Prostate cancer bone metastases: Treatment and survival rate
What Is Adrenal Cancer? Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell's Cause Of Death, Explained
Reality TV personality Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell—who appeared on TLC's "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo"—died Sunday, according to an Instagram post shared by her mother, June Shannon.
"With the breaking heart, we are announcing that @annamarie35 is no longer with us," Shannon shared on Instagram. "She passed away in my home last night peacefully at 11:12 p.M."
Cardwell, who was 29, was diagnosed with stage 4 adrenal carcinoma in January 2023 after seeking care for stomachaches. Further testing showed that the cancer had spread to her liver, kidney, and lung. She began chemotherapy in March—months later, in May, Cardwell shared on Instagram that she was on her third round of chemotherapy and that things were "looking good."
However, it seems her condition quickly deteriorated. In an Instagram post shared two days before Cardwell's death, Shannon shared a plea with her Instagram followers to keep her family in their thoughts.
Cardwell is survived by her two daughters, Kaitlyn and Kylee, as well as her mother and half-sisters Alanna "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird, and Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon.
Adrenal cancers are very rare—though the exact numbers are unknown, it's estimated that only about 200 cases are diagnosed each year. Though adrenal cancers (carcinomas) can occur in people of any age, the average age at diagnosis is about 46 years old. Adrenal cancer begins in the adrenal glands—small glands that sit above the kidneys. "The adrenal [glands] are responsible for producing hormones that regulate various bodily functions, including metabolism, blood pressure, and stress response," Kedar Kirtane, MD, an assistant member in the department of head and neck-endocrine oncology and medical director for Solid Tumor Cellular Therapy at Moffitt Cancer Center, told Health. Tumors most often develop in the cortex of the adrenal gland—the two main types are adenomas (benign or non-cancerous tumors) and carcinomas (malignant or cancerous tumors). The specific type of cancer that develops in the cortex of the adrenal gland is called adrenal cortical carcinoma. It's currently unknown what causes adrenal cancer, which means it's also not possible to prevent the disease. Certain lifestyle risk factors—like having obesity, being a smoker, or living a sedentary lifestyle—have been associated with an increased risk of other types of cancer, but data is lacking on their connection to adrenal cancer. However, "there are a few rare inherited cancer syndromes that would put you at increased risk of developing adrenal cancer," said Melanie Goldfarb, MD, endocrine surgeon and director of the Center for Endocrine Tumors and Disorders at Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center. Those rare genetic syndromes include Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN1), familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), and Lynch syndrome or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Symptoms of adrenal cancer vary—some may be caused by hormones made by the tumor, while others may happen because the tumor has gotten so large that it presses on other organs. "These tumors can get quite large—some are the size of a cantaloupe when they're diagnosed," Amanda M. Laird, MD, chief in the Section of Endocrine Surgery at the Rutgers Cancer Institute, told Health. "Because of their positioning, the tumors can get pretty big before people become symptomatic." When an adrenal cancer tumor grows too large, it may cause the following symptoms: A lump in the abdomen Abdominal or back pain A full feeling in the abdomen When an adrenal cancer tumor makes too much of a specific hormone—cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone, or estrogen—the symptoms depend on which hormone is affected, and whether it's causing that hormone to increase in males or females. Symptoms of too much cortisol: Weight gain in the face, neck, and trunk of body; thin arms and legs Growth of fine hair on the face, upper back, or arms A round, red, full face A lump of fat on the back of the neck A deepening of the voice; swelling of sex organs Muscle weakness High blood sugar High blood pressure Symptoms of too much aldosterone: High blood pressure Muscle weakness, cramps Frequent urination Feeling thirsty Symptoms of too much testosterone in females: Growth of fine hair on the face, upper back, or arms Acne Balding A deepening of the voice Lack of menstruation Symptoms of too much estrogen in females: Irregular periods Vaginal bleeding after menopause Weight gain Symptoms of too much estrogen in males: Growth of breast tissue Lower sex drive Impotence Adrenal cancer is most often found accidentally through imaging tests done for another reason, or due to hormone symptoms or symptoms due to the tumor growing too large. As with most cancers, early detection is key for the most favorable outcomes. "Patients that do well are the ones that we diagnose incidentally—meaning someone had imaging scans for another reason, we found a mass on the adrenal gland, and we took it out," said Goldfarb. That early treatment can include surgically removing the tumor or the entire affected adrenal gland, according to Brian Lane, MD, PhD, director of urologic oncology at Corewell Health. If, in later stages, there's cancer left after surgery or the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, radiation or chemotherapy may be used, though it's "often not very effective," said Lane.Zika Could Treat Rare Tumors: Study
Jacksonville, Fla.-based Nemours Children's Health researchers found the Zika virus could be used to shrink neuroblastoma tumors.
Neuroblastoma is a rare childhood cancer that typically develops in the sympathetic nervous system or the adrenal glands, according to a Jan. 9 system news release. Researchers studied mice with neuroblastoma tumors that expressed high levels of CD24, a protein developmental protein the virus is known to target.
Researchers injected half the mice with saline solution and the other half with Zika virus. The mice injected with the virus experienced a nearly total loss of tumor size and higher dosage testing resulting in complete elimination of the tumor. After a four-week follow-up, there was no recurrence of the tumor and the mice did not develop any symptoms of Zika virus infection or any side effects.
Researchers then developed mouse models of human neuroblastoma tumors and treated them with Zika or saline. After 28 days, the saline solution tumors had grown by as much as 800%, while the Zika-treated tumors shrunk approximately 12%. After four more weeks, no further tumor growth was detected.
"With further validation, Zika virus could be an extremely effective bridge therapy for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma," Joseph Mazar, PhD, research scientist at Nemours Children's, said in the release. "We also see potential for Zika virus to be used to treat children and adults with other cancers that express high levels of CD24."
Symptoms Of Bladder Cancer Women Should Look Out For
Because bladder cancer is much more common in males, early signs in females are often overlooked by healthcare professionals and females themselves. Key symptoms, such as blood in your urine, may warrant further testing.
The American Cancer Society estimates that new cases of bladder cancer will affect around 62,420 men and 19,870 women in 2023. Because bladder cancer is less common in females, they can sometimes miss early signs.
This often results in a late diagnosis of bladder cancer, when survival is less likely. According to 2019 research, females with bladder cancer tend to have more aggressive tumors and poorer outcomes than their male counterparts.
As with many types of cancer, an early diagnosis is key to improving your outlook. This can entail knowing which symptoms to look for. Read on to learn more about the symptoms of bladder cancer in women and when to see a healthcare professional.
Unlike breast cancer, there's no standard screening test for bladder cancer. For that reason, it's especially important to know the early symptoms of this condition and to bring them to a healthcare professional's attention.
Blood in your urine (hematuria)Blood in your urine (hematuria) is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. But it can also be a symptom of other conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Hematuria may also result from sexual activity, especially if you have vaginal dryness. If you haven't gone through menopause, you may assume that blood in your urine is because of your period or breakthrough bleeding.
No matter what you think may be causing blood in your urine, don't overlook this symptom.
According to 2016 research, clinicians are more likely to diagnose females with hematuria with a UTI. This means clinicians are less likely to refer females to a urologist or another specialist who can test for bladder cancer.
If you see blood in your urine consistently or often, be sure to take it seriously. Let a healthcare professional know about your concerns and advocate for yourself.
Blood may make your urine look red, pink, or brown. You may also see spots of blood on toilet paper after wiping. However, microscopic amounts of blood may not always be visible to the eye.
If you're at higher risk of bladder cancer, talk with a doctor about getting regular urine tests as a failsafe.
Pain or discomfort during urinationPainful urination (dysuria) or trouble urinating can be early symptoms of bladder cancer. You may also have a burning or irritating sensation when you urinate.
As with hematuria, these symptoms in women are more likely to be caused by other conditions, including bladder infections.
Urgent or frequent urinationIn addition to unusual sensations during urination, you may find that your urinary habits have changed. Having to urinate more often can be an early symptom of bladder cancer. Sometimes, the need to go to the bathroom may wake you up several times a night.
You may also feel an urgency to go, even if your bladder isn't full.
Difficulty with urination or having a weak urine stream may also occur.
Undiagnosed and untreated bladder cancer may advance, causing additional symptoms. Many of these result from the original tumor getting larger.
As bladder cancer progresses, it penetrates the bladder lining and the surrounding layers of muscle and tissue. If the cancer continues to metastasize (spread), it may also cause symptoms in nearby or faraway organs and tissues.
Localized painPain in the pelvis, lower back, or flank can be because of a growing tumor that puts pressure on your bladder or nearby internal organs.
If the tumor becomes large enough to block a ureter, you may experience lower back or flank pain on one side. Your flanks extend from your upper abdomen to your back along both sides of the body. The ureters connect your kidneys to your bladder.
With this type of pain, you may also have trouble voiding urine.
Pain in other areas of your bodyAdvanced bladder cancer may spread to these areas of the body:
As cancer metastasizes, it may infiltrate bones throughout your body. This can result in bone pain or tenderness at night or during activity. Your bones may also be more susceptible to breakage.
Cancer that has spread to your lungs may cause chest pain. It may also make it hard for you to breathe, cause a chronic cough, or cause your voice to sound different.
Cancer that has spread to your abdomen or liver may cause stomach pain.
Swollen feet (edema)If bladder cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, your lower extremities may become swollen. Your lymph nodes help flush fluids out of the body. If the lymph nodes become swollen, fluids build up and become trapped in tissues.
In addition to swollen feet, cancer in the lymph nodes may sometimes cause night sweats.
Generalized symptomsAs bladder cancer progresses, you may experience overall symptoms that include:
It's important to be proactive if you have early signs and symptoms of this disease. An early diagnosis can greatly improve your outlook.
Because bladder cancer is less common in women than men, a healthcare professional may take a conservative approach. In many instances, bladder cancer symptoms in women do turn out to be other conditions. Still, you may prefer to be cautious.
If you're not comfortable with the advice you get from a clinician, consider getting a second opinion. This may be especially important if you have risk factors for bladder cancer.
What are the 5 warning signs of bladder cancer?The 5 primary warning signs or symptoms of bladder cancer are:
The first signs of bladder cancer in women are similar to those in men:
However, women often ignore blood in their urine because they associate it with menstruation or post-menopausal spotting. In addition, other common symptoms of bladder cancer, such as a frequent need to urinate or painful urination, may be misdiagnosed as a urinary tract infection.
If symptoms of a bladder infection do not disappear after a course of antibiotics, be sure to return to your doctor for further evaluation.
What is usually the first symptom of bladder cancer?The first and most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. The blood may be rusty to red in color. It may appear in your urine, and then you may not see it again for awhile.
Blood in your urine may be present from an early stage. However, a lot of blood suggests the cancer is at a more advanced stage.
How long can you have bladder cancer without knowing?From when cell changes begin to when a tumor starts to cause symptoms can take months or years, depending on the cancer and how fast it grows. However, 84% of cases are diagnosed before cancer has spread beyond the bladder, according to the National Cancer Institute.
The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network notes that it can take longer for women to get a diagnosis than men as the symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions, such post-menopausal bleeding.
Women experience the same symptoms of bladder cancer as men. But it's more common for women and healthcare professionals to overlook these symptoms. They may attribute the symptoms to a condition more common in women such as UTIs.
Women with bladder cancer tend to receive a diagnosis much later than men. This disparity has led to poorer outcomes for women. It's important to know what symptoms could indicate bladder cancer.
The most common early symptoms of bladder cancer are blood in your urine and changes to urinary habits. If you experience these with pain or swelling in other parts of your body, it may suggest more advanced cancer.
If you have these or other symptoms, let a healthcare professional know immediately. Bladder cancer is treatable. When caught early, it's often curable.
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