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Longest Survivor Of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma: Explained

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Overview

Diagnosis and Statistics

Prognosis

Disease Progression

Support and Resources

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Introduction

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare form of cancer. It often starts in areas like the salivary glands in your head and neck. You may also hear it called glandular or secretory cancer.

ACC grows slowly, but can spread to other parts of your body, especially the lungs. Early detection helps improve treatment outcomes.

Understanding ACC's symptoms aids early identification. These symptoms include:

  • Swelling or lumps in mouth, face, or neck
  • Pain around jaw area
  • Changes in voice
  • Difficulty swallowing

If you experience these symptoms persistently, consult a healthcare professional promptly. Be proactive about your health and stay informed. Understanding ACC allows for better discussions with doctors and improves decision-making about treatments.

Diagnosis Statistics of AdCC

AdCC, or Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, is a rare type of cancer. It accounts for less than 1% of all head and neck cancers. Despite its rarity, it's crucial to understand the diagnosis statistics.

Each year in the United States, there are about 1200 new cases of AdCC. Most patients are adults in their fifth decade of life when diagnosed. However, it can occur at any age including children but this is very infrequent.

The disease affects slightly more women than men with a ratio around 3:2 respectively. The reason behind this gender difference remains unknown right now.

Remember that early detection improves treatment outcomes drastically. Regular check-ups and being aware of symptoms such as painless lump growths could lead to an early diagnosis.

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Survival Rate for AdCC

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is a rare type of cancer. It mostly affects the salivary glands in the head and neck, but can occur other places too. Survival rates show how many people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive after a certain amount of time.

The survival rate for AdCC often depends on several factors: where it started in your body, how far it's spread when diagnosed, treatment received, and overall health status. On average, approximately 89% of patients survive for at least 5 years after being diagnosed with localized AdCC - this means it hasn't spread beyond its original location.

For patients whose AdCC has spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissues (regional AdCC), about 60% survive for at least another five years. However, if the cancer has advanced to distant parts of your body (distant metastasis), survival drops significantly; only around 39% live for five more years.

It's important to remember these figures are averages derived from large groups of patients. They cannot predict what will happen in any individual case because everyone is unique! Your doctor can provide you a better understanding based on your specific situation.

In conclusion, while surviving AdCC greatly depends on various individual circumstances including its staging at diagnosis and specific treatments undertaken; knowledge empowers us all towards making informed decisions regarding our healthcare journey.

Late Recurrence in AdCC

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (AdCC) is a rare type of cancer. It develops mostly in the salivary glands. But it can also affect other parts of your body. Late recurrence means the return of cancer after a long period without signs or symptoms.

Late recurrence in AdCC is common, often occurring 5 to 10 years after treatment. In some cases, it can even occur up to 20 years later. This makes regular follow-ups crucial for patients with AdCC.

Why does late recurrence happen? The exact reason isn't known yet. However, researchers think that microscopic cancer cells may remain undetected in your body after treatment. Over time, these cells could grow and cause a late recurrence.

Keep this information close at hand and discuss any concerns with your doctor regularly.

Additional Resources Available

There are abundant resources available to help you understand clinical trials. ClinicalTrials.gov is a reliable source. It's run by the U.S National Library of Medicine. You can search for trials, learn about their purpose and find out who qualifies.

A resource like CenterWatch.com provides lists of new FDA-approved treatments. The site includes an extensive patient education section too.

For cancer-specific information, look at Cancer.gov from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). NCI also runs the Cancer Information Service. It offers telephone and online chat support.

Don't forget your healthcare team as well! They are often willing to answer questions or point you toward additional resources.

Remember: Research takes time but gives power over your health decisions.

Refrences

  • Cai, Q., Zhang, R., Wu, G., & Dong, X. (2014, September). Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of Submandibular Salivary Gland With Late Metastases to Lung and Choroid: A Case Report and Literature Review. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Elsevier BV.http://doi.org/10.1016/j.joms.2014.04.011
  • Kulkarni, N., Pezzi, C. M., Greif, J. M., Suzanne Klimberg, V., Bailey, L., Korourian, S., & Zuraek, M. (2013, March 1). Rare Breast Cancer: 933 Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas from the National Cancer Data Base. Annals of Surgical Oncology. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.http://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-013-2911-z
  • Chummun, S., McLean, N. R., Kelly, C. G., Dawes, P. J. D. K., Fellows, S., Meikle, D., & Soames, J. V. (2001, September). Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck. British Journal of Plastic Surgery. Elsevier BV.http://doi.org/10.1054/bjps.2001.3636