While there is no disease that does not put a person in a state of depression, Cancer is one disease that puts the patient through a lot! Normally the patients experience numerous episodes of depression and anxiety. And rightfully so. The chemotherapy sessions leave the patient devastated. The pain that a sufferer has to endure as a part of these sessions is something we cannot even imagine. Therefore, it is very important that you extend immense love and care towards a sufferer. They need it the most. They become very sensitive during the course of the time that the Cancer stays. Come up with ways to divert their minds. For example, subscription to services like Charter Spectrum Internet can help ensure their access to unlimited shows and entertainment at all times. Or you can take them out for a walk or movies.
Talking of Cancer reminds me that I recently heard someone say the word Heart Cancer. Surprised, I googled it and here’s what I found:
Does Heart Cancer Exist?
No. As in heart tumors exist but in medical terminology, you do not refer to it as a heart cancer. In fact, the development of heart tumors is very rare. You do not normally get to hear about it. According to research, you will only find 1 case in over 2000 autopsies. These primary heart tumors, although rare in nature, can be both cancerous and non-cancerous. If they are the former, then they will spread to other parts of the body. However, benign tumors don’t. And most of the tumors are benign.
Some of the examples of benign tumors include:
- Fibroma
- Myxoma
- Rhabdomyoma
Examples of malignant tumors:
- Pericardial Mesothelioma
- Sarcomas
- Primary Cardiac Lymphoma
However, there are chances that tumors do not develop in the heart but cancer in another nearby organ spreads to the heart.
Common Cancers
Some of the common cancers that are likely to spread to the heart are:
- Lung Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Lymphoma
- Kidney Cancer
- Melanoma
Having cleared the confusion, let’s look into the symptoms of a heart tumor. Often the symptoms resemble those of heart diseases.
Symptoms
These are some of the common symptoms that anyone with a heart tumor(s) is likely to experience:
- Blood Flow Obstruction- If a tumor develops in any of the chambers of your heart, it will or can block the flow of blood through the heart. Hence, obstructing the blood flow. If the tumor develops in one of the atria, it can block the flow of the blood to the lower chamber, the ventricle. However, if the tumor develops in either of the ventricles, it can block the flow of blood to the rest of the body.
- Heart Muscle Dysfunction- If a tumor grows in the muscular walls, it is highly likely that they will become stiff. This will restrict them from pumping the blood well. Which can lead to heart failure? Some of the symptoms include chest pain, swollen legs, and fatigue.
- Conduction Problems- Tumors that grow inside the heart will definitely affect how regularly or fast the heart usually beats. These tumors can block the normal path of conduction that exists between the atria and the ventricles.
- Embolus- A small piece that separates from the tumor in the heart is capable of traveling to other parts of the body. Depending on where the embolus ends up, the symptoms include paralysis on one side of the body, pulseless limb and shortness of breath.
- Systemic Symptoms- Some of the nonspecific symptoms that are likely to develop include night sweats, joint pain, weight loss, and chills.
Causes
Some of the common causes of tumors developing in the heart include:
- Tobacco
- Certain Viruses
- Damaged immune system
- Radiation
- Benzene
Diagnosis
The diagnosis for heart tumors is numerous in number. The most famous ones include:
- Blood tests
- Chest X-ray
- Echocardiogram- This technique makes use of sound to create a moving image. This image shows the function and the structure of the heart of that individual
- CT Scan- This technique/test helps to differentiate between a malignant and benign tumor
- MRI
Treatment Options
Some of the many treatment options available are:
- Chemotherapy and radiation
- Surgery to remove a tumor if it is not malignant or a secondary tumor
- Echo cardiograms
Be clear that there is no term as a heart cancer. In case, you need any more information, you can always visit famous medical websites to educate yourself further. These days Spectrum Internet Only is so reasonable that you can afford to subscribe to such services and read about such things even when on the go. This will add to your knowledge and you can actually work towards creating awareness campaigns among people.
