Category Archives: Cancer Information

Skin Cancer Awareness: Get the Facts on Melanoma

Posted on
by
Our skin is very important, but did you know that it is also the body’s largest organ? Our skin helps to protect us from outside injury and infections, and it helps to regulate the temperature of the body at the same time. This organ simultaneously works to produce vitamin D and store excess water and fat for the body. Unfortunately, skin cancer has become all too common in the world today, but do you know which type is the most serious? The Most Deadly Type of Skin Cancer While it is the least common form of skin cancer, melanoma… is

How Much Do You Know About Skin Cancer?

Posted on
by
The widespread effect of cancer is something that has affected the lives of most people on earth in some way or another. It is a disease of the cells, and there are a wide variety of cells that comprise the human body. However, the one thing that all forms of cancer have in common is that they are caused by cells which have become abnormal and are multiplying out of control. At this time, the most common form of cancer on earth is skin cancer…. Each year, there are more than one million Americans who are diagnosed with

Cancer Screening Guidelines

Posted on
by
Let’s face it, visiting the doctor’s office is not an activity that many people rank as one of their favorite things to do. So when it comes to getting screened for cancer, most people feel quite uncomfortable as their doctors poke or prod them and perform other tests. This is an understandable anxiety, but as advocates of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month… have tried to convey, many of these cancer-related deaths could be prevented through routine screenings and early detection. In the end, wouldn’t you say that undergoing these somewhat uncomfortable screening tests would be worth it if they can

The Status of Cancer in 2013

Posted on
by
According to the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, one can easily see that we have been making progress in the treatment of certain tumors. Unfortunately, further analysis of this report also shows that the rates of human papillomavirus-related cancers are still quite high. Overall things are definitely looking better, as there are now lower cancer rates among both genders, and across all racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. for the most common forms of cancer… (including prostate, breast, colon, and lung cancer). On the other hand, the rates of HPV-related cancers, which

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on
by
Since its introduction in the late 1940’s, the Papanicolaou (Pap) test has been used as an early detection tool for cervical cancer or lesions on the cervix that could eventually become cancerous. This diagnostic test has indeed helped to significantly reduce the number of cervical cancer deaths amongst women in the United States, reducing the rate by more than 70 percent since it was introduced. Despite these advances in early detection for cervical cancer, there was an estimated 12,170 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in 2012…, and about 4,220 of these women will eventually succumb to their disease. The

It’s Not A Tumor!! Or is it?

Posted on
by
So, What is a Tumor? If you are a fan of the daily horoscope in the newspaper, then you probably already know that the word “cancer” was derived from the Latin word for “crab”. This seems strangely appropriate, seeing as cancer, like a crab, grabs onto a person and doesn’t let them go easily. Medically, the term “cancer” is used to describe a new type of growth which has the ability to invade the surrounding tissues. If the cancer does metastasize, it can spread to the other organs in the patient’s body, eventually killing them if left untreated. Early detection…

Breaking Down the Various Forms of Skin Cancer

Posted on
by
I am sure that you are already aware that spending countless hours in the sun without any protection can greatly increase your risk of skin cancer. However, were you aware that this is the most common form of cancer in humans…? In fact, every year there are estimated to be at least 1 million new cases of skin cancer. The medical community has expressed concern over this issue, since the annual rates of all forms of skin cancer have been on the rise in recent years. Unless some changes are made, nearly half of all Americans who make it

The Top 5 Cancers Affecting Women

Posted on
by
Unfortunately, the numbers show that more and more women are being diagnosed with cancer every year. The higher rates of cancer have become a major concern for medical science, but there are many factors which can increase a person’s risk of cancer…. In many cases, a cancer diagnosis is connected with the patient’s family medical history. While our family history is something that we cannot control, there are a number of environmental and lifestyle factors which we can. Lifestyle choices like your diet, activity level, or smoking can have a significant impact on your overall risk of cancer. The

Skin Cancer Overview: 5 Types of Melanoma You Should Be Aware Of

Posted on
by
Melanoma is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that is usually found on the skin but can also manifest in the eyes, ears, gastrointestinal tract, leptomeninges and mucous membranes. It is one of three main types of skin cancer; the other two being squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma…. Melanoma accounts for about 4% of skin cancer cases and about 79% of skin cancer deaths. With early detection and treatment, the five-year survival rate is over 99%. If melanoma spreads to the local lymph nodes, the five-year relative survival rate drops to 62% percent, but about 84% of melanoma

The Benefits & Drawbacks of Cancer Insurance

Posted on
by
We all have insurance for something, health insurance, life insurance, homeowner’s insurance, auto insurance; the list goes on. A growing number of Americans are now getting cancer insurance. Should someone be diagnosed with cancer, the insurance policy will fill those gaps left by many health insurance plans (even for obscure cancer’s like nodular melanoma or linitis plastica…) For example, the majority of health insurance policies only cover medical expenses (e.g. surgery, hospital bills, medicine); cancer insurance helps pay for medical expenses not covered and non-medical expenses such as child-care, transportation, lost wages and amplified costs of living. Even

The Effect of Free Radicals & Antioxidants on Your Body

Posted on
by
Free radicals don’t just cause wrinkles and aging; they damage immune function and cause cell mutations. According to some researchers, free radicals are behind almost every known disease…, including alzheimer’s, cancer, parkinson’s and heart disease. Free radicals form incessantly and rapidly in the human body. Free radicals develop as follows. Cells are made up of atoms, and each atom is made up of a nucleus surrounded by a cloud of electron pairs. A “stable” molecule is one in which every atom has paired electrons, whereas a “free” radical is one carrying an electron in desperate search of a mate.

Ovarian Cancer: Signs, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Risk Factors for this too-Often Undetectable Disease

Posted on
by
Ovarian cancer occurs when cancerous, abnormal cells spread on the ovaries, killing off healthy cells. Did you know Ovarian Cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer? A major cause of this cancer’s high fatality rate is the difficulty in detecting it. However, If ovarian cancer is found in its early stages, women have a 93% survival rate! Ovarian Cancer Signs & Symptoms The signs of ovarian cancer… are extremely subtle and difficult to diagnose:Bloating Pelvic or Abdominal pain Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly Urinary urgency or frequency Nausea, indigestion, gas, constipation or diarrhea Extreme fatigue Shortness

Cancer Education Overview: Oncology, Cancer Types, Tumors, Treatment & Tests

Posted on
by
Chances are that you or people you know and care about have been affected by cancer. When cancer strikes, you may be bombarded with terms that you have never heard of before. We are here to help you learn the basics of cancer to help you feel more prepared. The “Education” section of Know Cancer is segmented into the following categories to help you navigate this broad landscape. Cancer Types Did you know there are over 200 different types of cancer…? Each of those 200 types of cancer is very unique. When someone has cancer, it is identified by