Tumors

Branden Spicer

Mr. Petersen

English 101

October 13, 2005

Tumors

A tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in any part of the body. There are many types of tumors, such as neuroepithelial tumors, non- neuroepithelial tumors, testicular tumors, brain tumors, lung tumors, tumors of the skin, and carcinoid tumors. Most tumors develop and live under the skin. Different types of tumors all come with their own signs and symptoms and treatments.

The specific symptoms of cancer depend upon where the cancer is located. In some cases, a tumor can stay hidden for years because it causes no damage to tissues that would result in an observable symptom. Many times the symptoms of cancer are vague or can be mistaken for other diseases. The non-specific symptoms of cancer can include abnormal discharges, fatigue, persistent cough, unexplained weight loss (Madden 142). A pituitary tumor can cause symptoms that fall into two groups: general, which are common to all tumors regardless of cell type. Specific, which are characteristic of the cell type involved. General symptoms include headache, visual impairment (most commonly the loss of vision in the outside top quarter of the visual field in both eyes), and weakness (Madden 142). Depending on the cell type making up the tumor, symptoms may include abnormal secretion of breast milk, absence of menstrual periods, appearance of purplish marks on the skin, decreased sex drive in the men, development of a hump on the person's back (near the base of the neck), excessive enlargement of the hands, feet, and facial features, excessive growth, hair loss and skin coarseness, intolerance to cold, and rounded facial features (Madden 142).

In the early stage, some patients with testicular tumors have no symptoms at all. Certain types of testicular tumors can secrete high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone, which stimulates breast development (Mostofi 308). Two types of testicular tumors, Leydig cell tumors and Sertoli cell tumors may produce androgens (male sex hormones) or estrogens (female sex hormones) (Mostofi 308). Estrogen can cause breast growth in men and cause decreased libido (loss of sexual desire). Over production of androgen may or may not cause any specific symptoms in men; however, it can cause growth of facial and body hair at an abnormally early age (Mostofi 308). Testicular cancer is rare. Despite a slow increase in the number of new cases, the number of deaths due to testicular cancer has decreased dramatically since the 1960s as a result of treatment improvements (Mostofi 308). In men, testicular cancer is the most common cancer between the ages of 20 to 34, the second most common cancer between the ages of 35 to 39, and the third most common cancer between the ages of 15 to 19 (Mosotfi 308).

Symptoms of brain tumors are extremely difficult to pin point, therefore are hard to diagnose. In general, the symptoms depend on the size of the tumor and the part of the brain affected. As a tumor grows, it can affect other parts of the brain, producing new symptoms. The tumor may grow into other