Cancer conditions

The cause of most myelomas is not known, although there are some factors that increase your risk of developing it.

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn’t mean that you will definitely get it, but it does make it more likely. You may even have a variety of risk factors for multiple myeloma and never get it.

However, you’re more likely to develop multiple myeloma if you:

• Are a black person (black people are affected twice as often as white or Asian people)
• Are over 75 years old
• Are overweight or obese
• Have a family history of myeloma or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
• Have a weakened immune system, which may be due to receiving medication following a transplant or having a condition such as HIV
• Have an autoimmune condition such as lupus
• Have previously received to radiation therapy
• Have certain genetic conditions such as Gaucher disease

Not everybody has symptoms in the early stages of multiple myeloma. The cancer grows slowly, so it may take several years before you notice any warning signs. As it develops, you may experience:

• Bone pain in your ribs or lower back
• Breathlessness
• Changes in your bowel habits
• Fatigue
• Feeling very thirsty or sick
• Fever and repeated infections
• Kidney problems
• Loss of appetite
• Swelling in your ankles
• Unusual bruising of the skin and bleeding

Having one or more of these multiple myeloma symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer, as they may be caused by other conditions. It’s best to speak to your primary care physician if you have any concerns. The sooner your cancer is detected, the better the chances are of it being successfully treated.

Our standard of care starts by offering the latest diagnostic tests and treatments for multiple myeloma — including chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and radiation therapy. As part of a successful global company, we have access to world-class expertise and invest in the latest technology and treatments that have been proven to make a difference.

At GenesisCare, we understand what it takes to achieve the best possible life outcomes, so we go even further by providing the personal support you need. After all, we’re treating you — not just your cancer.

The causes of these cancers are not fully understood, however, there are risk factors that can increase the likelihood of you developing them.

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn’t mean that you will definitely get it, but it does make it more likely. You may even have multiple risk factors for brain and spinal cord cancers and never get them.

The main risk factor for primary brain cancer is radiation. Radiation therapy for primary brain cancer is associated with a 55% increased risk of further brain tumors. Other risk factors include:

•  Age – adult brain tumors can occur at any age, but are most common in people 50 to 70 years old
•  Sex – there is a higher incidence of primary brain tumors in men compared to women
•  Having certain genetic conditions, such as neurofibromatosis or Li-Fraumeni syndrome
•  A family history of CNS tumors
•  Having diabetes if you’re female
•  Having another condition, such as Parkinson’s disease, HIV infection or AIDS

There are several early warning signs of cancers of the CNS, and these can vary from person to person. As the tumor grows, it takes up more space. Depending on its location, the growing tumor starts to increase pressure in your skull or on the nerves in close proximity, causing symptoms.

Common symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Tiredness and feeling drowsy
• Nausea and vomiting
• Changes to vision, speech or hearing
• Fits

Other symptoms you may experience can be related to the area of the brain your tumor has developed in.

Symptoms by brain area:

• Frontal lobe – changes in personality and intellect, difficulty in walking, weakness of one side of the body, loss of smell, speech difficulties
• Parietal lobe – difficulty speaking or understanding words, problems with writing, reading or calculations, difficulties in coordinating movements and finding your way around, numbness or weakness on one side of the body
• Temporal lobe – seizures, feelings of fear or déjà vu, strange smells or blackouts, speech difficulties, memory problems
• Occipital lobe – loss of vision to one eye which may not be noticeable at first and can sometimes be discovered during routine eye tests
• Cerebellum – lack of coordination, slurred speech (dysarthria), unsteadiness, flickering involuntary movement of the eyes (nystagmus), vomiting, neck stiffness
• Brain stem – unsteadiness and an uncoordinated walk, facial weakness, a one-sided smile or drooping eyelids, double vision, speaking and swallowing difficulties, vomiting or headache just after waking (this is rare)
• Meninges – headaches sickness and problems with sight and movement
• Pituitary gland – irregular periods, infertility, weight gain, lethargy, high blood pressure, diabetes, mood swings, enlarged hands and feet, tunnel vision

If your cancer started in the cranial nerves, you may experience:

• Vision problems
• Swallowing difficulties
• Hearing loss in one or both ears
• Facial paralysis, numbness or pain

Spine cancers usually cause symptoms on both sides of the body, such as numbness in both legs. This is different from most brain tumors which often only affect one side of the body. Spine cancers can also cause different symptoms, depending on where in the spinal cord the tumor is found:

• Spinal cord tumors in the neck affect the arms and legs, as well as bowel and bladder function
• Spinal cord tumors below the neck affect the legs, bowel and bladder

Sometimes these symptoms may be caused by other benign (non-cancerous) conditions. If you have one or more symptoms and are concerned, you should visit your doctor.

Our standard of care starts by offering the latest diagnostic tests and treatments for brain, spine and CNS cancers — including surgery, chemotherapy and advanced radiation therapy such as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Your care team can also give you advice about well-being and nutrition that you can follow throughout the course of your treatment and beyond.

Our multidisciplinary teams are comprised of world-class physicians and expert support staff, who work together to ensure you always receive the best possible care that’s focused on you, not just your cancer.

The causes of colorectal cancer are unknown, although there are some risk factors that can increase the likelihood of you developing it.

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn’t mean that you will definitely get it, but it does make it more likely. You may even have multiple risk factors for colorectal cancer and never get it. However, you are more prone to get colorectal cancer if you:

• Are older
• Have polyps (growths) on the inner wall of your colon or rectum
• Have a family history of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)
• Are overweight
• Drink or smoke heavily
• Have a family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps
• Have an inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Regularly eat red or processed meats
• Have a diet which is high in fat and low in fiber
• Have a medical condition, such diabetes or gallstones

While you may have no symptoms in the early stages of colorectal cancer, as it grows you may experience different symptoms depending on your cancer’s size and location in the intestine. Colorectal cancer symptoms can include:

• Changes to your usual bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Feeling as if you haven’t emptied your bowel after a bowel movement
• Light or dark blood in your stool
• Loss of appetite or weight loss
• Pain during bowel movements
• Stomach pains

Having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have colorectal cancer, but it’s best to ask your doctor for advice. The sooner your cancer is detected, the better the chances are of it being successfully treated.

Our standard of care starts by offering the latest diagnostic tests and treatments for colorectal cancers — including surgery, chemotherapy radiation therapy and targeted therapies. Your care team can also give you advice about well-being and nutrition that you can follow throughout the course of your treatment and beyond.

We know from our experience that high-quality care means treating you as a person and not just your cancer. Our expert team will treat your disease in the best way possible, while offering as much personal support as you need.

The causes of esophageal cancer are unknown, however, there are some risk factors that can increase the likelihood of you developing it.

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn’t mean that you will definitely get it, but it does make it more likely. You might have many risks factors for esophageal cancer and never get it. You are more prone to develop esophageal cancer if you:

• Are male
• Are older
• Are overweight or obese
• Drink excessive amounts of alcohol
• Smoke
• Have precancerous changes in your esophageal cells, such as a condition called Barrett’s esophagus
• Have acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Have a diet which is high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables

The first signs of esophageal cancer can be difficult to spot. You may experience:

• Feeling tired or shortness of breath
• Indigestion or heart burn that doesn’t go away
• Nausea or vomiting which is related to eating
• Pain or difficulty when swallowing
• Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss

Having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have esophageal cancer but it’s best to ask your primary care physician for advice. The sooner your cancer is detected, the better the chances are of it being successfully treated.

We offer the latest diagnostic tests and treatments for esophageal cancers as standard, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapies. Your care team can also give you advice about well-being and nutrition that you can follow throughout the course of your treatment and beyond.

We know from our experience that high-quality care means treating you as a person and not just your cancer. Our expert team will treat your disease in the best way possible, while offering as much personal support as you need.

The causes of bladder cancer are not fully understood, however, there are risk factors that can increase the likelihood of you developing it.

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn’t mean that you will definitely get it, but it makes it more likely. You might have many risks factors for bladder cancer and never get it. You’re more likely to develop the condition if you:

• Are a smoker
• Are male – men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer than women in the U.S.
• Are older – the risk of developing bladder cancer increases with age and it’s most common in people over 70
• Have a close relative who has had bladder cancer
• Already have a condition – such as Crohn’s disease, human papillomavirus (HPV) or diabetes
• Have been exposed to workplace chemicals
• Have chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs)

There are several early warning signs of bladder cancer, and these can vary from person to person. Common bladder cancer symptoms include:

• Blood in your urine
• Pain or burning when you urinate
• A sudden need to urinate
• Having to urinate more often – including during the night
• Feeling a need to urinate but not being able to
• Pain on one side of your lower back

Sometimes these symptoms might be caused by something else as they are similar to signs of non-cancerous conditions, such as a urine infection or enlarged prostate. If you have one or more of these bladder cancer symptoms and are concerned, you should see your physician in case they need to run some tests.

We offer the latest diagnostic tests and treatments for bladder cancer as standard, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, brachytherapy and immunotherapies. Your care team can also give you advice about wellbeing and nutrition that you can follow throughout the course of your treatment and beyond.

Our multidisciplinary teams are comprised of world-class physicians and expert support staff, who work together to ensure you always receive the best possible care that’s focused on you, not just your cancer.

The causes of kidney cancer are unknown, although there are some risk factors that can increase the likelihood of you developing it.

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn’t mean that you will definitely get it, but it does make it more likely. You may even have multiple risk factors for kidney cancer and never get it.

However, you’re more likely to develop kidney cancers if you:

• Are very overweight or obese
• Are older
• Smoke
• Have a close family member who has had kidney cancer
• Have had dialysis for kidney disease
• Have previously had radiation therapy for testicular cancer
• Have high blood pressure
• Have an inherited condition, such as Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
• Have a medical condition, such as chronic kidney disease or sickle cell disease (SCD)

Some signs of kidney cancer are more obvious than others, these include:

• Blood in your urine (hematuria)
• A lump in your kidney area, found in the middle part of your back

Other kidney cancer symptoms include:

• Pain in the side of your lower back or abdomen
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High temperature and sweating
• Swelling in your ankle or leg (edema)
• Sudden, unexplained weight loss
• Swollen neck glands

Having one or more of these kidney cancer symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer, as they may be caused by other, non-cancerous conditions. It’s best to speak to your primary care physician for advice if you have any concerns. The sooner your cancer is detected, the better the chances are of it being successfully treated.

We offer the latest diagnostic tests and treatments for kidney cancers as standard, including surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapies and targeted therapies. Your care team can also give you advice about well-being and nutrition that you can follow throughout the course of your treatment and beyond.

We know from our experience that high-quality care means treating you as a person and not just your cancer. Our expert team will treat your disease in the best way possible, while offering as much personal support as you need.

We’re not sure exactly what causes testicular cancer, however, there are some known factors that increase your risk of developing the condition.

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn’t mean that you will definitely get it, but it makes it more likely. You might have many risks factors for testicular cancer and never get it.

Testicular cancer is more common in men with undescended testicles – a condition known as cryptorchidism. Usually, babies are born with their testicles already in the scrotum but for some, the testicles can remain in the abdomen. This is a common childhood condition and the testicles often descend naturally into the scrotum during his first year. In some cases, the testicles may not descend at all and will remain in the abdomen unless treated. Men with undescended testicles have a much higher chance of having testicular cancer than those whose testicles descended at birth or soon afterwards.

You’re also more likely to develop testicular cancer if you:

• Are white
• Have a family history of testicular cancer or undescended testicles
• Have previously had testicular cancer

The first sign of testicular cancer is often a lump or swelling in one of your testicles. Other symptoms may include:

• Changes in the shape or texture of your testicles
• Pain in your back, groin or lower abdomen
• Pain, aching or feeling of heaviness in your scrotum
• Tenderness or swelling in the breast or nipple – caused by hormonal changes

Having one or more of these testicular cancer symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer, as they may be caused by other, benign (non-cancerous) conditions. It’s best to speak to your primary care physician for advice if you have any concerns. The sooner your cancer is detected, the better the chance of it being successfully treated.

We offer the latest diagnostic tests and treatments for testicular cancers as standard, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Your care team can also give you advice about wellbeing and nutrition that you can follow throughout the course of your treatment and beyond.

We know from our experience that high-quality care means treating you as a person and not just your cancer. Our expert team will treat your disease in the best way possible, while offering as much personal support as you need.

The causes of cervical cancer are unknown, although there are risk factors that can increase the likelihood of you developing it.

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn’t mean that you will definitely get it, but it does make it more likely. You may even have multiple risk factors for cervical cancer and never get it.

The main risk factor for cervical cancer is a virus known as human papillomavirus (HPV). It is passed from person to person during sex. Although there are many types of HPV, only a few cause cervical cancer. You are also more likely to develop cervical cancer if you:

• Have had multiple sexual partners
• First had sex at age 14 years old or under
• Are a smoker
• Have HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases
• Have a family history of cervical cancer
• Have previously had cancer of the vulva, vagina, kidney, or urinary tract
• Are on the combined pill (containing synthetic versions of estrogen and progesterone)

You can reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer by receiving the HPV vaccine before you’re sexually active. You’re also half as likely to get cervical cancer if your partner is circumcised, because the risk of the HPV virus is much lower in circumcised men.

You may find that you have no symptoms in the early stages of cervical cancer. However, cervical cancer symptoms can include:

• Irregular bleeding
• Bleeding after menopause
• Unusually long or heavy menstrual cycles
• Pain or discomfort during sex
• Bleeding after sex
• Discharge from the vagina that smells unpleasant
• Pain in your pelvis

After an abnormal pap smear, a biopsy may be performed to help determine a diagnosis. We offer the latest diagnostic tests and treatments for cervical cancers—including surgery, chemotherapy and advanced radiation therapy such as high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy. Your care team can also give you advice about well-being and nutrition that you can follow throughout the course of your treatment and beyond.

We know from our experience that high-quality care means treating you as a person and not just your cancer. Our expert team will treat your disease in the best way possible, while offering as much personal support as you need.

We don’t know what causes ovarian cancer. However, there are some factors that increase your risk of developing it.

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn’t mean that you will definitely get it, but it makes it more likely. You might have many risks factors for ovarian cancer and never get it. You’re more likely to develop ovarian cancer if you:

• Are over 60 years old
• Have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer
• Have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
• Have previously had breast cancer
• Have received hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or tamoxifen (breast cancer therapy)
• Have endometriosis
• Are overweight

You may be less at risk if you:

• Are taking the contraceptive pill
• Have had children
• Breastfed your children

It can be difficult to recognize the signs of ovarian cancer, it may go undetected until it has spread to your pelvis or abdomen. As it develops you may experience:

• A bloated feeling or swollen abdomen
• Feeling very full when eating
• Urinating more frequently
• Fatigue
• Pain or discomfort in your pelvis or abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss

Having one or more of these ovarian cancer symptoms doesn’t mean you’ll have the condition, as these changes can be caused by other illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome. It’s best to speak to your primary care physician if you have any concerns. The sooner ovarian cancer is detected, the better the chance of it being successfully treated.

What causes liver cancer?We know from our experience that high-quality care means treating you as a person and not just your cancer. Our expert team will treat your disease in the best way possible, while offering as much personal support as you need.

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn’t mean that you will definitely get it, but it does make it more likely. You may even have multiple risk factors for liver cancer and never get it.

However, many liver cancer cases are related to chronic viral infections, particularly hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV).

You’re also more likely to develop liver cancers if you:

• Are male
• Are older
• Drink excessive amounts of alcohol
• Have a type of scarring of the liver called cirrhosis, which can be caused by hepatitis or alcohol abuse
• Are obese
• Are diabetic
• Have an inherited liver condition, such as hemochromatosis or Wilson’s disease
• Eat foods that have been affected by aflatoxins (molds that grow on crops when they’re not stored properly)

Most people don’t have any liver cancer symptoms during its early stages. As the cancer grows, you may experience:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Pains in your upper abdomen
• Lump in your liver area, which is on your right side below the rib cage
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weakness and fatigue
• Swelling in your abdomen
• Jaundice, characterized by the yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites of your eyes
• White, chalky stools

Having one or more of these liver cancer symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer, as they may be caused by other conditions. It’s best to speak to your primary care physician if you have any concerns. The sooner your cancer is detected, the better the chances are of it being successfully treated.

Our standard of care starts by offering the latest diagnostic tests and treatments for liver cancer — including chemotherapy, targeted therapies and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Our latest-generation systems deliver highly targeted radiation, for effective tumor treatments with fewer side effects.

At GenesisCare, we understand what it takes to achieve the best possible life outcomes, so we go even further by providing the personal support you need. After all, we’re treating you — not just your cancer.

The majority of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking, either you smoking or being exposed to second-hand smoke. In some instances, lung cancer can develop in people who’ve never smoked or are not exposed to second-hand smoke – the underlying causes here are not clear.

There are a number of known factors that increase your risk of developing lung cancer.

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn’t mean that you will definitely get it, but it makes it more likely. You might have many risks factors for lung cancer and never get it.

You’re more likely to develop lung cancers if you:

• Are over 65
• Smoke or are exposed to second-hand smoke
• Have a personal or family history of lung cancer
• Have previously had radiation therapy to your chest
• Work with asbestos or other chemicals – such as arsenic, chromium and nickel
• Are exposed to radon gas – this is produced by the natural breakdown of substances in soil. Unsafe levels of radon can sometimes accumulate in homes

Most people don’t have any signs of lung cancer when it’s in its early stages. As the cancer grows, you may experience:

• A persistent cough that is progressively worse
• Coughing up blood
• Hoarse voice
• Regular or persistent chest infections
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Breathing or swallowing difficulties
• Fatigue
• Weight loss

Having one or more lung cancer symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer, as they may be caused by other conditions. It’s best to speak to your primary care physician if you have any concerns. The sooner your cancer is detected, the better the chance of it being successfully treated.

We offer the latest diagnostic tests and treatments for lung cancer as standard, including advanced radiation therapies such as high-dose rate brachytherapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Our latest-generation systems deliver highly targeted radiation, for effective tumor treatments with fewer side effects.

At GenesisCare, we understand what it takes to achieve the best possible life outcomes and go a little further to provide it. After all, we’re treating you — not just your cancer.

The causes of stomach cancer are unknown, however, there are some risk factors that can increase the likelihood of you developing it.

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn’t mean that you will definitely get it, but it makes it more likely. You might have many risks factors for stomach cancer and never get it.

You’re more likely to develop stomach cancers if you:

• Are male
• Are older
• Are overweight or obese
• Have a history of gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)
• Eat a lot of processed meat
• Smoke
• Have been infected with a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
• Have a diet that is high in salt or low in fruit and vegetables
• Have been exposed to certain workplace certain chemicals – for example if you work in the rubber production industry or with asbestos
• Have a family history of stomach cancer

Cancer of the stomach is often detected late as the signs may not be obvious. More advanced stomach cancer symptoms may include:

• Acidity and heartburn
• Anemia – caused by bleeding in the stomach
• Feeling bloated eating
• Indigestion
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pains or swelling
• Swallowing difficulties
• Trapped wind

Having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer, as they may be caused by other conditions. It’s best to speak to your primary care physician for advice if you have any concerns. The sooner your cancer is detected, the better the chance of treating it successfully.

We offer the latest diagnostic tests and treatments including stomach cancer surgery, chemotherapy radiation therapy, and targeted therapies. Your care team can also give you advice about wellbeing and nutrition that you can follow throughout the course of your treatment and beyond.

We know from our experience that high-quality care means treating you as a person and not just your cancer. Our expert team will treat your disease in the best way possible, while offering as much personal support as you need.