and are not organ specific.
- Symptoms and treatments for aggressive cancers are similar to those for less aggressive forms.
- The causes of the appearance of aggressive cancer are still poorly understood by scientists.
An educational look at “aggressive” cancers
When the word “cancer” is mentioned, it often evokes fear and uncertainty. However, not all cancers are the same. Some, referred to as “lightning” or rather “aggressive,” spread at an alarming rate, significantly reducing life expectancy.
Understanding “aggressive” cancers
The term “fulminant cancer” is not used by doctors. They prefer the term “aggressive cancer.” According to Professor Anthony Gonçalves, medical oncologist in charge of the metastatic breast cancer program at the Paoli-Calmettes Institute in Marseille, “Some cancers have a significant potential for aggressiveness. They have a high risk of progression to death or relapse in percentage terms and a rapid progression time.”.
The most “aggressive” cancers
The concept of aggressive cancer can be associated with almost all locations. It is not specific to a particular organ or tissue category. For example, inflammatory breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer are aggressive forms of breast cancer. In addition, “Pancreatic cancers are all considered aggressive” adds Professor Gonçalves.
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Symptoms and diagnosis
Symptoms of aggressive cancer depend on the type of cancer but are similar to those of less aggressive forms. The diagnosis of aggressive cancer can be determined at the time of diagnosis, after performing tests.
Treatment of “aggressive” cancers
“There may be aggressive treatments, such as chemotherapy before radical surgery. (mastectomy) in the case of inflammatory breast cancer for example, but aggressive cancers can also be treated with treatments that are ultimately less aggressive, such as certain targeted therapies” inform Pr Gonçalves.
Editorial opinion
Understanding “aggressive” cancers is essential, as knowledge is the first step toward prevention and treatment. It is important to remember that even if a cancer is described as “aggressive,” this does not mean that it is incurable. The evolution of medical research has led to significant advances in the treatment of these cancers, offering hope to many patients.
