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FAQs
What is the epidemiology of cancer of unknown primary? ›
Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) is a heterogeneous group of oncological diseases in which it is impossible to determine the primary tumor. The incidence is 3-5% of oncologic patients, but the survival time varies from 6 weeks to 5 months.
What is metastatic cancer with unknown primary site? ›Cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) is a relatively common clinical entity, accounting for approximately 2 percent of all invasive cancers [1]. CUP is diagnosed in patients who have metastatic cancer but who have no anatomic primary site identified by a comprehensive initial evaluation.
What is metastasis cancer pathophysiology? ›The development of metastases requires cancer cells to leave their primary site, circulate in the bloodstream, endure pressure in blood vessels, acclimate to new cellular surroundings in a secondary site, and escape deadly combat with immune cells.
What is the prognosis for metastatic cancer of unknown primary? ›Outlook / Prognosis
Because carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) is not the primary cancer and has already spread when it was found, the potential to cure the cancer is less likely than finding a primary cancer early. Survival rates vary from person to person, ranging from months to several years.
There is no staging system for cancer of unknown primary (CUP). This is because the cancer has already spread and doctors don't know where the original cancer started.
What is a primary site unknown cancer? ›Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) is a rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the body but the place the cancer began is not known. Sometimes the primary cancer is never found. The signs and symptoms of CUP are different, depending on where the cancer has spread in the body.
Can you survive cancer of unknown primary? ›around 16 out of 100 people (around 16%) survive for 1 year or more. around 10 out of 100 people (around 10%) survive for 3 years or more.
Can you have metastatic cancer without knowing? ›Metastatic cancer does not always cause symptoms. When symptoms do occur, what they are like and how often you have them will depend on the size and location of the metastatic tumors. Some common signs of metastatic cancer include: pain and fractures, when cancer has spread to the bone.
What is the difference between primary and metastatic cancer? ›A term used to describe the original, or first, tumor in the body. Cancer cells from a primary tumor may spread to other parts of the body and form new, or secondary, tumors. This is called metastasis.
How long does a metastatic cancer patient live? ›Metastatic cancer survival rates
The five-year survival rate depends on the type of metastases you have. For example, the five-year survival rate for metastatic lung cancer is 9%. This means that 9% of people diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer are still alive five years later.
What stage is metastatic cancer? ›
What stage is metastatic cancer? It differs depending on the cancer type, but in most cases, cancer that has spread to distant organs is stage IV cancer. If cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other close tissues, it's generally stage III.
What is the difference between metastatic and metastasis cancer? ›In metastasis, cancer cells break away from where they first formed (primary cancer), travel through the blood or lymph system, and form new tumors (metastatic tumors) in other parts of the body. The metastatic tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor.
What is metastasis with unknown primary site? ›A patient is considered to have a cancer of unknown primary origin when cancer is detected at one or more sites and routine evaluation fails to identify the primary tumor.
Can cancer of unknown primary go into remission? ›However, complete cure remains a very rare event in CUP. Remission can be achieved with a platinum-containing regimen combined with radiotherapy.
How do you treat cancer of unknown primary? ›The main treatment for cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is cancer drugs, most commonly chemotherapy. You often have a combination of 2 or 3 chemotherapy drugs. You may also have radiotherapy to help to control your symptoms and hormone therapy.
How rare is cancer of unknown primary? ›Cancer of unknown primary is a disease that has metastasized (spread) from another part of the body. The place where it began, also called the primary site, is unknown. These cases make up about 2% to 5% of cancers diagnosed in the United States. Thanks to better diagnostic tests, though, they are becoming less common.
What is the epidemiology of cancer? ›Cancer epidemiology studies the distribution of cancer in populations and its changes over time and looks at characteristics of different population groups, not only those who get the disease but also those who do not, to find out how these groups differ.
What is cancer of unknown primary classification? ›Carcinoma of unknown primary origin (CUP) is a diverse group of cancers that is defined by the presence of metastatic disease with no identified primary tumor at initial presentation. CUP has been reported to comprise approximately 2% to 5% of all cancer cases.
What is the cancer of unknown primary investigation? ›Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) means that cancer spread (secondary cancer) has been found in your body, but doctors don't know where the cancer started (the primary tumour). Your body is made up of billions of cells that can only be seen under a microscope.