About CUP

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is when a secondary cancer is diagnosed, but doctors can’t tell where the primary cancer started. The secondary cancer is named after the primary cancer. For example, a cancer that starts in the lungs and spreads to the liver is still a lung cancer. The secondary cancer in the liver is made up of lung cancer cells and not liver cells.

About CUP

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is when a secondary cancer is diagnosed, but doctors can’t tell where the primary cancer started. The secondary cancer is named after the primary cancer. For example, a cancer that starts in the lungs and spreads to the liver is still a lung cancer. The secondary cancer in the liver is made up of lung cancer cells and not liver cells.

Secondary cancers are also usually treated according to the primary cancer. Knowing where the cancer started helps the doctors to know what types of treatment to use for the secondary cancer. For example, lung cancer that has spread to the liver will be treated using lung cancer treatments. It’s treated differently to a cancer that starts in the liver (primary liver cancer).

With CUP, the primary cancer isn’t known. This means that treatment choices are often more difficult to make. (Macmillan.org.uk) For some patients the origin of the cancer will be found through further tests, however for many patients the primary cancer will never be identified and will remain unknown. A cancer diagnosis in itself is devastating for patients, families and friends, but for the cause of the cancer to be unknown is entirely overwhelming.

Patients diagnosed with CUP need expert coordinated multidisciplinary support. Effective communication is vital between teams, patients and their families regarding treatment plans and tests.

Chemotherapy is the main treatment for CUP. Radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and sometimes surgery may also be used. Cancer of Unknown Primary affects on average 450 patients in Ireland per year. (NCRI 2019)

Secondary cancers are also usually treated according to the primary cancer. Knowing where the cancer started helps the doctors to know what types of treatment to use for the secondary cancer. For example, lung cancer that has spread to the liver will be treated using lung cancer treatments. It’s treated differently to a cancer that starts in the liver (primary liver cancer).

With CUP, the primary cancer isn’t known. This means that treatment choices are often more difficult to make. (Macmillan.org.uk) For some patients the origin of the cancer will be found through further tests, however for many patients the primary cancer will never be identified and will remain unknown. A cancer diagnosis in itself is devastating for patients, families and friends, but for the cause of the cancer to be unknown is entirely overwhelming.

Patients diagnosed with CUP need expert coordinated multidisciplinary support. Effective communication is vital between teams, patients and their families regarding treatment plans and tests.

Chemotherapy is the main treatment for CUP. Radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and sometimes surgery may also be used. Cancer of Unknown Primary affects on average 450 patients in Ireland per year. (NCRI 2019)

Find your nearest CUP Specialist

Find your nearest CUP Specialist

Download the guides

Download the guides

To read more

CUP Foundation Jo’s Friends UK
For information regarding all aspects of CUP please visit:
www.cupfoundjo.org
For information regarding services in Ireland
Irish Cancer Society: www.cancer.ie
Understanding Cancer of Unknown Primary
by the Cancer Council of New South Wales, Australia:
www.cancercouncil.com.au
Macmillan Cancer Support: www.macmillan.org.uk
Health Service Executive: www.hse.ie
National Cancer Registry: www.ncri.ie
Cancer Research UK: www.cancerresearchuk.org
Missie Tumor Onbekend: www.missietumoronbekend.nl
For information regarding clinical trials in Ireland pleases go to: www.cancertrials.ie

Please see link for patient decision aids created by
CUP foundation Jo’s friends and the Sue Ryder Foundation

To read more

CUP Foundation Jo’s Friends UK
For information regarding all aspects of CUP please visit:
www.cupfoundjo.org
For information regarding services in Ireland
Irish Cancer Society: www.cancer.ie
Understanding Cancer of Unknown Primary
by the Cancer Council of New South Wales, Australia:
www.cancercouncil.com.au
Macmillan Cancer Support: www.macmillan.org.uk
Health Service Executive: www.hse.ie
National Cancer Registry: www.ncri.ie
Cancer Research UK: www.cancerresearchuk.org
Missie Tumor Onbekend: www.missietumoronbekend.nl
For information regarding clinical trials in Ireland pleases go to: www.cancertrials.ie

Please see link for patient decision aids created by
CUP foundation Jo’s friends and the Sue Ryder Foundation

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