Cancer May Pass From Pregnant Mom to Baby

Researchers Say Cancer Cells May Cross Placenta to Fetus and Cause Disease

Researchers have found new evidence that it's possible for a mother with cancer to pass the disease on to her unborn child.

A case report shows that cancer cells in an infant genetically match those from her mother; the mother was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after a normal full-term delivery.

Researchers say rare cases of mothers' cancer cells in infants have been reported over the last 100 years, which has suggested the possibility that cancer cells may be passed from mother to infant. But until now it had not been confirmed genetically.

In the case report, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers used genetic tracking to prove that the cancer cells had been transmitted from mother to infant.

The mother was a 28-year-old woman who was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after giving birth; her 11-month-old daughter developed a similar type of cancer.

Genetic testing showed the infant's cancer cells shared a unique genetic match to her mother's. Special markers in the cancer cells of the infant confirmed they were of maternal origin.

Additional testing showed that the infant's cancer cells lacked a portion of genetic material that would have flagged them as intruder cells and targeted them for elimination by her immune system.

Researcher Takeshi Isoda of Tokyo Medical and Dental University and colleagues say this genetic trait likely enabled the mother's cancer cells to evade the infant's protective placental barrier.

Understanding Cancer - Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Cancer?

In its early stages, cancer usually has no symptoms, but eventually a malignant tumor will grow large enough to be detected. As it continues to grow, it may press on nerves and produce pain, penetrate blood vessels and cause bleeding, or interfere with the function of a body organ or system.

The Seven Warning Signs of Cancer

To remember the seven early warning signs of cancer (as designated by the American Cancer Society), think of the word CAUTION:

C hange in bowel or bladder habits.

A sore that does not heal.

U nusual bleeding or discharge.

T hickening or lump in the breast, testicles, or elsewhere.

I ndigestion or difficulty swallowing.

O bvious change in the size, color, shape, or thickness of a wart, mole, or mouth sore.

N agging cough or hoarseness.

The following symptoms may also signal the presence of some form of cancer:

• Persistent headaches
• Unexplained loss of weight or appetite
• Chronic pain in bones
• Persistent fatigue, nausea, or vomiting
• Persistent low-grade fever, either constant or intermittent
• Repeated instances of infection

Call Your Doctor About Cancer If:

You develop symptoms that may signal cancer, are not clearly linked to another cause, and persist for more than two weeks. You should schedule a medical examination. If the cause of your symptoms is cancer, early diagnosis and treatment will offer a better chance of cure.

What Is Cancer?

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Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, but they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells.

How a normal cell becomes cancer

Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. During the early years of a person's life, normal cells divide faster to allow the person to grow. After the person becomes an adult, most cells divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells or to repair injuries.
Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different from normal cells. Instead of dying, cancer cells outlive normal cells and keep forming new abnormal cells. Another difference between cancer cells and normal cells is that cancer cells can invade (grow into) other tissues. Being able to grow out of control and to invade other tissues makes a cell a cancer cell.
Cells become cancer cells because of damage to DNA. DNA is in every cell and directs all its actions. Most of the time, when DNA gets damaged the cell can fix it. If the cell can’t repair the damage, the cell dies. In cancer cells the damaged DNA is not repaired, but the cell doesn’t die like it should. Instead, this cell goes on making new cells even though the body does not need them. These new cells will all have the same DNA damage as the first cell does.
People can inherit damaged DNA, but most of the time DNA damage is caused by something we are exposed to in our environment. Sometimes the cause of the DNA damage is something obvious, like cigarette smoking. But many times no clear cause is found.
A cancer cell has many mistakes in its DNA -- having damage in just one spot does not cause cancer. Even when someone inherits damaged DNA, more mistakes in their DNA are needed before a cancer will develop. Staying away from things that are known to damage DNA (like smoking) as a part of a healthy life style lowers the chance that more DNA damage will take place. This can reduce the risk of cancer -- even in people who have an inherited tendency to get cancer.

How cancers grow and spread

In most cases the cancer cells form a tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, do not form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood-forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow. But sometimes the extra cells in these blood cancers may also form a mass of tissue called a tumor.
Cancer cells often travel to other parts of the body, where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process is called metastasis. It happens when the cancer cells get into the bloodstream or lymph vessels of our body.
But no matter where a cancer may spread, it is always named for the place where it started. For example, breast cancer that has spread to the liver is still called breast cancer, not liver cancer. Prostate cancer that has spread to the bone is metastatic prostate cancer, not bone cancer.
Not all tumors are cancerous. Tumors that aren't cancer are called benign. Benign tumors can cause problems -- they can grow very large and press on healthy organs and tissues. But they cannot grow into (invade) other tissues. Because they can't invade, they also can't spread to other parts of the body (metastasize). These tumors are almost never life threatening.

How cancers differ

Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For example, lung cancer and breast cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. That is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their particular kind of cancer.

How common is cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Nearly half of all men and a little over one third of all women in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes.
Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. The risk of developing most types of cancer can be reduced by changes in a person's lifestyle, for example, by quitting smoking and eating a better diet. Often, the sooner a cancer is found and treatment begins, the better are the chances for living for many years.
 

How Is Cancer Treated?

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The number of treatment choices you have will depend on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer, and other individual factors such as your age, health status, and personal preferences. You are a vital part of your cancer care team - you should discuss with them which treatment choices are best for you. Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you have. Make sure you understand your options. A cancer diagnosis usually gives people a sense of urgency in making choices about treatment and services. However, take the time to consider all the options available to you so you will be as well informed as possible.

How is Cancer Treated?

The four major types of treatment for cancer are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and biologic therapies. You might also have heard about hormone therapies such as tamoxifen and transplant options such as those done with bone marrow.

What Treatment Will Be Best for Me?

Your cancer treatment will be entirely based on your unique situation. Certain types of cancer respond very differently to different types of treatment, so determining the type of cancer is a vital step toward knowing which treatments will be most effective. The cancer's stage (how widespread it is) will also determine the best course of treatment, since early-stage cancers respond to different therapies than later-stage ones. Your overall health, your lifestyle, and your personal preferences will also play a part in deciding which treatment options will be best for you. Not all types of treatment will be effective in your situation, so be sure that you understand your options. Don't be afraid to ask questions; it is your right to know what treatments are most likely to help you and what their side effects may be.

Palliative versus Curative Goals: Before starting treatment, ask about the goal of treatment. Is the purpose of the treatment to cure the cancer, control it, or treat symptoms? Sometimes the goal of treatment can change

Source : American Cancer Society

What Causes Cancer?

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Some kinds of cancer are caused by things people do. Smoking can cause cancers of the lungs, mouth, throat, bladder, kidneys and several other organs, as well as heart disease and stroke. While not everyone who smokes will get cancer, smoking increases a person's chance of getting the disease. Drinking a lot of alcohol has also been shown to increase a person's chance of getting cancer of the mouth, throat, and some other organs. This is especially true if the person drinks and smokes.

Radiation (x-rays) can cause cancer. But the x-rays used by the doctor or dentist are safe. Too much exposure to sunlight without any protection can cause skin cancer.

In many cases, the exact cause of cancer remains a mystery. We know that certain changes in our cells can cause cancer to start, but we don't yet know exactly how this happens. Many scientists are studying this problem.

Source : American Cancer Society

A Backyard Chef's Guide to Healthy Grilling

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Getting your family and friends together for a barbeque is one of the perks of the season, but backyard chefs should beware: some research suggests that cooking meats at very high temperatures creates chemicals (heterocyclic amines, or HAs) that might increase cancer risk.

In fact, a recent study from the University of Minnesota found that eating charred, well-done meat on a regular basis may increase your risk of pancreatic cancer by up to 60%.

Heterocyclic amines (HAs) are created by the burning of amino acids and other substances in meats cooked at particularly high temperatures and that are particularly well-done. HAs turn up in grilled and barbecued meat as well as broiled and pan-fried meat.

To limit your exposure, try these healthy barbequing tips:

• Choose lean cuts of meat and trim any excess fat. Fat dripping onto hot coals causes smoke that contains potential carcinogens. Less fat means less smoke.
• Line the grill with foil and poke small holes in it so the fat can still drip off, but the amount of smoke coming back onto the meat is lower.
• Avoid charring meat or eating parts that are especially burned and black – they have the highest concentrations of HAs.
• Add colorful vegetables and fruit to the grill. Many of the chemicals that are created when meat is grilled are not formed during the grilling of vegetables or fruits, so you can enjoy grilled flavor worry-free. Red, yellow, and green peppers, yellow squash, mushrooms, red onions, pineapple – all of these veggies grill well and make healthy additions to your plate. Try the following recipe.

Grilled Vegetables

1 cup fat-free Italian dressing
1 small eggplant, sliced lengthwise into ½-inch slices
2 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise into ½-inch slices
2 medium summer squash, sliced lengthwise into ½-inch slices
2 red peppers, cored, seeded, and sliced into ½-inch rings
2 green peppers, cored, seeded, and sliced into ½-inch rings
2 yellow peppers, cored, seeded, and sliced into ½-inch rings
½ head fennel, leaves removed, cut into 4-inch pieces
1 tablespoon garlic salt

Toss vegetables with Italian dressing to coat, keeping each type of vegetable separate. Heat grill to medium-high heat.

Skewer vegetables (or cook in grilling basket to prevent small items from falling onto coals or heating element). Grill until tender and lightly browned: 1 to 2 minutes per side for peppers, 2 to 3 minutes per side for eggplant and squashes, and 3 to 4 minutes per side for fennel. Sprinkle with garlic salt while cooking.

Remove from grill and place on a large platter, separating each type of vegetable.

Serves 8.

Approximate per serving: 80 calories, 0 grams of fat