There are four stages of melanoma that classify the severity of this skin cancer. Each stage pertains to the thickness and the amount that the melanoma has spread. When the stage of melanoma has been diagnosed, it is then possible for the doctors to determine the best type of treatment. In this article, we will discuss what the different stages of melanoma signify. We will describe each of the four stages in further detail. Hopefully, after reading this article you will have a greater knowledge of the skin cancer disease known as melanoma and the four degrees associated with it.

Stage 1 of melanoma is thin and the epidermis usually appears scraped. This stage of skin cancer is subdivided into two other categories. These additional categories describe the thickness of the tumor. Stage 1a is less than 1.0 mm and has no ulceration. Stage 1b is less than 1.0 mm but has ulceration. It is also considered to be in stage 1b if it is 1.01 - 2.0 mm even if it does not involve ulceration. In this stage and stage 2 the melanoma has not yet spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage 2 is also subdivided into three more categories that signify the thickness and the existence or non-existence of ulceration. The tumor in stage 2a is 1.01 - 2.0 mm with ulceration or 2.01 - 4.0 mm without ulceration. Stage 3b has a tumor thickness of 2.01 with ulceration or a thickness of more than 4.0 without ulceration.

When this type of skin cancer advances to stage 3 a significant change occurs. At this stage, the melanoma tumor has spread to the lymph nodes. This is a much more serious stage of the disease because when healthy, the lymph nodes fight disease, cancer and some other infections.

Patients with stage 3 of this cancer have melanoma that has spread into lymph nodes near the primary tumor. This stage also involves in-transit metastasis that has skin or connective tissue that is more than 2 centimeters from the original tumor. However, at this point it has not spread past the regional lymph nodes.

In stage 4, the melanoma has spread to lymph nodes that are a distance from the original tumor or to internal organs. These organs are most often the lung, liver, brain, bone and then the gastrointestinal tract.

When diagnosed with skin cancer, it is important to consult with your doctor concerning the degree or stage of melanoma that you may have. A variety of diagnostic techniques will likely be used to determine the stage of your skin cancer. Most stage 1 and stage 2 melanomas should not cause too much worry because they can most often be cured through surgery. There is little need to worry about getting later stages of melanoma just because you once suffered through the early stages.

Different doctors may use different systems or scales to classify the stages of melanoma. The most commonly used are the TNM staging system and the Breslow scale. The most important things to remember are that melanomas with 0.76 mm or lower thickness are low risk, 0.76 - 1.5 mm involve medium risk and when the melanoma is more than 1.5 mm in thickness you are at a much higher risk. When you are diagnosed with melanoma it is important that you understand exactly what stages your doctor may be referring to and what treatments are available to you.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to skin-cancer-guides.com/ Skin Cancer

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Tags: melanoma, skin cancer

Cancer is the name for a disease that can affect cells from all the organs and body’s structures and is considered to be life threatening. Cancer determines cells to divide in an uncontrollable way. Generally the cells of the body divide only when needed, like when they grow old and other cells need to be produced in order to replace them or when they are in a small amount and the body needs more of them.

Because the cells are produced in an increased number, a mass of unknown tissue will form, known as a tumor (this tumor can be benign or malign).

The benign form of the tumor is considered not to be harmful. It can be easily removed and will not spread to other organs. The possibility for this tumor to reappear is much reduced.

The malign form of the tumor is also known as cancer and is considered to be a threat to life. It can affect organs that are situated near the tumor and it can also get into the bloodstream or lymphatic system and reach other organs creating new tumors in the whole body. This is known as metastasis. The secondary disease will be named after the primary disease, because the metastatic cancerous cells have the same structure with the basic tumor cells.

Taking colon cancer for an example, if the colon cancer cells spread toward the liver and affect it, the liver disease will be called metastatic colon cancer.

In the whole world, colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth in women. It is quite rare in Asia and Africa but you can find it frequently in the Western world. Those who have adopted western diets are at risk to develop colorectal cancer. Doctors believe that this type of cancer is developing from polyps situated in the large intestine (colon and rectum are a part of the large intestine). These polyps are considered to be benign but left untreated for years they can transform in malign tumors. The polyps can be removed easily during a colonoscopy performed by the doctor.

Colorectal cancer can affect nearby structures and can even get into the bloodstream or lymphatic system and spread towards liver and lungs where it will produce another tumor. If metastasis has occurred, the hope of treatment efficiency is considered to have reduced drastically.

For greater resources on

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Tags: colon cancer, colorectal cancer

There are many different herbal colon cleansing recipes or diets that claim to be able to perform a colon cleansing that is almost as effective as the rest of the options. This is certainly a possibility. If you try some of the diets that are out there, you will find that it is a good alternative. But you can add some herbal supplements to these diets to make them even more effective, and therefore even more appealing as an option.

Most of the colon cleansing diets are based on the idea of adjusting your fiber intake based on what problem you are dealing with the most. If constipation is your issue, you can increase your fiber intake. If diarrhea is your issue, you will decrease it. For mild cases of either of these things, this will help you.

Some of the time, you won’t be able to fix a problem just by changing how much fiber you eat. This is when you will want to start getting into some of the more exotic herbal remedies that have more specific roles. There are different herbs that are composed in a way that they will break down all of the exact things that are causing intestinal problems.

If you know what your exact problems are, you will know what herbs you need to get by just doing some quick research. But unfortunately, it is almost impossible to determine a specific problem. Usually there will just be the fact that you are suffering from constipation or diarrhea, and that is all you have to go on. In this case, you will want to try out one of the products that successfully combines all of the herbs.

This type of medicine is widely available as a one-size-fits-all intestinal relief pill. You can have them prescribed from a physician, you can look at a drug store, or you can simply get on your computer and look for websites that sell them. Each brand has had years of accumulated research poured into it, and therefore is most likely more effective than any other herbal blend that you could concoct.

The reason these herbal colon cleansing treatments are so effective are because of how they attack the problem on all levels. The intestinal problems can arise from many different types of buildups, and each one takes a different herb to break it down and get it moving again. The herbal medicine blends all of these together, so even if you suffer more from one problem than another you will still be able to alleviate both.

If you are interested in trying some herbal medicines in order to get your digestive system working better, you should first read reviews of all of the top leading brands. When you hear about the personal experiences of other people who have tried the same thing, you can decide for yourself whether you feel comfortable trying an herbal colon cleansing product.

For more information on coloncleansingforum.com herbal colon cleansing and all natural colon cleansers such as coloncleansingforum.com/f4-Colonix-Natura.html Colonix by Dr. Natura, visit ColonCleansingForum.com ColonCleansingForum.com today.

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Occupational Therapists are trained to help people with illness or disability learn how to maintain their daily lifestyle. These daily routines help us feel in control of our lives, and illness forces us to change and become more dependent on others. There are ways to modify and adapt so that we can regain a greater sense of mastery over our lives even while undergoing treatment. Remember to first check with your physician to make sure that you receive medical clearance to engage in the following activities.
Here are some suggestions:

1) Take care of yourself by balancing work,rest, play and treatment. You may need to shift priorities and delegate responsibilities to others if able. It’s OK if the house is a little dirty.
2) Fatigue is the greatest side effects suffered after cancer treatment. However, research has found that exercise during treatment can actually counter the fatigue. Exercise improves quality of life, enhances function, and gives one a sense of control. Even starting with 5 minutes of exercise a day can be beneficial. The less you do, the more fatigue you will feel.
3) If you have received a TRAM FLAP reconstruction, putting on shoes and socks may be difficult. Assistive devices such as long shoe horns or stocking aides may make the process easier
4) Peripheral neuropathy is another side effect of chemotherapy regimens. Loss of balance and loss of sensation in the hands and feet is a concern. Take measures to reduce risk of falls by removing area rugs, clear and place non-skid mats in the bathtub, and use nightlights. Larger pens with a wider circumference or with grippers can help to hold a pen when hands are weak.
5) Calm your nerves by using techniques such as deep breathing,meditation, and yoga which assists with lymphatic flow, pain, and are great stress relievers.
6) Conserve your energy by using carts to carry items instead of making several trips to the refrigerator when cooking. Use frozen vegetables instead of fresh to avoid the work of chopping. Sit while you perform tasks. Store items that you need regularly nearby.
7) Try to use both hands as a team rather than relying just on the unaffected arm for daily tasks such as bed making, dishwashing or lifting. If you recently received surgery, it is better to slide objects if possible rather than lifting them.
Finger fitness is important if chemotherapy has caused weakness. Special exercises can help you to maintain or improve the dexterity and strength in your hands.
9) Short rest breaks of 5-10 minutes during every 30-40 minutes of task can help to conserve energy for more enjoyable activities.
10) Velcro is one of the greatest inventions. Find shoes that use Velcro is unable to tie shoelaces.

Naomi Aaronson is an occupational therapist and fitness instructor who specializes in breast cancer recovery and rehabilitation. Naomi believes that exercise is essential in recovery. Her mission statement includes the following, “take back your body and improve your physical and emotional health.” Visit Naomi’s web site at recovercisesforwellness.com recovercisesforwellness.com to learn more!

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Tags: breast cancer, cancer treatment, chemotherapy