What is ovarian cancer?
-The ovaries are part of a woman's reproductive system
-They are in the pelvis
-Each ovary is about the size of an almond
-The ovaries make the female hormones — Estrogen and Progesterone
-They also release eggs
-The eggs travel through the fallopian tubes into the uterus where the fertilized egg implants and develops into a fetus
-When a woman goes through her menopause, her ovaries stop releasing eggs and make far lower levels of hormones
The ovaries contain 3 main kinds of cells:
-Epithelial cells: Which cover the ovary
-Germ cells: Which are found inside the ovary. These cells develop into the eggs (ova) that are released into the fallopian tubes every month during the reproductive years.
-Stromal cells: Which form the supporting or structural tissue holding the ovary together and which produce most of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone
-Ovarian cancer happens when normal cells in the ovary change into abnormal cells and grow out of control.
-Epithelial tumors: Start from the cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary. Most ovarian tumors are epithelial cell tumors.
-Germ cell tumors: Start from the cells that produce the eggs
-Stromal tumors: Start from structural tissue cells that hold the ovary together and produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.
-Most of these tumors are benign (non-cancerous) and never spread beyond the ovary.
-Benign tumors can be treated by removing either the ovary or the part of the ovary that contains the tumor.
-Ovarian tumors that are not benign are malignant (cancerous) or low malignant potential tumors.
-These types can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body and can be fatal.
-Nasopharyngeal cancer
.Cancer of the nasopharynx.
.Most nasopharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
-Oropharyngeal cancer
.Cancer of the oropharynx
.Like other pharyngeal cancers, most oropharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
Sites within the oropharynx that may develop cancer are
.Base of the tongue
.Tonsillar region (the most common site for primary cancers of the oropharynx)
.Soft palate, which includes the uvula
.Pharyngeal walls
-Hypopharyngeal cancers
.Cancer of the hypopharynx
.Hypopharyngeal cancers are the least common type of pharyngeal cancer.
.Again, almost all cancers of this type are squamous cell carcinomas.
-Laryngeal cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the larynx.
-Most laryngeal cancers form in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells lining the inside of the larynx.
-The larynx is a part of the throat, between the base of the tongue and the trachea.
-The larynx contains the vocal cords, which vibrate and make sound when air is directed against them. The sound echoes through the pharynx, mouth, and nose to make a person's voice.
There are 3 main parts of the larynx:
-Supraglottis: The upper part of the larynx above the vocal cords, including the epiglottis.
-Glottis: The middle part of the larynx where the vocal cords are located.
-Subglottis: The lower part of the larynx between the vocal cords and the trachea (windpipe).
Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity cancer
.Paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity.
-Paranasal sinuses
."Paranasal" means near the nose.
.The paranasal sinuses are hollow, air-filled spaces in the bones around the nose.
.The sinuses are lined with cells that make mucus, which keeps the inside of the nose from drying out during breathing.
There are several paranasal sinuses named after the bones that surround them:
.The frontal sinuses are in the lower forehead above the nose.
.The maxillary sinuses are in the cheekbones on either side of the nose.
.The ethmoid sinuses are beside the upper nose, between the eyes.
.The sphenoid sinuses are behind the nose, in the center of the skull.
-Nasal cavity
.The nose opens into the nasal cavity, which is divided into two nasal passages.
.Air moves through these passages during breathing.
.The nasal cavity lies above the bone that forms the roof of the mouth and curves down at the back to join the throat.
.The area just inside the nostrils is called the nasal vestibule. A small area of special cells in the roof of each nasal passage sends signals to the brain to give the sense of smell.
.Together the paranasal sinuses and the nasal cavity filter and warm the air, and make it moist before it goes into the lungs.
.The movement of air through the sinuses and other parts of the respiratory system help make sounds for talking.
-A rare cancer that forms in tissues of a salivary gland. Most salivary gland cancers occur in older people.
-The salivary glands make saliva and release it into the mouth. Saliva has enzymes that help digest food and antibodies that help protect against infections of the mouth and throat.
-More than half of all salivary gland tumors are benign (not cancerous) and do not spread to other tissues
There are 3 pairs of major salivary glands:
-Parotid glands: These are the largest salivary glands and are found in front of and just below each ear. Most major salivary gland tumors begin in this gland.
-Sublingual glands: These glands are found under the tongue in the floor of the mouth.
-Submandibular glands: These glands are found below the jawbone.
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