| Medical Dictionary |
A Medical Dictionary of Medical Terminology
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Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons. Primary liver cancer starts in the liver. Metastatic liver cancer starts somewhere else and spreads to your liver.
Risk factors for primary liver cancer include :
Symptoms can include a lump or pain on the right side of your abdomen and yellowing of the skin. However, you may not have symptoms until the cancer is advanced. This makes it harder to treat. Doctors use tests that examine the liver and the blood to diagnose liver cancer. Treatment options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or liver transplantation.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
A miscarriage is an unexpected loss of pregnancy before the 20th week. Most miscarriages happen very early in the pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant.
What causes a miscarriage?A miscarriage can happen in any pregnancy. Most miscarriages occur because the fetus doesn't develop properly. This is often linked to a genetic problem with the fetus, such as an extra or missing chromosome.
In many cases, the cause of a miscarriage is unknown. Some possible factors that may increase the chance of a miscarriage can include:
The signs of a miscarriage may be different for everyone and can vary based on how far along you are in your pregnancy.
Signs of a miscarriage can include:
Sometimes, it's hard to know what's normal during pregnancy. If something seems unusual or is worrying you, talk to your provider.
How is a miscarriage diagnosed?To check if you have had a miscarriage, your provider may do the following:
Treatment after a miscarriage often depends on when it occurs during the pregnancy. If you miscarry early in your pregnancy, you may not need any treatment. If you are 12 or more weeks pregnant, you may need a shot to prevent problems with the Rh factor in future pregnancies.
In some cases, tissue is left in the uterus. If you don't have any signs of infection, your provider may recommend waiting for the tissue to pass naturally. If you need treatment to remove the tissue, it can include:
No matter when it occurs, losing a pregnancy can be difficult. Counseling may help you cope with your grief. Later, if you decide to try to get pregnant again, talk with your provider to understand any risks. Many women who have a miscarriage go on to have healthy pregnancies later.
Can a miscarriage be prevented?Miscarriage can affect anyone and often can't be prevented. Focus on taking good care of yourself and start prenatal care visits early in your pregnancy.
NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Tumors during pregnancy are rare, but they can happen. Tumors can be either benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). The most common cancers in pregnancy include breast cancer, thyroid cancer, cervical cancer, lymphoma, and melanoma. Cancer itself rarely harms the fetus, and some cancer treatments are safe during pregnancy. You and your health care provider will work together to find the best treatment. Your choices will depend on how far along the pregnancy is, as well as the type, size, and stage of your cancer.
Another type of tumor that women can get is called a gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). It happens when a fertilized egg doesn't become a fetus. GTD is not always easy to find. It is usually benign, but some types can be malignant. The most common type of GTD is a molar pregnancy. In its early stages, it may look like a normal pregnancy. You should see your provider if you have vaginal bleeding (not menstrual bleeding).
Treatment depends on the type of tumor, whether it has spread to other places, and your overall health.
Uterine cancer is a cancer that forms in tissues of the uterus, which is sometimes called the womb. The uterus is the place where a fetus grows during pregnancy.
There are two types of uterine cancer:
Uterine cancer usually happens after menopause. The cause is unknown. However, some factors and conditions that change the balance of hormones in your body may increase your risk. These can include obesity or metabolic syndrome (a group of risk factors for certain health problems).
Other factors and conditions that may increase your risk for:
Endometrial cancer
Uterine sarcoma
The most common symptom of both endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma is abnormal vaginal bleeding. Both types of uterine cancer may also cause pelvic pain or pressure, unusual vaginal discharge, or an enlarged uterus or pelvic mass.
Less common symptoms may include urinating (peeing) often, having trouble urinating, or pain during sexual intercourse.
How is uterine cancer diagnosed?If you have symptoms of uterine cancer, your health care provider may:
Treatment may depend on your health, how much cancer you have, and whether it has spread. The most common treatment is having a hysterectomy, which is surgery to remove the uterus. Sometimes the surgery also removes the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
You may have more than one type of treatment. Other treatments may include:
There is no sure way to prevent uterine cancer. But you can do things that may help lower your risk such as aiming for a healthy weight, getting regular physical activity, and talking to your provider about the benefits and risks of hormone therapy.
NIH: National Cancer Institute