Adam Yauch, known as Beastie Boys rapper MCA, has lost his battle with salivary gland cancer.
The 47-year-old was (one of the salivary glands) in 2009.
Here is Adam announcing the news to his fans in 2009:
Yauch underwent surgery and radiation therapy in August 2009. , he credited a vegan diet and Tibetan medicine as playing important roles in becoming well again, although he admitted that he was not yet cancer-free.
Twenty-One Things to Know about Salivary Gland Tumors...
1. Cancers of the head and neck, which include cancers of the oral cavity, larynx, pharynx, salivary glands, and nose/nasal passages, account for approximately 3% of all malignancies in the United States.2. Salivary gland cancer accounts for approximately 3% to 5% of all head and neck cancers and approximately 0.5% of all cancers.
3. Tumors of the salivary glands comprise those in the major glands (e.g., parotid, submandibular, and sublingual) and the minor glands (e.g., oral mucosa, palate, uvula, floor of mouth, posterior tongue, retromolar area and peritonsillar area, pharynx, larynx, and paranasal sinuses).
4. The most common location for a malignant tumor of the salivary glands is in the parotid gland.
5. The exact cause of salivary gland cancer is unknown. In some cases, cancer may develop due to DNA damage after years of tobacco and/or alcohol use, or exposure to radiation.
6. Occupations associated with an increased risk for salivary gland cancers include rubber products manufacturing, asbestos mining, plumbing, and some types of woodworking.
7. Heredity may play a role in the development of salivary gland cancer.
8. Most patients with cancerous salivary gland tumors are in their 60's and 70's.
9. Histologically, salivary gland tumors represent the most heterogenous group of tumors of any tissue in the body. These neoplasms include benign and malignant tumors of epithelial, mesenchymal, and lymphoid origin.
10. The most common malignant major and minor salivary gland tumor is the mucoepidermoid carcinoma, which comprises about 10% of all salivary gland neoplasms and approximately 35% of malignant salivary gland neoplasms.11. Symptoms of a salivary tumor include:
12. Not every lump in a salivary gland is cancer, as many benign tumors and other conditions (such as infections and salivary stones) can also cause lumps. According to the , half of the tumors found in the salivary glands are benign.
- A lump (usually painless) in the area of the ear, cheek, jaw, lip, or inside the mouth.
- Trouble swallowing or opening the mouth widely.
- Numbness or weakness in the face.
- Pain in the face that does not go away.
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13. The most common benign major and minor salivary gland tumor is the pleomorphic adenoma, which comprises about 50% of all salivary gland tumors and 65% of parotid gland tumors.14. Early-stage low-grade malignant salivary gland tumors are usually curable by adequate surgical resection alone.
15. The prognosis is more favorable when the tumor is in a major salivary gland; the parotid gland is most favorable, then the submandibular gland; the least favorable primary sites are the sublingual and minor salivary glands.
16. Large bulky tumors or high-grade tumors carry a poorer prognosis and may best be treated by surgical resection combined with postoperative radiation therapy.
17. Complications of surgical treatment for parotid neoplasms include facial nerve dysfunction and Frey syndrome, also known as gustatory flushing and sweating and the auriculotemporal syndrome.
18. Perineural invasion can also occur, particularly in high-grade adenoid cystic carcinoma, and should be specifically identified and treated.
19. The prognosis for any treated cancer patient with progressing or relapsing disease is poor, regardless of cell type or stage.
20. Fast neutron-beam radiation therapy is superior to conventional radiation therapy using x-rays and may be curative in selected patients with recurrent disease.
21. Information about clinical trials for salivary tumors can be found by clicking .
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