What type of cancer is this?

Question

- It was diagnosed in a 16 or 17-year old girl.

- She went on chemotherapy and all her hair fell out.

- The doctors said it was nothing to worry about, but she later found out there was a good chance she'd die if the chemotherapy failed.

- She recovered after about one year.

Most likely. Most likely. These are clues. If I had more to go on, I wouldn't be asking.

Thanks Julie, Panda. Those answers give me something to go on. I don't know what the first symptom was--just that it came up during a routine physical. The reason they said it was nothing to worry about (reassured her, I guess) was that they caught it early and it was non-aggressive. I also know that she was given a biopsy, if that helps.

She didn't have any surgery, just chemotherapy. If it had progressed, though, she would have had to have surgery. I just don't know what kind. Apparently it was only after the side effects of chemotherapy set in that she realized how serious it was.

Does that narrow it down any?

Answer 1

Though you have written a long passage, you have not given the required information. Basically giving any information or advice for cancer without all details will be wrong.

However please note that when once cancer is suspected the oncologist take biopsy sample to evaluate the disease fully viz. stage, grade of the disease.

When once the disease is confirmed Surgery is done. When ever surgery is not possible they give chemotherapy. One of the visible side effects of chemotherapy is falling of hair. It will grow up in due course say in 6 to 9 months. Chemotherapy destroys the cancer cells.

Since you say she has recovered after about one year you can have some sort of solace for the time being. But she must be under medical care and check up very often. If the disease relapse it is likely to be bad and all the treatments are to be repeated. Since the girl is of 17 years old only her physical condition is supposed to be good or normal. So do not worry and have medical consultation by the Oncologist often or as suggested by him.

But you should ensure proper treatment, in spite of many side effects of the treatment, as CANCER IS STILL AN ENIGMA and can not be taken easily. Best of Luck.

Answer 2

Too little information to give an accurate answer (cancer can be over 200 different types and subtypes of disease), but you can narrow it down by the fact this an adolescent. Thus, she probably had a childhood cancer. Childhood cancers are different than adult cancers in that generally this type of cancer affects the primitive cells associated with childhood.

There is no clue as to chemotherapy since the side effect of most of these drugs is short term temporary hair loss. (NOT alopecia - that is a separate disease that has nothing to do with cancer).

As far as doctors saying there is nothing to worry about, if she had cancer than she should worry. If chemotherapy and other treatment options fail than the disease will progress.

Many treatment protocols for cancer take about one year to complete. Treatments become extended when the patient does not respond or there is a relapse.

Here are the more common cancers associated with childhood cancer. Note that there are also rare cancers and other cancer possibilities.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Brain Stem Gliomas
Brain Tumor
Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor
Esthesioneuroblastoma
Ewing's Sarcoma
Osteosarcoma
Hepatoblastoma
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hodgkin's Disease
Liver
Lymphoma
Medulloblastoma
Neuroblastoma
Neuroepithelial Tumor
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor
Retinoblastoma
Rhabdoid Tumor
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Wilm's Tumor

If you can narrow down the point of origin of the cancer it would help.

Answer 3

Not very much info to be able to tell the type of cancer. There are so many types. When I was 17 I was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, which is a rare soft tissue cancer, and is also a pediatric cancer and very aggressive. I lost my hair due to the chemotherapy. After about a year of treatment, I went into remission.

Answer 4

You did not specify the symptoms she was having, there are many types of cancers. But the hair loss (alopecia) is a common side effect of chemotherapy.

Answer 5

Not enough info. A lot of different cancers could be described in your question.

Answer 6

Sorry, but I have no idea. You haven't given us any specifics that would be able to tell us which form of cancer it was.

Answer 7

Radiation treaments are a monster. It's good to know she was able to pull through. God Bless!!!!!!!