CANCER TIPS
General
Cancer Information
Alcohol
Consumption
Chronic heavy drinking has been linked to an increased risk of
cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, pancreas and rectum. Consuming as
little as three ounces of hard liquor every day for several years can cause
damage.
Aspirin
Linked to Reduced Lung Cancer Risk
Aspirin has already risen from the ranks
of a mere pain reliever to become a highly valued heart attack and stroke
prevention tool, and now researchers say preventing lung cancer may be added to
its list of benefits.
Cancer
and Nutrition
To prevent cancer, avoid dietary fats. Eat a diet rich in
soy, fruits, vegetables and fiber.
Cancer
Risk Factors
The following are various types of cancer and their risk
factors: *
Breast- Family history of breast cancer, obesity, late childbearing and
childlessness
* Bladder- Smoking (nearly half of cases), hair dye - bladder
cancer is more common in men than women
* Cervical- First intercourse at an
early age, multiple sexual partners, smoking, history of genital herpes
*
Colorectal- Being over 50 with colon polyps or ulcerative colitis, family history
of these disorders or colon cancer, high-fat, low-fiber diet
* Leukemia-
Exposure to radiation, benzene and other chemicals
* Lung- Smoking (83 percent
of cases), exposure to asbestos, radiation and secondhand tobacco smoke
*
Lymphoma- Being over 50, no other known risk factors
* Oral- Smoking, chewing
tobacco and heavy alcohol use
* Pancreatic- Smoking, high-fat diet
*
Prostate- Risk increases with age; more than 80 percent of cases occur after 65
*
Skin- Fair skin, severe sunburn in childhood, frequent sun exposure, family
history of skin cancer
* Uterine- Being post-menopausal with a history of
infertility, ovulation failure or abnormal bleeding, also obesity, hypertension
and diabetes
Early
Detection
The earlier cancer is detected, the greater the chance it can be
treated before it spreads to other areas of the body. That's why self-examinations
(such as checks of the breasts, testicles and skin) are important to build into
your routine. And it's why regular medical screenings (such as mammograms, fecal
occult blood tests, Pap smears and prostate exams) are crucial even if you feel
perfectly healthy.
More
Precise Cancer Treatments
Once, a cancer was a cancer was a cancer. Now,
scientists have succeeded in using DNA to determine whether a particular type of
cancer will be resistant to certain therapies, paving the way to choosing more
effective, tailor-made treatments for patients.
Nutrition
and Cancer Patients
A great tasting, nutritious milkshake for cancer
patients requiring extra calories in small amounts is made by adding 2 large
scoops of ice cream and 1 package of vanilla-flavored Carnation Instant Breakfast
to 8 ounces of milk and blending until smooth.
Orange
Zest and Cancer
Don't toss away that orange peel -- it may help protect you
against cancer. Grated citrus zest -- the outmost layer of the peel, not the white
pith -- includes compounds may provide health benefits, such as inhibiting
development of some cancers and lowering cholesterol. Scrub the rind with warm
water and a drop of soap before starting to grate. Press a piece of wax paper onto
the grater to make clean-up easier; the zest accumulates on the paper instead of
getting stuck in the holes of the grater. Best of all, you can use the zest for a
flavor boost in low-fat baked goods, pilafs, salad dressings, marinades and fruit
salads.
Seven
Cancer Warning Signs
1. A change in bowel or bladder habits
2. A sore
that does not heal
3. Unusual bleeding or discharge
4. Thickening or a lump
in the breast or other area
5. Chronic indigestion or swallowing problems
6.
An obvious change in a wart or a mole
7. A nagging cough or hoarseness
Startling
Facts About Smoking and Cancer
Eighteen little-known facts about smoking
might motivate even a veteran smoker to give up the habit:
1. Cigarette smoke
contains tar, made up of over 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known to cause cancer.
2.
Chemicals in smoke include cyanide (a deadly poison), methanol (wood alcohol),
formaldehyde (a preservative), acetylene (fuel used in torches) and ammonia (found
in fingernail polish remover). It also contains nitrogen oxide and carbon
monoxide, both poisonous gases.
3. Smokeless tobacco (snuff) exposes a person
to at least 10 times more cancer-causing substances than smoking does.
4.
Smoking filtered cigarettes lowers the risk of lung cancer by only about 20
percent.
5. Smokers are more likely to get pneumonia than are nonsmokers.
6.
Smokers are more likely to have and die from stomach ulcers than are nonsmokers.
7.
Smoking causes and worsens heart disease, emphysema, bronchitis, sinusitis, and
cancers of the lung, mouth, larynx (voice box), and esophagus (swallowing tube),
and increases the risk of bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach and cervical cancers.
8.
Women smokers experience earlier menopause and have less dense bones, making them
more susceptible to osteoporosis and hip fractures.
9. Children whose parents
smoke are at a higher risk for pneumonia and bronchitis.
10. Diseases caused by
cigarette smoking kill about one in four smokers.
11. By the time lung cancer
is diagnosed, it has usually spread to other parts of the body. The survival rate
is low: only 13 percent are still alive five years after diagnosis, fewer than 10
percent after 10 years.
12. Lung cancer now kills more women than any other
type of cancer.
13. Smoking takes an average of seven years off a person’s
life.
14. Smoking causes one out of every six deaths in the United States.
15.
Nine out of ten smokers say they want to quit.
16. More men have quit smoking
than women.
17. More than 43 million Americans have quit smoking, and–over
the past decade–the percentage of smoking adult Texans has decreased from 31 to
22 percent.
18. Between 1964 and 1985, approximately 750,000 deaths were
avoided or postponed as a result of decisions to quit smoking or not to start.
And
That’s Not All!
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in
America, but it could be prevented 80 to 90 percent of the time if only people
would not smoke.
Tea
for Tumors
Research shows one kind of tea can be up to 100 times more
potent at blocking growth of cancer cells than another. While all tea (green,
oolong or black) contains antioxidant compounds called catechins that protect
against cancer (especially of the lung, breast, colon, stomach and skin) by
neutralizing free radicals, green tea contains about 7 times more catechins than
black tea. Green tea also has unique catechins that block an enzyme involved in
breast, prostate and colon cancers. Green tea is 10 to 100 times stronger than
black tea in blocking the growth of cancer cells. Catechins also prevent heart
disease and stroke, primarily by defending against the harmful effects of
artery-clogging LDL cholesterol.
Understanding
Blood Counts
Counting and examining blood cells are very important in the
diagnosis of blood cell diseases. Blood has several different types of cells in
it:
* Red blood cells pick up oxygen as blood passes through the lungs and
release it to the cells in the body.
* White blood cells help fight bacteria
and viruses.
* Platelets are the cells that form a plug in response to a cut or
wound. The platelets aggregate and plug up the site of bleeding. Normal
blood counts fall within the range that has been established by testing healthy
men and women of all ages.
The approximate normal ranges of blood cell counts
for healthy adults are as follows:
* Red blood cell (RBC) count: 4.5 to 6.0
million red cells per microliter of blood in men, 4.0 to 5.0 million red cells per
microliter of blood in women
* White blood cell (WBC) count: 4.5 to 11 thousand
white cells per microliter of blood
* Platelet count: 150 to 450 thousand
platelets per microliter of blood Hematocrit
is the percent of the blood that is composed of red cells:
* 42% to 50% is
normal in men
* 36% to 45% is normal in women Hemoglobin
is the compound in the red blood cell that carries oxygen.
* 14 to 17 grams per
100 milliliters of blood is normal for men
* 12 to 15 grams per 100 milliliters
of blood is normal for women White
cell differential count, sometimes referred to as a "diff," measures the
proportion of the total white cell count that is composed of one of the five
principal white cell types. The observer can also tell if the white cells in the
blood are normal in appearance. The five types of normal white cells that are
counted are neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Blood
contains about 60% neutrophils, 30% lymphocytes, 5% monocytes, 4% eosinophils and
1% basophils.
Vitamin
E and Cancer
Vitamin E has been found to reduce cancer risk when consumed
at recommended levels.
Want
to Quit Smoking?
Most people who quit smoking have tried before, so don’t
give up! Try these tips:
* List the reasons you want to quit. Refer to the list
every time you want to smoke.
* Typical triggers to smoking include working
under pressure, feeling depressed, having a drink, drinking coffee, driving a car,
finishing a meal and watching someone else light up a cigarette. Learn to look for
these triggers and then avoid them, for example, by cutting down on alcohol and
caffeine.
* Reward yourself for not smoking. Spend the money saved from not
buying cigarettes on a treat for yourself.
* Keep lots of low calorie snacks
handy, including sugarless gum.
* Try taking a few deep breaths when you start
to feel stressed.
* Quit smoking with a friend, bet someone you will quit, or
get involved with a group having the same goal of quitting.
* Take your mind
off smoking by keeping your hands busy with handwork or hobbies.
Watermelon
and Cancer Prevention
Juicy, red watermelon is not only delicious, it may
help prevent cancer. As long as you spit out the seeds, watermelon is the biggest
supplier among fresh fruits and vegetables in the antioxidant lycopene, which is
believed to play a big role in the prevention of the killer disease. Antioxidants
such as lycopene work in your body by disarming free oxygen radicals, which are
thought to contribute to the development of many cancers. A 2-cup serving of
watermelon contains 15 - 20 milligrams of this vital plant pigment. Other sources
include tomatoes, red grapefruits and guavas.
Breast
Cancer
Breast
Cancer and The Pill
Although birth control pills have been only weakly
linked to breast cancer in some studies, new research shows that the hormone-heavy
pills used 25 years ago may have significantly increased breast cancer risk among
women with a family history of the disease.
Breast
Cancer Facts
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women.
One in nine women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. (Men may also
develop breast cancer, but just one in every 100 cases of breast cancer is in a
man). Over 180,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year in the United
States and that number is increasing.
Breast
Cancer Risk Factors
Increasing
age: As women grow older, their risk increases. Breast cancer is rare before the
age of 30 and is most common in women older than 65. In fact, the biggest known
risk factor is age. History
of previous breast cancer: A woman with a history of cancer in one breast has a
higher chance of developing cancer in the other breast. Family
history of breast cancer: Close female relatives—a mother or sister, for
example, increase a person's risk. Still, only about five to 10 percent of women
who get breast cancer have a family history of the disease. Absence
of pregnancy: Both pregnancy and breast-feeding are associated with lowered risk
and the earlier the pregnancy, the lower one's risk. Women who have a full
pregnancy before the age of 18 have just one-third the breast cancer risk of women
who give birth after age 30 or who have never had a child.
Breast
Cancer Symptoms
Most people associate breast cancer with a lump, but the
symptoms can include a thickening within the breast or the overlying skin, redness
of the skin, a change in the shape of the breast, discharge from the nipple, or a
change in the shape of the nipple or its retraction. (Eight out of 10 breast lumps
are benign; that is, they are not cancerous).
Breast
Self-Examination (BSE) Technique
Breast Self-Examination (BSE) should be
done every month. When
to do BSE:
* If you still menstruate (have your period) the best time is
two or three days after your period ends. These are the days when your breasts are
least likely to be tender or swollen.
* If you no longer menstruate, pick the
same day of every month. It will be easy to remember.
* If you take hormones,
check with your doctor about the best time for your BSE. Facing
a mirror
Standing before a mirror to look for asymmetry in breast size,
nipple inversion, bulging, or dimpling is the preferred method to maximize
visualization. Note any skin or nipple changes, such as a hard knot or nipple
discharge. Inspect
breasts in the following 4 steps:
* Arms at sides
* Arms overhead
* Hands
on hips - Press firmly to flex chest muscles.
* Bending forward Lying
down Right
breast
* Place a pillow under your right shoulder.
* Put your right hand
under your head.
* Check the entire breast area with the finger pads of your
left hand.
* Use small circles and follow an up-and-down pattern.
* Use
light, medium, and firm pressure over each area of the breast.
* Feel the
breast with the surfaces of the second, third, and fourth fingers, moving
systematically and using small, circular motions from the nipple to the outer
margins.
* Gently squeeze the nipple for any discharge. Left
breast
* Repeat these steps on your left breast using your right hand.
In
the shower Breast
self-examination (BSE) can easily be performed during bathing or showering,
because some women discover breast masses when their skin is moist.
* Raise
your right arm.
* With soapy hands and fingers flat, check your right breast.
*
Use the same small circles and up-and-down pattern described earlier.
* Repeat
on the left breast.
Breast
Test
A new, simpler technique for detecting abnormal breast cells before
they develop into life-threatening breast cancer is in the pipeline. Called ductal
lavage, the procedure involves a doctor inserting a catheter the width of two
human hairs into the nipple and washing out enough cells from milk-producing ducts
to screen for precancerous changes. Scientists have known for years that milk
ducts are a great place to test for these scary cells. Unfortunately, insurers
don't always pay for the test, which can cost from $350 to $700.
Gene
Defects Linked to Breast Cancer
Gene defects that trigger an extremely rare
and deadly childhood disease may also signal an increased risk of breast cancer.
The discovery could help doctors screen women for cancer risks. The disease,
Fanconi anemia, affects only about 500 families nationally, but the study found
that six genes known to cause it are directly linked to one of the two genes
responsible for the inherited risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
New
Breast Cancer Drug Hot on Tamoxifen's Heels
A new breast cancer drug shows
early signs of being better than the best currently available treatment at helping
postmenopausal women with early-stage disease live longer after having surgery to
remove their tumors. Women who have taken a newer type of drug called anastrozole,
brand name Arimidex, were more likely to be alive and disease-free three years
after surgery than women who took what is now considered the "gold
standard" in breast cancer prevention, tamoxifen.
October
Means Mammogram
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many hospitals
and clinics offer free mammograms. Please have one today! It could save your life.
Preventing
and Detecting Breast Cancer
Because 75 to 80 percent of women who get
breast cancer have no known risk factors, early detection offers the best hope for
surviving the disease. The first step is to understand your risk factors - age,
family, and personal history of breast cancer. The next is to follow the early
detection guidelines recommended by the American Cancer Society: *
Self-Examination - Women should examine their breasts monthly beginning by age 20.
Over 90 percent of breast cancers are found by women themselves. But because fewer
than one third of women perform regular breast self-examinations (BSEs), these
cancers are often found when they are over an inch across. In general, the smaller
the lump found, the better a woman’s chance of long-term survival. *
Physician Examination - An exam by a physician is recommended every three years
until age 40, and then every year. This is an important part of an overall
physical exam, but only a supplement to monthly breast self-examinations. *
Mammography - This examination is recommended once between the ages of 35 and 40
as a baseline (for comparison), and then once a year beginning at age 40. Studies
show very high survival rates in women whose breast cancer was first detected by
mammography. When a mammogram finds a small breast cancer, usually only the tumor
is removed, not the whole breast.
Cervical
Cancer
Cervical
Cancer Causes and Risks
The cause of cervical cancer is unknown, but a
variety of interacting factors are probably at fault. These include early sexual
activity, multiple sex partners, and sexually transmitted diseases. Viruses
associated with sexually transmitted diseases are also thought to play an
important role, as are hygiene and douching practices. Smoking and a lower
socio-economic status may also be involved.
Cervical
Cancer Facts
Cervical cancer is a slow-growing, highly predictable cancer
of the cervix, where the narrow, outer end of the uterus opens into the vagina.
Caught early, it is easily cured. Each year in the United States, approximately
12,800 women are diagnosed with the disease and 45,000 more with carcinoma in situ,
an early-stage cervical cancer. Many thousands more are treated for a
pre-cancerous condition known as dysplasia.
Cervical
Cancer Prevention
The risk for cervical cancer can be lowered by limiting
the number of sexual partners, using condoms, avoiding sexually transmitted
diseases, and getting regular Pap smears. Catching the disease early is simple and
inexpensive, and in its early stages, cervical cancer can be completely cured. If
you are at least 15 years old, if you are sexually active, and if you are not
having Pap smears every year, do yourself this favor: make an appointment today
for this important screening test.
Symptoms
of Cervical Cancer
Symptoms of cervical cancer include painless vaginal
bleeding, an unusual vaginal discharge, and painful intercourse. But often, the
only way you will know is by having a Pap smear, a simple, accurate, inexpensive
screening test used to identify the presence of abnormal cells in the cervix.
Colorectal
Cancer
Colorectal
Cancer Facts
Colorectal (colon and rectum) cancer is the second most common
cancer in the United States. About 150,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Most
develop from polyps, growths that originate in the mucous lining of the colon or
rectum. These grow slowly and can be detected by means of effective, easily
performed tests, making colorectal cancer one of the most curable forms of cancer.
Colorectal
Cancer Causes and Risk Factors
The cause of cancer of the colon and rectum
isn't known, but it's believed that the disease is associated with a diet high in
fat and low in fiber (roughage). Not surprisingly, colorectal cancer is more
common in Western countries, where the diet tends to be highly refined, with less
roughage. People over age 50 are more susceptible, and African-American men have a
slightly higher risk. Anyone with a personal or family history of colorectal
cancer, polyps in the colon, or ulcerative colitis is at particularly high risk
and exposure to asbestos has been identified as a risk factor.
Colorectal
Cancer Symptoms
The most common symptom is bleeding with bowel movements.
Other symptoms include pain during bowel movements, change in frequency of bowel
habits, change in stools, abdominal pain or swelling, fatigue, anemia, and weight
loss.
Early
Detection and Prevention of Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is very
curable when found early and there are several things you can do to lower your
risks:
* Eat at least 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day.
* Eat lots of fruits
and vegetables.
* Have a digital rectal examination every year after age 40.
*
Have a stool blood test every year after age 50.
* Have a flexible
sigmoidoscopy at age 50, and then, after two normal examinations a year apart,
every three to five years.
* If you are over 50 and notice blood in your
stools, see your doctor immediately.
Endometrial
Cancer
Endometrial
Cancer Causes and Risks
The cause of endometrial cancer is unknown, but a
significant factor seems to be prolonged exposure of the endometrium to the
hormone estrogen. Menstruating women are exposed to estrogen every month. Thus,
women who are at high risk for the disease are sometimes prescribed birth control
pills to decrease their production of the hormone. In postmenopausal women,
estrogen replacement, a common treatment, greatly increases the risk for
endometrial cancer. But this risk can be reduced when progesterone, another
hormone, is added to the estrogen. Women who are "on the pill"
automatically decrease their risk of developing endometrial cancer, as do those
who maintain their ideal body weight. Also at higher risk are menopausal women who
have never been pregnant and those with a history of infertility, failed
ovulations, irregular periods (menses), or irregular bleeding.
Endometrial
Cancer Facts
Cancer of the endometrium (the membrane lining the uterus) is
the most common of the female reproductive tract cancers, ahead of ovarian and
cervical cancer. It occurs mainly in women older than 50 and affects about 35,000
American women each year.
Endometrial
Cancer Prevention
Prevention of endometrial cancer involves maintaining
ideal body weight, avoiding unnecessary estrogens and, if at high risk, being
screened at menopause for early signs of endometrial changes that might lead to
cancer.
Symptoms
of Endometrial Cancer
The main symptom of endometrial cancer, abnormal
bleeding, occurs early, a factor leading to early diagnosis. For this reason, the
overall cure rate is high, 70 to 80 percent.
Liver
Cancer
Liver
Cancer Facts
There are two types of liver cancer: primary and secondary.
Liver cancer is considered primary if the cancerous tumors develop in the liver.
Primary liver cancer is rare, accounting for just one to two percent of malignant
tumors in patients in North America. Secondary liver cancer, which is
approximately 20 times more common, results when cancer cells from another part of
the body (breast, lungs, etc.) spread or "metastasize" to the liver. A
secondary liver tumor is often not found until it causes symptoms.
Liver
Cancer Risk Factors
Liver cancer is more common among persons who consume
large amounts of alcohol than among persons who do not drink. Liver cancer occurs
more frequently in persons with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cirrhosis (scarring of
the liver) and other chronic liver ailments than in persons without those
diseases. Between 50 percent and 70 percent of all liver cancer cases in the
United States are associated with cirrhosis. Liver cancer is also more likely to
strike men than women and persons of either sex over 40 years of age.
Liver
Cancer Symptoms
The symptoms of liver cancer are similar to those of other
liver diseases: pain, especially in the abdominal area; unexplained weight loss;
loss of appetite; pain or swelling in the upper right abdomen; and jaundice
(yellowing of the skin and the whites of eyes).
Ovarian
Cancer
Ovarian
Cancer Causes and Risks
The cause of ovarian cancer is not known. Several
risk factors are known, however. Family history plays a huge role. When two or
more close relatives (mother, aunt, or sister) have had ovarian cancer, the risk
can jump from 1 in 70 to as high as 1 in 2. This relationship is still being
studied. Women who have never been pregnant are also at higher risk.
Ovarian
Cancer Facts and Symptoms
Ovarian cancer, a tumor of the ovaries, is the
second most common gynecologic cancer and it's the deadliest. Ovarian cancer
causes more deaths than any cancer of the female reproductive system. And it is
the fourth leading cause of death from cancer in women, behind breast, lung and
colon cancers. The mortality rate is so high because ovarian cancer spreads
quickly. And even when symptoms appear, they tend to be ignored because they are
so vague, such as pressure, swelling, bloating, and discomfort in the lower
abdomen. A tumor in the ovary can grow for some time before it causes any serious
problems. In more than 75 percent of cases, the cancer has spread beyond the ovary
before it is diagnosed.
Ovarian
Cancer Prevention
How can you protect yourself from ovarian cancer? Birth
control pills and pregnancy protect you to some degree. But the only sure way to
prevent ovarian cancer is the removal of the ovaries. This type of surgery is
recommended mainly for women who are approaching menopause or who are past it,
when they are having some other type of gynecological surgery and for women having
a family history of the disease, after their childbearing years.
Prostate
Cancer
Benign
Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the
abnormal growth of benign (not cancerous) prostate cells. In BPH, the prostate
grows larger and pushes against the urethra and bladder, blocking the normal flow
of urine. BPH can sometimes lead to bothersome problems with urination, such as
frequent daytime and nighttime urination, dribbling, and difficulty starting and
stopping urine flow.
Early
Detection of Prostate Cancer
Follow these early detection guidelines for
the best results:
* Have a digital rectal examination every year after the age
of 50.
(If you are an African-American male or you have a family history of
prostate cancer, have this examination every year after age 40.)
* Have a
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.
* Eat a low fat diet.
* See your
doctor immediately if you notice any of the warning signs of prostate problems.
Prostate
Cancer Causes and Risk Factors
Prostate cancer runs in families and is
associated with a high fat diet. Prostate cancer is most common in Europe and in
America, where African American men are at 30 percent higher risk. Increasing age
is a factor, with men over 55 at greater risk. Other risk factors are multiple sex
partners and venereal disease.
Prostate
Cancer Facts
Cancer of the prostate gland is one of the most common cancers
in men. It's estimated that one out of every 11 men will develop it. Fortunately,
prostate cancer is usually a slow-growing type of cancer, and the highest risk is
not until after age 55. Because of earlier detection and improvements in prostate
cancer treatment, more than 90 percent of patients diagnosed early are alive five
years after treatment.
Prostate
Cancer Symptoms
There are usually no symptoms in the earliest stages of
prostate cancer. Some symptoms of the condition benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH),
a harmless, but annoying enlargement of the prostate that frequently occurs in
older men, may be mistaken for symptoms of prostate cancer. You
should see your doctor if you experience:
* Weak or interrupted flow of urine
*
Inability to urinate or difficulty urinating
* Need to urinate frequently,
especially at night
* Blood in the urine
* Painful or burning sensation when
urinating
* Continuing pain in the lower back, pelvis, or upper thighs
PSA
(Prostate Specific Antigen)
An elevated PSA blood test does not always mean
cancer. A temporary PSA elevation is found in prostate infection, benign
enlargement, prostate surgery and urinary retention.
Skin
Cancer
Skin
Cancer Facts
For all forms of skin cancer, years of exposure to strong
sunlight seems to be the main cause. Other causes of skin cancer include repeated
exposure to radiation or certain chemicals, such as coal tars and asphalt,
scarring from disease or burns, and genetic and hormonal factors. Skin cancer is
one of the most common forms of cancer. There are two main types: melanoma and
non-melanoma. Melanoma begins in skin cells that produce melanin, the pigment that
gives skin its color. Two kinds of non-melanoma, basal cell and squamous cell
carcinoma, originate in different types of cells in the epidermis, or outer skin
layer. Melanoma is the "black mole" kind of skin cancer. It is less
common and more dangerous because it tends to spread rapidly. Squamous cell
carcinoma is less serious, but can also spread to other parts of the body. Basal
cell carcinoma grows slowly, doesn’t spread quickly, and is usually not life
threatening. Every year, about 32,000 new cases of melanoma and 700,000 cases of
non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States. Skin cancer is the
most easily detectable, curable and preventable cancer. The cure rate for
non-melanoma skin cancers is about 95 percent when properly treated.
Skin
Cancer Prevention
Skin cancer prevention tips:
* Avoid sun exposure and
exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
* If you must be out in the
sun, always use protection: wear a long-sleeved shirt or cover-up, a hat that
shades your face and sunglasses.
* Always wear sunscreen (with a sun protection
factor of at least 15) on exposed body parts, even during the winter, when sun
reflected off the snow may be intense. Apply it 15 to 30 minutes (or more) before
going out in the sun.
* Avoid sun exposure between 10 AM and 3 PM when the
sun's rays are their most fierce.
* Check your skin monthly for unusual moles
or changes in existing skin markings, using a full-length mirror and a hand mirror
to see your back. See a dermatologist if you notice any changes and for regular
skin checkups.
* Don’t use sunlamps or tanning centers. Self-Examination:
The
best way to detect skin cancer early is to perform monthly self-examinations.
First, count and plot your moles so that you can note any changes. Then, each
month examine each part of your body using a full-length mirror and a hand mirror.
Be sure to check the front, back, sides, forearms, upper underarms and palms,
backs of legs and feet, including spaces between toes, the back of the neck and
scalp, under the hair and the back and buttocks.
Skin
Cancer Risk Factors
Fair-skinned Caucasians living in sunny places are at
greatest risk for developing skin cancer. People who work outdoors, the elderly,
anyone who has had a severe sunburn and people repeatedly exposed to radiation or
hydrocarbons found in coal tars, pitch, and asphalt are also at risk. Other risk
factors include having skin damage or defects, being an albino and having a family
history of skin cancer or a condition called dysplastic nevi syndrome,
characterized by larger-than-normal moles that begin growing later in life. People
whose immune systems are weaker than normal (such as chemotherapy patients and
people with AIDS) are also at greater risk.
Symptoms
of Skin Cancer
Any unusual skin condition, like a change in a mole or other
pigmented growth or spot, or a wound that doesn't heal should cause concern.
Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, a growing bump, itchiness, pain and tenderness are
all possible symptoms of skin cancer. Melanoma may begin in or near a mole or
other dark spot on the skin. Warning signs in moles are asymmetry (when the shape
of one half doesn’t match the other half); ragged, irregular, notched or blurred
borders; different shades of color and growth; and size (larger than a pencil
eraser).
Testicular
Cancer
Testicular
Cancer Causes and Risk Factors
Testicular cancer runs in families. Young
Caucasian men are at greatest risk for developing testicular cancer. Hispanics,
Asians, and Native Americans are at medium risk, and African-Americans are at very
low risk. Having an undescended testicle is the major risk factor. About 50
percent of men with testicular cancer have experienced trauma to their testes;
however, it is not known whether trauma plays a causal role or whether it only
brings attention to a pre-existing condition. Other factors that are possibly
involved include having had the mumps, which often affects the testicles, having
been born to a mother who was given estrogen or had X-rays during pregnancy and
delivery, and having certain rare conditions affecting the sexual organs.
Testicular
Cancer Facts
Cancer of the testes, the male reproductive glands, is the
most common cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 35. There are different types
of testicular cancer, most of which involve the sperm-producing cells. About 6,000
new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year, but with early detection
and treatment, the cure rate for testicular cancer has increased greatly, to as
high as 96 percent.
Testicular
Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
Because of the increased risk from an
undescended testicle, boys with this problem should have the condition surgically
corrected before they reach the age of three. When corrected at a later age, the
condition continues to pose higher risk.
Testicular cancer is very curable when
found early. Your best protection is monthly self-examination, especially if you
are in a high-risk group. Self-examination involves rolling each testicle gently
between the thumb and fingers of both hands, and it is best done after a warm bath
or shower. If you notice hard lumps or nodules, contact your doctor immediately.
Testicular
Cancer Symptoms
There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of
testicular cancer. A painless bump on the testicle or slight enlargement of a
testicle and change in its consistency may be the first sign of a problem. Pain
does not usually occur until a later stage of the disease, but a dull ache in the
lower abdomen and groin, accompanied by a feeling of heaviness, may be an early
warning sign. | 
