Skin cancer can be a very scary thing, especially if you know anyone who has had serious problems with it. Unnoticed, skin cancer can be deadly but the truth is that skin cancer is one of the easier forms of cancer to conquer when you spot it in time. If you pay attention and do regular self examinations, you can avoid serious complications. When you notice skin cancer in its initial stages, you have a good chance that it can be removed and you will be free and clear quickly. Of course, your self examinations should be in addition to an annual doctors exam; doctors trained eyes often spot skin cancer even quicker than you do.

Most of the marks that you see on your skin are normal occurrences but you will need to know the differences in order to conduct regular self checks. If you have 100 or more moles, you should be sure to do regular self examinations (paying careful attention to any changes in your moles) as you are more at risk for skin cancer. The following things are normal:

Symmetric marks; this means that you could put a line through the middle of the dark spot and it is the same on both sides of the line.
Smooth border; this means that the edges around the dark spot are smooth, usually fairly crisp.
Solid Color; normal markings do not have a variety of color in one marking.
Size; normal markings are usually no larger than ¼ inch in diameter.
Changes; normal markings do not grow and change shape or height.
Itching, bleeding, or other discharge; normal markings do not normally have these symptoms.

Now that you know what is normal, you can do self examinations. If you have markings that do not meet the above requirements, you need to see your doctor. He will be able to determine whether the marking (s) are normal or cancerous.

Checking yourself for early signs of skin cancer is not very difficult. All you will need is a well lit room that has a full-length mirror in it, a couple of chairs (or anything that you can sit on), a hand mirror, and a blow dryer.

First examine the front of your head, the back of your head, your ears, and your face. When examining your head, you will probably need to use the blow dryer to be able to see your scalp well. When checking the backs of your ears and the back of your head, you will need to use both mirrors.

Second, check both the front and back of your neck. Be sure to look at the underside of your jaw.

Third, check your shoulders (front), chest and stomach. Women should check beneath the breasts.

Fourth, check the front of your arms and legs, your hands, and the top of your feet.

Fifth, check your back, and the back of these body parts: shoulders, arms, buttocks and legs.

Sixth, (you will need to sit down), check the rest of your feet (use the hand mirror to see sides and soles).

Seventh, still seated, prop your feet on the second chair and use the hand mirror to examine your genitals.

By keeping an eye on your own skin, you will be able to spot changes more quickly than anyone. If you have moles, you need to get to known them very well as changes in them are warning signs. Remember that, caught early, skin cancer is almost always able to be cured. Do your regular self examinations and visit your doctor yearly to protect yourself.

Louise Forrest has created the ultimate FREE Health & Beauty guide. Find out how you can gain access to FREE skin care articles, tips and techniques at NaturalElements.co.uk NaturalElements.co.uk
Learn more about naturalelements.co.uk/skin-cancer-index/ skin cancer at NaturalElements.co.uk NaturalElements.co.uk

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For the millions of men who encounter prostate problems each year and, in particular those who are diagnosed with prostate cancer, we have picked out ten of the most frequently asked questions about the prostate and prostate cancer.

Question 1. What is the prostate gland?

The prostate gland, which when healthy is about the size of a walnut, lies between the rectum and the bladder and forms part of the male reproductive system, making and storing a fluid contained within semen. The prostate gland partially surrounds the urethra and, when it becomes enlarged, it can slow or even stop the flow of urine.

Question 2. What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is the second commonest form of cancer in the United States today. In 2006 approximately 235,000 men in the US were diagnosed with prostate cancer and some 27,000 men died of the disease. In most cases prostate cancer appears relatively late in life and is slow growing and, for this reason, many men with prostate cancer die from other unrelated causes.

Question 3. Who is at risk of contracting prostate cancer?

The simple answer is that all men are at risk of contracting prostate cancer. This said, prostate cancer is age related and so it is more likely to appear the older you get. In addition, prostate cancer is more likely to appear in men with a family history of the disease and in black men. There are also quite marked differences seen between countries with the United States having the highest incidence and Japan the lowest. While these differences are not entirely understood it is believed that diet may play an important role.

Question 4. What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

It is possible to suffer from prostate cancer for many years without displaying any symptoms at all. However when symptoms do appear they are likely to include the need for frequent urination (particularly during the night), difficulty in urinating, a weak flow or urine which tends to stop and start, pain when urinating, blood in the urine or semen, painful ejaculation and frequent pain in the lower back as well as in the hips or upper part of the thighs.

It is important to note that while these can indicate the presence of prostate cancer they can also be symptomatic of a number of other conditions and you should check with your doctor and not simply assume that because you are experiencing these symptoms that you have prostate cancer.

Question 5. What other conditions are associated with prostate cancer symptoms?

It is very common in older men for the prostate gland to enlarge placing pressure on both the bladder and the urethra and interfering with both the flow of urine and with sexual function. This condition is not cancer but is a benign condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH.

In addition, symptoms similar to those seen in prostate cancer can also be experienced as the result of a prostate infection known as prostatitis which causes inflammation of the prostate.

Question 6. Is it possible to screen for prostate cancer before symptoms appear?

There are currently two commonly performed tests which are carried out to detect the presence of prostate cancer. Although neither test is in itself a definitive test for prostate cancer, both tests can indicate problems developing with the prostate gland and thus indicate the need for more specific testing.

The two tests currently used to detect the possible presence of prostate cancer are the digital rectal exam (DRE), in which a doctor feels the prostate through the rectum to find hard or lumpy areas, and a blood test used to detect a substance made by the prostate called prostate specific antigen (PSA).

Question 7. How reliable are the present screening tests?

Neither the digital rectal exam nor the PSA blood test are perfect and the DRE can easily miss prostate cancers while it is also possible for men with prostate cancer to show normal levels of PSA in the blood.

The two tests used together do produce reasonable results and are certainly better than not screening for the condition at all, but more accurate screening is required and studies are underway to improve screening in the next few years.

Question 8. How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

The only sure way to confirm the presence of prostate cancer is to carry out a prostate biopsy during which a number of small samples of tissue are taken from various parts of the prostate gland for microscopic laboratory examination.

Question 9. How is prostate cancer treated?

Provided the cancer is localized (confined to the prostate gland) there are currently three main forms of treatment available.

The first is simply to watch and wait. This may seem a strange form of treatment but in older patients who may have other serious medical problems it may be best to simply leave prostate cancer untreated as long as it remains confined to the prostate gland.

The second form of treatment is radiation therapy to kill the cancer cells delivered either using traditional radiotherapy techniques on an outpatient basis, or by implanting radioactive seeds into the prostate gland.

Finally, prostate cancer can be treated by simply removing the prostate gland surgically.

Question 10. What is the best treatment for localized prostate cancer?

There are a large number of factors which need to be taken into consideration before deciding upon the treatment that is right for you and the options need to be carefully considered and discussed with both your family and your doctor.

In most cases prostate cancer is slow to develop and there is rarely any need to rush into treatment. Take your time, collect as much information as you can about the disease and the options for treatment and make your decision based upon the information you have, the advice you are given and your own personal feelings on the matter.

ProstateCancerExplained.com provides information on a variety of different prostate gland problems including an prostatecancerexplained.com/enlarged-prostate.html” target=”_blank enlarged prostate gland, prostate symptoms, prostate surgery and finding a prostatecancerexplained.com” target=”_blank prostate cancer cure.

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Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women if the relatively less aggressive skin cancer is excluded from counting. Breast cancer accounts for about 32 percent of all cancer diagnosed in women.

Breast cancer is very uncommon in male. In families carrying the breast cancer associated genes, male members may be affected disproportionately compared to the general population. In the general population female to male breast cancer may occur at a rate of 1 to 100 (1:100 for male: female).

Prior to introduction of mammography screening breast cancer was often diagnosed as a large lump in the breast, because women were not paying attention to the development of breast tumors. Introduction of mammography had significantly changed the natural history breast caner. In industrialized nations like the United States breast caner is most commonly detected on mammography screening. Mammography screening also brought a great sense of awareness to women and this has resulted in earlier detection of breast cancer.

Even if a woman does not get mammography screening, they are very much aware of the risk of development of breast cancer and thus tend to observe and even examine their breasts. Most women do self-breast examination in between mammograms. Because of this increased awareness, women presenting with locally advanced breast cancer are quite rare in the industrialized nations.

In some women breast cancer may have spread to distant organs, before mammography screening or symptoms showed the breast cancer. This can happen because early stage breast cancer does not usually cause any symptoms. If the cancer has spread to other organs these women may present with symptoms related to these organs. For example if the cancer has spread to the bone the woman may develop bone pain or bone fracture.

Diagnosis of breast cancer involves a biopsy procedure. Most often an abnormality in the mammogram leads to a biopsy, many other times, the woman may have felt a lump in the breast or the physician examining the patient may have felt a lump in the breast.

Biopsy is the procedure by which a small part of the breast tissue is removed and examined under the microscope. A typical beast cancer would show classic features of breast cancer. Sometimes the abnormality may be a non-invasive breast cancer or so called carcinoma in situ.

Copyright ©Medicineworld.org 2006

Scott William is the webmaster for medicineworld.org Medicineworld.org a site dedicated to medical information. For more information regardings medicineworld.org/cancer/breast/symptoms.html diagnosis and symptoms of breast cancer please visit authors website.

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Lymphoma is a severe type of cancer which arise from white blood cells called lymphocytes. In addition to this, white blood cells help the body by fighting against bacteria and viruses. Lymphocytes includes two groups of white blood cells: B cells which change in plasma cells and produce antibodies, certain kinds of proteins that attach on infections and destroy them and on the other hand T cells which balance the immune system and fight against viruses and tumor cells. Moreover, B and T cells are travelling through the body, passing through lymph nodes and the spleen in order to find any foreign particles such as viruses and other germs. On the other hand when the B or T cells tend to enlarge too much the lymph nodes become bigger too and they may show a first sign of infection in the body.

Furthermore, when T and B cells divide the lymph nodes enlarge as well. Lymphocytes which make the lymph nodes to enlarge don’t mature normally and in some cases these cells can be associated with genetic mutation. In order to find out the real type of lymphoma by using characteristics of the tumor cells, speacilists have made a classification system, known as REAL classification.

The appereance of the malignant lymphocytes represents the aspect of the cells and tissues under a microscope. Moreover, Phenotype, a type of malignant lymphocytes refers to certain unique “markers” that can be found in the cells and that may be determined through tests. Much more,classifications tests tend to be hard procedures which may take a long period of time until the results are confirmed. It is important to say that the genetic make-up known as “genotype” too refers to the DNA of the malignant lymphoma which in some cases can develop genetic mutations. Lymphoma is usually divided in two important groups: Hodgkin’s disease, which is composed of Reed-Stenberg cells and tends to be less common that Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and much more its chances to be cured are bigger.

Taking all these into consideration, the diagnosis and classification of lymphomas may be hard procedures and even confusing for both patients and doctors due to the complexity of our body system and the way it works.

So, if you want to find out more about lymphoma-center.com/lymphoma-cancer.htm lymphoma cancer or even about lymphoma-center.com/symptoms-of-lymphoma.htm symptoms of lymphoma please visit this link lymphoma-center.com/ lymphoma-center.com/

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