Showing posts with label skin cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skin cancer. Show all posts

Melanoma Treatment - Melanoma Skin Cancer

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and has been spreading like wild fire over the last decade. It is curable, but for melanoma treatment to be fully effective, early diagnosis is imperative. Melanoma treatment may take the form of surgery, chemotherapy in early stages, and biological or radiation therapies in extreme cases.

Melanoma takes on four forms. Both superficial spreading melanoma, the most common form accounting for 70% of all melanoma cases and lentigo maligna begin as flat or elevated irregularly shaped tan, brown or black patches.

Both these forms of skin cancer begin as localized tumors, but left untreated, they penetrate deeper and spread to other parts of the body. Acral lentiginous melanoma is a superficial melanoma common amongst Asians and African-Americans.

Nodular melanoma is the most severe form, beginning as invasive cancer and when malignant, shows a lump. It accounts for 10-15% of melanoma cases.

Prevention is always better than cure. Melanoma can be prevented by reducing the sun exposure, especially between 10am and 4pm with adequate clothing and sun blocks with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Children are vulnerable to sunrays and it has been proved that juvenile sunburns greatly increase the risk of adult melanoma.

Melanoma remedy is most effective in the early stages. This means that you should be aware and alert about every symptom of the disease.

You should be especially concerned about your existing moles changing shape or color and of course, new ones appearing unexpectedly. Typical melanoma moles are lop-sided with irregular borders. Advanced melanoma moles have swellings, oozing, itching or bleeding.

Melanoma remedy varies according to the progression of the disease. Actinic Keratoses or sun damage leading to skin cancer can be treated by laser resurfacing, TCA peels or the application of Efudex cream.

In the early stages, surgery to remove the tumor and the adjacent healthy tissues is effective enough to destroy the metastatic cancer cells. The amount of tissue removed depends upon the spread of the cancerous growth.

Surgical melanoma remedy may also involve a skin graft to replenish the lost tissues. If the melanoma spreads to the lymph nodes, surgery may also involve removal of these.

Advanced melanoma treatment includes chemotherapy. This either involves the use of cancer drugs in capsule form or intravenous injections to kill the cancer cells.

Biological and radiation therapies are the last bastions of melanoma treatment. In the former, laboratory-generated cancer-combating substances called biological response, modifiers (BRMs) like tumor vaccines, interleukin-2, or interferon-alfa are administered to the melanoma patient.

Radiation therapy involves the use of x-rays to destroy cancer cells that have spread throughout the body. This form of melanoma treatment can last several sessions. Its side effects include topical redness, dryness and rashes, which disappear over time. However, changes in skin color and texture may occur after a few years.

Melanoma treatment should be undergone only under strict medical guidance to ensure complete remedy and prevent a recurrence.

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Why Visit a Dermatologist? - Skin Care and Acne Treatment

One of the most important steps in getting rid of acne is to consult a dermatologist. If you have acne and you are really serious about curing it, then you have to consider seeing a dermatologist. A dermatologist can simply be called a "skin doctor". Dermatologists are medical doctors that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and tumors of the skin care and its appendages. However before the visit go through the following.

A visit to a dermatologist will help to determine whether you have a mild or a severe form of acne. This is very important in the treatment of acne. A lot of frustrated acne patients that have been trying home cure methods are actually people with severe acne using home cure methods that are designed for mild cases of acne. Visiting a dermatologist will save you this frustration.

Being a bit informed about your history with acne will help your dermatologist to determine the best treatment to prescribe for you. For example -when did your acne start? Do you have a history of acne in your family?

Previous treatment - Have you been taking treatment and what have you used? Let your dermatologist know about any acne medication you have taken or still taking. Also inform him if you are taking other medicine like vitamins, contraceptives etc. This will help him/her to prescribe medication that will not have negative reaction with the ones you are taking.

If you have allergies of any type -medication allergies (oral and topical), or food allergies, let your dermatologist know. In this category are also physical conditions like high humidity weather, wearing hats, that trigger acne breakouts on your skin.

Your doctor is going to ask you a lot of questions. Make sure you answer them as accurately as you can. All these will aid your doctor in making proper recommendation for the cure of your acne.

You will be given medication and instructions not only for the medicine but for the general care of your skin. Ask as many questions as you need to be sure that you understand every instruction you are given.

Skin Cancer Awareness

Each year in the UK, there are more than 65,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and more than 8,000 new cases of malignant melanoma. Skin cancer is becoming more widespread: the number of cases has doubled in the past 20 years. In fact, there are more skin cancer deaths in the UK than in Australia, even though Australia has more cases of the disease.

There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma , and malignant melanoma. Malignant melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer because the cancer can spread to other organs in the body (metastasis). Melanoma skin cancer is usually pigmented or coloured and is more dangerous. Many moles aren't cancerous, but it's vital to keep an eye on them.

A range of treatment options have proved successful in treating skin cancer. But about 1,800 people still die from malignant melanoma skin cancer annually. Treatment may include surgical removal, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or biological therapy, depending on the type of skin cancer. When skin cancer is found early it is much easier to treat. If diagnosed late, treatment is not usually able to cure the cancer.

Malignant melanoma is more common in women than men, is one of the most common cancers in people aged 20 to 35 and affects people who work indoors more than those who work outside. Non-melanoma skin cancer affects men more than women, as well as older people, particularly those who have spent much time working outdoors. Too much sun exposure and getting sunburnt in childhood and the teenage years can lead to skin cancer in later life, so children in particular must be protected.

Those most at risk of skin cancer are people with light or fair skin, freckles, who burn lobster red in the sun, already have moles and/or spend too long in the sun without protection. Brown- or black-skinned people rarely get skin cancer, but everyone should be careful. There are some rare, inherited skin diseases that make people highly sensitive to sunlight and much more likely to get any type of skin cancer.

As it's not always possible to differentiate between skin cancers and benign skin conditions by examination alone, you may need to have a biopsy. If it's confirmed as cancer, it'll be removed by surgery or radiotherapy, depending on its size and type.

Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment

Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer. It starts in the melanocytes. Here certain cancer cells appear in skin cells. This is known as melanocytes. To start with it might just be a small mole. It may also occur in the eye and intestine or any other part of the body. The symptoms of melanoma are that the color of the mole would change, it might bleed, it might not have regular border, it might be scratching, etc.

It is best to get melanoma treatment in the beginning of the disease itself. There are various methods to treat melanoma. The methods are surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and palliative care. A good way for melanoma treatment is surgery. Here the tumor is removed and so also is a tiny region from the skin which is normal. In the beginning stage just a biopsy can cure melanoma. After a surgery a skin grafting is done if necessary to cover the wounded part of the skin. After this melanoma treatment painkillers would be given in order to reduce the pain. It will take some time for the wound to cure and the skin grafting to look normal as any other part of the skin.

Radiotherapy is also a fine method of melanoma treatment. Here x-rays are used in order to destroy cells that cause cancer. This method is opted when the cancer is in the inner portion of the body. This is a long melanoma treatment might stretch up to many weeks. After radiotherapy the patient might have nausea or headaches or even redness in the skin. There might be a burning sensation a good cream that is recommended by the doctor can be used for this.

Melanoma treatment can also be done by chemotherapy. Here certain anti-cancer drugs are given in order to reduce the growth of the cancer cells. These drugs at times can even cure melanoma. This method is also opted when the cancer is found in an organ within the body. This method of melanoma treatment would take around six to twelve months. The effects of this treatment may be vomiting, tiredness, depression, loss of hair etc.

Palliative care can also be used to cure melanoma. This is done when there is no cure and the cancer has increased. Here all that can be done is to reduce the pain caused by cancer. The doctor normally prescribes drugs that can help to reduce the pain. This should be done for all cancer patients. Melanoma treatment is best when done early.

Types of Skin Cancer

There are different types of skin cancer that a person can acquire. There are actually 3 main types. These 3 types account for all of the cases of skin cancer. What makes them different is the fact that these 3 cancers start in different skin cells. This is how each cancer gets their name; they are named based on the cell that they develop from. It is also important to note that there are two classes of skin cancers. The first class is nonmelanoma skin cancers and the second is melanoma skin cancers. Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer.

Here are the three different types Skin Cancer

  • Basal Cell Carcinoma –
This is the most common form of skin cancer. More than 1 million people in the United States develop this form of cancer, which also means around 80% of all skin cancers are of this type.

This type of skin cancer develops in the basal cells. These are cells that are present in the lowest layer of the epidermis. It can take on several forms. It can appear as a pearly nodule or it can appear as a nodule that is translucent. The sore may continuously heal and then re-open. The growth may also be elevated and slightly pink. Some individuals may even notice a waxy scar or a reddish patch of skin that simply looks irritated.

Basal cell carcinoma usually shows up on areas of the skin that has been exposed to the sun. This means it is common to find this sort of cancer on the face, the nose, the head, the ears, the arms, chest, and other areas of the upper body that have dealt with sun exposure. It can take years for these tumors to grow to a size of about ½ inch. The good news, however, is that these tumors don’t usually metastasize, which means it doesn’t spread to other parts of the body. The main issue is damage of the surrounding tissue.

  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma –
This type of skin cancer accounts for approximately 16% of allskin cancer cases. The cancer starts in the squamous cell, which are the skin cells that are found in the upper layer of the epidermis. About 200,000 people are diagnosed with this each year. Those individuals who are most susceptible are those that have fair skin and are middle-aged or elderly and have had extensive sun exposure in the past.
As for the appearance, the cancer appears as a crusty or scaly area of skin that is red and inflamed at the base. This area looks like a growing tumor, an ulcer that won’t heal, or a patch of skin that is crusted over. This is also a cancer that tends to be found on areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun. However, it can be found virtually anywhere on the skin, including the genitalia and the inside of the mouth.

This is a form of skin cancer that needs early intervention because it can metastasize, causing the cancer to spread to other areas of the body.

  • Melanoma –
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. About 4% of skin cancers are melanoma and it begins in the melanocytes, which are the cells within the skin that give it its color. This is the most lethal form of skin cancer because of its ability to rapidly spread to the internal organs and the lymph system. Every single hour, there is one person in the United States who has died from Melanoma. The highest mortality rate is amongst white Caucasian men. It is believed that this is because men are more likely to not pay attention to the early warning signs.
Fortunately, when caught on time, Melanoma Cancer has a 95% chance of being cured. However, the prognosis is not very good once it starts spreading. The reason why it can be hard to identify is the fact that melanoma will develop on an existing mole or it may look like a new mole that has developed. This is why it is important for individuals to be familiar with the appearance of their moles so they can notice whether or not the appearance changes. If the appearance changes, that is a sign that melanoma may be present.

There are other nonmelanoma skin cancers that are in existence, but they do account for less than 1% of skin cancers. These nonmelanoma skin cancers include Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

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Skin Cancer Treatment

There are various types of skin cancer treatment generally used to treat skin cancer. It entirely depends on where the cancer is and at what stage. Most skin cancers are treated by removal of the skin lesion. A profusion of radiation therapy and cryotherapy can also be used to treat and check this disease.

Mohs Microsurgery is also one of the treatments available for skin cancer. This is a method the cancer is removed with minimum amount of surrounding tissue and the edges are instantly monitored for any remnants of tumor.

Skin cancer is not only harmful to your health but also effects cosmetically. If you suspect of your being contacted this disease, immediately consult your doctor to seek medical advice for proper skin cancer treatment. Your skin mirrors your personality!

Experts Say About Acne Treatment

When you are looking for advice on how to treat your acne, you want nothing less than the best, most effective methods of treatment currently available.

This article will provide you with some of the best information you will find on the topic of acne treatment.

Most dermatologists and skin care experts agree on a few things, and you will definitely want to read this article to find out what they are so you can finally start clearing away your acne and have your beautiful skin return once and for all. Read more

Acne Treatment For Black Skin

Black men and women find acne treatment for black skin rather difficult. Acne is a skin problem which is common and consists of blackheads, whiteheads and also some big boil-like nodules or cysts.

Teenagers are by far the most affected by the disease which also affects women in their thirties. In puberty acne occurs due to the changes in the hormone levels. With time and patience, acne will heal itself in most cases..

Acne affects the hair follicles and also the oil secreting glands in the skin. It usually occurs on the face, chest, arms and back. They have different types of spots, like whiteheads, pustules, blackheads and nodules.More..

New Drug Shrinks Skin Cancer Tumors

Sept. 23, 2009 (Berlin) -- An experimental drug appears to dramatically and rapidly shrink deadly skin cancer tumors, researchers report.

Tumors shrank in 17 of 27 patients with advanced melanoma given the new pill, known as PLX4032. In two patients, the tumors completely disappeared.

The results are "unprecedented," says Paul Chapman, MD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

In one patient who underwent before-and-after imaging scans, the tumor "completely healed. I've never seen anything like it," he tells WebMD.

"We began to see signs of tumors turning off within two weeks," Chapman adds.

Overall, tumors shrank in 70% of patients with a particular cancer-related mutation who were given the pill.More..

Skin Cancer


Key to understanding Skin Cancer

As we age, the cells of the body does so in the same manner and one of the first abilities they lose is the ability to regenerate. This is programmed into the human body and is our amazing ability that allows organs to heal and skin to renew itself about every few weeks. The skin and the cells that makes it up tends to lose it’s regenerative properties, aging more as you get older rather than shed and grow new skin.

This is being found as the main reason why our skin fails to renew itself in time, resulting in aged skin that has gone into a sense of regenerative hibernation, much like the problem faced by hair follicles that gets extended resting phases, slowing growth and thus leading to baling.more...

Skin Cancer Clinic

Skin Cancer and Walking Women

Young women are seeing a rise in skin cancer. According to a news release from the Society for Women’s Health Research, the CDC says, "The diagnosis of all types of skin cancer has increased and melanoma has become the most common cancer among young women aged 25-29." Yesterday I had a check-up and my doctor is referring me to dermatology for a slightly suspicious mole. Like most middle-aged women, I grew up in the 70's when we all tried to be tan like Farrah Fawcett. I switched to high UPF sunscreen by the time I became a fitness walker at age 24 and stopped attempting to tan. I get enough of a glow even with the sunscreen due to hours a week of outdoors walking.

The report says that using tanning beds may be the high risk factor among young women today. They carry the same skin-aging and skin cancer risk as natural sunlight.more...

How And When To Use Sunblock To Prevent Skin Problems

Some people are under the mistaken assumption that the only time to use sunscreen is on especially hot and sunny days. The truth is that anytime that were out in the sun, the suns
rays are having a negative impact on our skin. There is a constant barrage of ultraviolet light that can cause our skin to age before its time, and it can lead to more serious skin problems in the long term. Even on days when its not all that hot outside, it is a good idea to use sunscreen.

With that said, sunscreen is still most needed when a person is spending a day out in the sun, especially if they're trying to tan. This is when there is the biggest risk of sunburn, which is a direct result of intense sun exposure. Its important to understand how to choose the right sunscreen for the job. SPF, or sun protection factor, is the rating system that is used to determine the strength of a sunscreen. Usually, a minimum sun protection factor of 15 is recommended for tanning or prolonged sun exposure. However, much more powerful levels of protection are available -- up to a 60 SPF rating or more.more...

5 Myths About Skin Cancer

While the sky isn’t falling in quite yet, there are major concerns about how the sunlight is affecting our skin and causing increasing numbers of serious and potentially fatal skin cancers. On the other hand, we also read about how we’re not getting enough sunlight and we’re becoming Vitamin D deficient.

Moderation is absolutely the key in most things. By taking in bits of sunshine to satisfy our vitamin D needs, we’re not usually exposing ourselves to enough sunlight to have to worry about melanoma (skin cancer). However, by believing in certain myths, we just may be increasing our risk.

To help you sort out what is what when it comes to sunshine and skin cancer, here is a video made by Dr. Neil Schultz, a practicing NYC dermatologist. Click on the TV screen below to watch Dr. Schultz as he debunks five common myths about skin cancer.more..

What Causes Skin Cancer?

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. Energy from the sun actually is a form of radiation. It consists of visible light and other rays that people can't see. Invisible infrared radiation, for instance, makes sunlight feel hot. UV also is invisible, and causes sunburn and sun tan.

UV rays damage DNA, the genetic material that makes up genes. Genes control the growth and overall health of skin cells. If the genetic damage is severe, a normal skin cell may begin to grow in the uncontrolled, disorderly way of cancer cells. UV also can cause sunburn, and other damage that makes the skin look prematurely old and wrinkled.

Two kinds of rays exist in ultraviolet radiation:

  • Ultraviolet A (UVA)
  • Ultraviolet B (UVB)

Scientists once thought that excessive exposure to UVB rays was the main cause of skin cancer. Now they think that UVA also is involved. That's why it is important to use a sunscreen product that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

Some cases of skin cancer, however, may be hereditary and run in families. In those cases, skin cancer is caused by abnormal genes that children inherit from their parents. Genes make parents and children look somewhat alike. They also make them likely to get some of the same diseases.

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Treatment for Cancer

Cancer affects millions of people all over the world, young and old. Today's modern science has developed new methods of treatment for cancer, but there are still great strides that need to be made to improve recovery, healing, and overall quality of life. Since there are so many treatments available, it really depends on several things as to which treatment the patient will receive. The first factor is the severity of the cancer.

The oncologist will need to determine how bad the cancer is, and how large the tumor has become. In addition, they will also look to see if it has spread to other areas of the body or if it is just confined to one place. The types of cancer as well as what stage it is in are also factors, as well as the patient's overall health. Older patients may require a different form of treatment than younger ones simply because elderly people handle things differently and are usually more sensitive.

The basic types of treatment for cancer are: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and targeted therapy. Obviously, many of these treatment types also depend on the type of cancer, such as hormonal therapy. Surgery is not only used to help treat cancer, it is often used to diagnose it. Doctors often perform surgery on patients to get a “sample” of the possible cancerous tissue. Once discovered, particularly in the case of a tumor, surgery is performed to try and remove as much cancer as possible from the body.more...

Article From : http://www.medicalonline.com.au

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer occurs when skin cells are damaged, for example, by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Between 95 and 99% of skin cancers in Australia are caused by exposure to the sun.

Types of skin cancer

There are three main types of skin cancer:

  • melanoma – the most dangerous form of skin cancer
  • basal cell carcinoma*
  • squamous cell carcinoma*

*Both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are known as non-melanoma skin cancer.

For more information, take a look at Cancer types.

Early detection

The sooner a skin cancer is identified and treated, the better your chance of avoiding surgery or, in the case of a serious melanoma or other skin cancer, potential disfigurement or even death.

Treatment

Skin cancers are almost always removed. In more advanced skin cancers, some of the surrounding tissue may also be removed to make sure that all of the cancerous cells have been taken out.
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Skin Cancer Clinic

Tips for Avoiding Sunburn


“The sun can be extremely damaging to a person’s health, resulting in painful burns, sun damage and in some cases, skin cancer,”

In addition to immediate pain, overexposure to sunlight, sun damage and burns can heighten the risk for developing skin cancer.

Some tips for avoiding sunburn or side effects linked to sun exposure are:
  • Avoid Sunbathing.
  • Avoid tanning parlors.
  • Wear a hat that shields your face from the sun.
  • Limit your sun exposure. The sun is hottest and strongest between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
  • Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or greater.
  • Wear sunglasses that are UV rated.
  • Choose cosmetics, moisturizing creams and lotions that contain sunscreen.
  • Protect your lips with products that have a sun protection factor of 15 or greater.
Source: Kentucky Department Of Health

Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a kind of cancer which can occur in the breast cells of both men and women. It is the second most common form of cancer. It is also considered to be the fifth most common cause of cancer related deaths.

Symptoms:

The initial subjective sign or symptom of breast cancer is usually a lump in the breast which is different from the surrounding tissues of the breast. According to surveys, over 80% of cases originate from a lump. Lumps found in armpits or collarbone may also indicate this disease.

Prevention:

Breast feeding can prevent breast cancer to a great extent. Folic acid is said to counteract the risk of breast cancer. It has been found that women who consume 3-4 glasses of alcohol everyday have more prone to breast cancer.

Treatment:

The main treatment procedure for breast cancer is surgery in which the tumor is localized. Other methods are aromatase inhibitor, tamxifen, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Depending on the age, size, metastasis and type of cancer of the patient, they are roughly categorized into low risk and high risk individuals and all of them have different treatment procedures. Other possibilities may include chemotherapy, immune therapy and hormone therapy. more...

Beauty Talk: Skin Exfoliation

Why do you need to exfoliate?
Skin exfoliation is a naturally occurring process. However, often your skin does need help with it.
Over the course of life cycle skin cells move from dermis to the epidermis. When they reach the top they die. But these dead cells don’t miraculously disappear, they often accumulate and cause skin’s surface to appear rough and dull. That’s why regular exfoliation is one of the effective ways for maintaining radiant healthy skin.

Exfoliation is removal of dead cells from the skin’s surface. Not only exfoliation immediately provides you with polished glowing skin, it also stimulates turnover of skin cells, unclogs pores and promotes better skin care products penetration.

Which one to choose?
Your choice will depend on several criteria but mainly on your skin type, skin condition and the aim of exfoliation treatment. If you have sensitive skin type or acne, don’t use mechanical exfoliation. It can be stressful on the skin and some mechanical scrubs can even create micro cuts which will exacerbate your condition. Have oily thick skin not prone to break outs? Trying to fight acne? Need to improve sun damaged skin? In my next posts I will look closer at mechanical and chemical exfoliation to help you choose which is best for you.
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Educate Your Kids About Sun Damage

Previously I posted about sun damage and increased chance of cancer if you start abusing sun and solariums early on. I have to say I am so happy my family did not have enough money to go on vacations when I was little. Thanks God! I had only one chance to turn my fair skin into the color of dark chocolate. I shudder when I look at the photos – my smile has never been so shiny white!
You are responsible for your kids - don’t let them get sun damage.

1. Start with protecting their skin early on. Babies have very sensitive tender skin that is so susceptible to UVA and UVB rays. Protect your precious baby by applying specially formulated sunscreens. To make sure your baby doesn’t have irritation go with a physical sunscreen not chemical.

2. Keep up regular sun protection and your kid will develop a habit of it that may save his or her life.

3. When you think your kid is old enough to understand, explain to your kid about the danger of UVA and UVB rays and about cancer.

4. If you have a teenager who doesn’t want to listen to your concerns some of the things you may do is take him/her to a dermatologist for skin examination and request the expert to show photos of sun damaged skin vs healthy skin and to explain about UVA/UVB danger. Or you can find such photos on the internet yourself.more...
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