Overview
Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) is a diagnosis given when cancer is found in your body but it’s not known where the original cancer started.
Cancer can start in any tissue in your body. Where it first starts — the primary location — defines the cancer. In other words, if cancer begins in your liver and spreads (metastasizes) to your lung, it’s still called liver cancer and not lung cancer.
Cells of your tissues and organs have features that are unique to that tissue and other features that are shared by several tissue types. Features are things like the size and shape of the cells, their DNA and cell arrangement. Knowing various cell types helps doctors recognize healthy cells and cancer cells. Cancer changes the usual appearance of a cell type. Doctors can determine that cancer has spread when they find abnormal cell types in another part of your body where they don’t belong (for example, finding abnormal liver cells in your lung tissue).
Sometimes when cancer spreads to another area of your body and the abnormal cell features don’t lead to finding where cancer first started, the cancer is called carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP). It’s also known as occult primary tumor.
Why can’t the primary cancer be found?
The primary cancer (cancer that first formed) may not be found because:
- It was too small to be found by imaging tests.
- Your body’s immune system destroyed it.
- It was removed during an operation for another reason (not knowing any cancer was present).
How common is carcinoma of unknown primary?
Carcinoma of unknown primary is the diagnosis in about 2% of all cancers each year in the U.S.
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Prevention
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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