Can you have cancer and doctors cant find it?

Sometimes secondary cancers are found in one or more parts of the body, but despite several tests, doctors can't find the primary tumour. If tests show that you have a cancer that has spread, but your doctors can't find the primary tumour, it's called a malignancy of unknown primary origin (MUO).

cancerresearchuk.org - What is cancer of unknown primary (CUP)?

What is 4p syndrome?

Chromosome 4, Trisomy 4p is a rare chromosomal disorder in which all or a portion of the short arm (p) of chromosome 4 appears three times...

Last updated Dec 31, 2020

Is it better to take cranberry juice or pills?

Studies have pointed out that due to the added sugars and water that dilute the cranberry juice, cranberry capsules are a more effective...

Last updated Nov 8, 2022

Imagine Your Moment Of Freedom!

Fluxactive Complete is conveniently packed with over 14 essential prostate powerhouse herbs, vitamins and grade A nutrients which work synergistically to help you support a healthy prostate faster

Learn More »

Promotion

What is cancer of unknown primary?

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) means that cancer spread (secondary cancer) has been found in your body, but doctors don't know where the cancer started (the primary tumour).

What cancer is

Your body is made up of billions of cells that can only be seen under a microscope. The cells group together to make up the tissues and organs of our bodies. Normally, cells only divide to replace old and worn out cells. Cancer develops when something inside a single cell goes wrong, making the cell carry on dividing until it forms a lump or a tumour. A tumour can be either non cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). A benign tumour does not spread to other parts of the body. But a malignant tumour (cancer) can spread.

What is a primary cancer?

The primary cancer is the place where a cancer starts growing. Cells from this primary site may break away and spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. These escaped cells can then grow and form other tumours, which are known as secondary cancers or metastases. Doctors name and treat cancers according to where they first started developing, even if they have spread to other parts of the body. For example, if you have bowel cancer that has spread to the liver, it is called bowel cancer with liver metastases or secondaries. It is not called liver cancer. This is because the cancerous cells in the liver are cancerous bowel cells. They are not liver cells that have become cancerous. Doctors confirm this by looking at the cells under the microscope.

Looking for the primary cancer

It's normally straightforward to find the primary cancer. Usually, people go to their GP because of symptoms. The GP might then refer you to a specialist doctor and for tests that confirm where the cancer started (the primary tumour). Sometimes secondary cancers are found in one or more parts of the body, but despite several tests, doctors can't find the primary tumour. If tests show that you have a cancer that has spread, but your doctors can’t find the primary tumour, it’s called a malignancy of unknown primary origin (MUO).

Does turmeric help with blood pressure?

Turmeric can also lower blood sugar and may enhance the effects of antidiabetic drugs or insulin ( 10 ). Since turmeric can lower blood pressure,...

Last updated Dec 24, 2021

What age are mens muscles the strongest?

Typically, muscle mass and strength increase steadily from birth and reach their peak at around 30 to 35 years of age. After that, muscle power and...

Last updated May 2, 2019

Promotion

You then have some initial tests to try to find out the primary cancer. If the primary cancer doesn’t show up on the initial tests, your doctor may refer you to a team of doctors who specialise in cancer of unknown primary (CUP) The CUP specialist team may arrange for more tests to search for the primary cancer. You have a confirmed cancer of unknown primary (cCUP) if they can't find the primary cancer after the specialised tests.

Why a primary cancer might not be found

There are different reasons why doctors can't find a primary cancer. They don’t always know for certain why and how this happens. This might be because: the secondary cancer has grown very quickly, while the primary cancer is still very small – very small cancers might not cause symptoms or be seen on scans your immune system has successfully attacked the original primary cancer and it has disappeared, while the secondary cancer is still growing (this is not common, but it can happen) The most common places for secondary cancers to be found are the lungs, liver, bones, lymph nodes, and skin.

How doctors know you have CUP

Doctors can often tell the type of cancer by what the cells look like under a microscope. For instance, cells taken from a tumour in the lung might look like breast cancer cells. So the doctor knows it is breast cancer that has spread to the lung, rather than a cancer that started in the lung. Sometimes cancer cells don’t look like any particular type of normal cell. The cells are very abnormal and have not become specialised enough to look like breast cells or lung cells, for example. Cells like this are known as poorly differentiated or undifferentiated. This can make it very difficult for the doctor to tell what kind of cell the cancer started from.

Can you overdo turmeric?

High doses can cause nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness. The World Health Organization found 1.4 mg of turmeric per pound of body weight is okay for...

Last updated Jul 5, 2022

Why can't you donate blood if you have a tattoo?

This is a precaution against cross-contamination &blood-borne diseases like hepatitis, HIV etc and blood banks advise letting the design heal by...

Last updated Apr 13, 2021

Promotion

Types of cells and cancer

Most cancers are cancers of the epithelial cells. Epithelial cells are found in the skin or tissues that line or cover the internal organs. Cancers that start in epithelial tissue are called carcinomas. Most cancers of unknown primary are types of carcinoma. Other types of cancer develop from different types of body cell. They include: sarcomas, which develop from cells of the connective and supportive tissue, such as bones, muscle, fat, blood vessels or other soft tissues leukaemias, which are cancers of white blood cells found in the bone marrow

lymphomas, which are cancers that begin in cells of the immune system

How common is CUP

Around 8,600 people are diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary in the UK each year. That's about 2 out of every 100 cancers diagnosed (2%).

Who gets it

Cancer of unknown primary can develop at any age. But almost 60 out of 100 cases (almost 60%) are in people over the age of 75.

Symptoms of CUP

Symptoms of CUP depend on where the cancer has spread to in your body. Possible symptoms of CUP include:

weight loss

sickness and loss of appetite

weakness or feeling very tired

pain

breathlessness

a cough that won't go away

swollen lymph nodes

These symptoms listed here are more often caused by other medical conditions. But if you have any of them it is important to see your doctor. This video explains the importance of going to your GP if you notice any possible cancer symptoms. It lasts 42 seconds.

cancerresearchuk.org - What is cancer of unknown primary (CUP)?

What relaxes the prostate?

Alpha-blockers Alpha blockers relax the muscle in your prostate gland and at the base of your bladder, making it easier to pee. Commonly used...

Last updated Jul 1, 2018

How do doctors check for your prostate?

Prostate screening tests might include: Digital rectal exam (DRE). During a DRE , your doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum...

Last updated Jul 27, 2022

Promotion

Why am I gaining weight so fast when I barely eat?

Unintentional weight gain occurs when you put on weight without increasing your consumption of food or liquid and without decreasing your activity....

Last updated May 14, 2019

Promotion

Is it OK to massage a foot with gout?

During a period of inflammation you need to rest the affected joint as much as possible. But anytime before and after a period of inflammation or...

Last updated Nov 9, 2022