True! Though very rare this is possible too! The Heart cancer!
Fortunately the vast majority of heart tumors are noncancerous or benign.
Many researches have been performed to find the probability of the heart cancer, its occurrences and prevalence.
A 20-year review conducted in Hong Kong shows that 12,487 consecutive autopsies identified only seven cases of cardiac tumor which is reflected as less than 0.1%. Convincingly most of which were benign.
Benign tumors of the heart include rhabdomyomas, hamartomas, myxomas and fibromas. Cancerous (malignant) tumors of the heart are most often sarcomas which lead to this disease.
Cancer can spread to the heart, occasionally, such as from lymphomas that originate in the structures of the chest near the heart. Melanomas and sarcomas are the other cancers that can spread to the heart. Surgical removal of heart tumors is the treatment.
Cautious! This disease can affect the heart in other ways, such as stiffening of the heart muscle (cardiac fibrosis) or causing damage to the heart valves (marantic endocarditis). Cancer treatments can also affect the heart.
Certain chemotherapy drugs such as anthracyclines, herceptin and IL-2, high-dose cytoxan, 5-FU, taxanes can damage the heart. Even radiation therapy directed at or near the heart can cause damage to the heart giving a high threat for this disease.
Prevalence and incidence statistics for Heart cancer:
- According to the Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 8,680 new cases in the US 2004
- According to the Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society 4,760 new male cases in the US 2004
- According to the Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society 3,920 new female cases cancer in the US 2004
The following are statistics from various sources about deaths and mortality and Heart cancer:
- According to the Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society 2,020 estimated male deaths in the US 2004
- According to the Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society 1,640 estimated female deaths in the US 2004
The likely outcome of the disease is the ‘prognosis’ of Heart cancer. The prognosis of Heart cancer may include the chances of complications, duration, probable outcomes, and recovery period for Heart cancer, survival rates, and prospects for recovery, death rates, and other outcome possibilities in the overall prognosis of this disease.
It should be noted that such forecast issues are by their nature unpredictable. So now you are very clear how heart cancer can affect such a part of your body, The Heart! So be Cautious, Preventive and Alert!
