Tips to Prevent Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is one of the common types of cancer. Over one million new cases can be found annually. Like any other cancers, it can only be treated but with intense medical therapies and medication. Nobody wants to suffer from cancer. Therefore, it is better to prevent than to treat.
Excessive sun exposure is one of main reasons of Skin cancer. Although early morning sunlight is beneficial because it contains Vitamin D, you should avoid sun exposure as much as you can. But of course people cannot just stay indoors and avoid going out at all. People need to do some of their activities outdoors sometimes. Below are some helpful tips for preventing Skin cancer.
1. Reduce sun exposure as much as possible, especially between 10 am - 4 pm, when UV levels are high. If you have to go out, you can choose to wear clothes that can cover your limbs such as long-sleeved shirts or accessories like scarf to cover your neck and shoulders. You can also wear gloves and socks while you are riding on bike or motorcycle. You can also keep yourself from sun exposure by staying under shade.
2. Before going out, apply sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher on your parts of body that will be exposed to the sun, including your ears and neck. Also apply lip balm with SPF regularly to protect your lips from harmful sun rays and dryness. Wear UV protective sun glasses to protect your eyes.
3. Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals, which are substances that can cause cancer. You should consume fresh fruit and vegetables regularly as they are good sources of antioxidants. Avoid foods that contain too much salt and fat. Whenever possible, buy organic fruits and vegetables as well as eggs, meats and dairy products, as they are free from harmful chemical substances and better for your body.
4. Go for a monthly skin check up. If you are using skin medications and you often have to go outdoors, you should consult your doctor. Ask your doctor if your medications can react negatively to sunlight.
5. Early detection of cancer is important as well. There are many symptoms of Skin cancer, such as abnormal growth (moles or lumps) and skin discoloration. If you notice some of these symptoms, you should see a specialist immediately. There is a better chance of getting rid of Skin cancer when it is still on its early stages.
Tags : Tips to Prevent Skin Cancer, Skin Cancer
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Tips to Prevent Skin Cancer
Posted by Chanchandrue at 9:30 PM 0 comments
Skin Cancer - Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
Skin Cancer - Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
In the United States, Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) accounts for 90 percent of all skin cancers in the southern states, and 47 percent in the northern states. Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer in Australia and New Zealand, representing 70-80% of diagnosed skin cancer. Occurrence of Basal Cell Carcinoma mainly occurs on the head and neck. It occurs less often in Asians and rarely among darker skinned races. As with all skin cancer the risk is considered to be related to sun exposure. The positive about Basal Cell Carcinoma is that it is slow-growing and rarely metastasizes throughout the body. However, it is locally destructive and can invade neighboring bone and nerve tissue.
Description - BCC is a malignant epithelial cell tumor that begins as a papule (a small, circumscribed, solid elevation of the skin) and enlarges peripherally, developing into a crater that erodes, crusts and bleeds. BCC originates in the basal layer of the epidermis, the lowest layer of skin.
Signs and Symptoms of Basal Cell Carcinoma - There are five typical characteristics of Basal Cell Carcinoma that are quite different from each other. Two or more features are frequently present in one tumor. BCC sometimes resembles non-cancerous skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema and requires diagnosis by a trained person. The five warning signs of Basal Cell Carcinoma are:
1. An open sore that bleeds, oozes or crusts, and remains open for three or more weeks. A persistent, non-healing sore is a very common early manifestation.
2. A reddish patch or an irritated area, frequently occurring on the chest, shoulders, arms or legs. Sometimes the patch crusts. It may also itch or hurt. At other times, it persists with no noticeable discomfort.
3. A smooth growth with an elevated, rolled border and an indentation in the centre. As the growth slowly enlarges, tiny blood vessels may develop on the surface (telangiectases).
4. A shiny bump (nodule) that is pearly or translucent and is often pink, red or white. The nodule can also be tan, black or brown, especially in dark-haired people, and can be confused with a mole or melanoma.
5. A scar-like area (white, yellow, or waxy in appearance) which often has poorly defined borders. The skin itself appears shiny or taut. Although a less frequent sign, it can indicate the presence of a more aggressive tumor.
Diagnosis of Basal Cell Carcinoma - Diagnosis is almost always by biopsy. Tissue is cut away from the site and examined under a microscope.
Medical Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma - Allopathic treatment depends on the size and type of tumor. There are various types of surgery or non-surgical treatments chosen from.
Non-surgical treatment of BCC - Allopathic non-surgical treatments have low success rates.
* Topical application of 5-fluorouracil for 2 to 12 weeks is only beneficial for superficial BCC. Fluorouracil is used to prevent excess cell proliferation as found in skin cancer and psoriasis. It prevents the formation of RNA which in turn prevents the formation of DNA.
* Imiquinoid cream -currently the use of Imiquinoid cream is considered experimental. It is an immune response modifier that stimulates the immune system to release cytokines that destroy cancer cells. Treatment causes significant skin irritation. Not all types of BCC are affected.
* Ionizing radiation: Superficial x-ray. It results in radiation damage, therefore it is used more with older patients. Impaired immune function and general malaise also usually results. Used for facial BCC and appears less effective for BCC occurring elsewhere.
Surgical Removal of BCC - Surgery is the most studied, and most used treatment for removal of a BCC in allopathic medicine. The effectiveness of surgery depends very much on the skill of the surgeon. Various surgical methods:
* Electrodessication and Curettage - the BCC is burned and removed with a scalpel. The main disadvantage of this method is that the tumor often tracks down hair follicles. (9)
* Cryosurgery - liquid nitrogen to freeze burn the BCC.
* Excision surgery- the BCC is cut from the skin with a scalpel. To increase the likelihood of complete removal of the tumor, a portion of normal-appearing skin surrounding the BCC is removed.
* Microscopic or MOHS surgery - the BCC is cut from the skin, along with some of the healthy surrounding tissue. This is examined under a microscope to check for any remaining cancer cells. Tissue is then taken in increments of thin layers of skin, until no more cancer cells are detected. Mohs is the most effective allopathic medical treatment (99% cure rate for primary BCC, 90-95% for recurrent BCC).
* Laser surgery. Lasers are also used as a secondary therapy when topical medications or other techniques are unsuccessful.
Recurrence of BCC - Once a Basal Cell Carcinoma has been removed, another growth can develop in the same place or nearby area. It has been found that 36% of people who develop a Basal Cell Carcinoma will develop a secondary primary BCC within the next 5 years. Radiotherapy can result in more aggressive and invasive cells in a recurrent BCC.
Effective Alternative Treatments - Allopathic medicine is often successful in completely removing BCC's but obviously also often fails, given the high number of recurrences suffered by many people with repeat visits to the doctor and then specialist. These treatments don't always work as well as expected or hoped.
Tags : Skin Cancer, Skin Cancer - Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), Basl Cell Carcinoma
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Posted by Chanchandrue at 9:13 PM 2 comments
Skin Cancer - Melanoma
Skin Cancer - Melanoma
Malignant melanoma is the rarest and most deadly form of skin cancer. It affects the melanocytes (the cells that produce melanin, the skin's pigment) and seems to be more prevalent among city-dwellers than among those who work outside. This seeming paradox is because scientific data indicates that episodic sun exposure resulting in burn is linked to melanoma, but constant exposure is not.
Melanoma does not necessarily occur in sun-exposed areas of the body which contributes to the belief that it is linked to brief, intense periods of sun exposure and a history of severe sunburn in childhood or adolescence.
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that metastasizes easily making it often fatal if not treated early enough. Bear in mind, however, that all statistics of melanoma come from tissue that has been examined after some form of excisional treatment or biopsy. Melanoma becomes more common with increasing age but it still appears in younger people.
A melanoma can develop in any area of the skin or from an existing mole. A typical melanoma appears as a small darkened area of skin similar in appearance to a mole. It is recognisable as being different to a mole in four different ways known as the ABCDE of melanoma: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving.
Asymmetry: Most early melanomas are asymmetrical: a line through the middle would not create matching halves. Common moles are round and symmetrical.
Border: The edges of melanomas are often uneven and may have scalloped, notched, or blurred edges. A mole has a smooth, well-defined edge.
Color: The pigmentation of a melanoma is often not uniform, with more than one shade of brown, tan, or black. Moles are usually a single shade of brown
Diameter: A melanoma is usually larger than a mole, continues to grow and is often at least the size of a pencil eraser (about 6mm, or 1/4 inch, in diameter).
Evolving: Change in size, shape and color shade.
Types of Melanoma
Melanomas are described according to their appearance and behavior. Those that start off as flat patches (i.e. have a horizontal growth phase) include:
Melanoma skin cancers tend to grow slowly, but at any time, they may begin to thicken or develop a nodule. When this happens they progress to a vertical growth phase.
Melanomas that grow quickly, involving deeper tissues, include:
Treatment of Melanoma
Usual protocol for the treatment of melanoma is:
Biopsy to confirm.
Surgical removal with wide margins encompassing healthy tissue to ensure complete removal.
Surgical removal of lymph nodes if their involvement is suspected.
There are natural options. I have used them and seen them used on many people. The natural treatment of melanoma and other skin cancer is viable and effective. I have written a book outlining my experiences of using a herbal paste with bloodroot as one of the main ingredients. I do not sell a product, I merely present the information so that people have a source of information and can be self-informed enough to have the confidence to make their own decision.
Tags : Cancer, Skin Cancer - Melanoma, Skin Cancer
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Posted by Chanchandrue at 8:55 PM 0 comments