Cancer Resources

According to the Mayo Clinic, all three types of skin cancer are on the rise. These include squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and the most serious form – melanoma. The good news is that almost all forms are preventable by avoiding sun exposure or other forms for ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It is also true that early detection can result in successful treatment of even the most aggressive types of skin cancers.

So what exactly causes skin cancer?

Cancerous cells are most likely to form on parts of your body that have the most exposure to sun. The most vulnerable areas include your face, lips, scalp, chest, neck, arms, hands and women’ s legs. You might be surprised to learn that cell malignant cells can also develop in areas of your body that are rarely (or never) exposed directly to sunlight. These areas include between your toes, under your toenails or fingernails, the palms of your hands, and the genital area. Continue reading ‘Skin Cancer – Facts You Need to Know’ »

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers that affect men. Just like Breast Cancer is a gender specific cancer affecting women, prostrate is limited to men. However, it is not limited in terms of the number of affected people it has as of now. Statistics show that one man out of every six in the United States is affected by Prostate Cancer. The beginnings of this cancer in men bring with it a variety of problems. Men suffer from various kinds of urination problems. There is excessive urination at night, and sometimes the urine is accompanied with blood. There is also pain during urination. Even sexual performance gets affected and there are problems during ejaculation.

While the detection of the cancer with the help of the symptoms during the initial stages is very useful, delay can cause a lot of problem. If the tumour is allowed to spread in the body for a long time, men can suffer from permanent bone pain in the pelvic area and the spine. The entire lymphatic system too gets damaged and can have severe effects. Therefore, the first and the foremost thing to be kept in mind for prostate cancer is to combat it as early as possible. Continue reading ‘Looking For the Best Treatment Options For Prostate Cancer?’ »

When ovarian cancer patients undergo chemotherapy, nausea and vomiting are the most commonly made complaints. Even as the delivery methods of the chemotherapy drugs may vary, by and large nausea is the universally experienced side effect, closely followed by vomiting. What makes this side effect so miserable for patients is the fact that even on an empty stomach the feelings do not subside, and more than one chemotherapy patient may find herself dry heaving repeatedly during and after her chemotherapy treatment.

Since ovarian cancer treatment quite frequently includes chemotherapy, patients and their physicians have been working hard to figure out ways around this side effect.

* On the day of your chemotherapy, physicians recommend that you have an easy to digest breakfast. Dry toast, Jell-o, saltines, or slices of white bread are recommended. Stay away from eggs and anything else that may be considered a full breakfast. Especially of note is that you should avoid anything with a heightened acidity, such as grapefruit or orange juice.
* Bring along some plain crackers and a bottle of water. Listen to your body and its signals! You may be surprised to find that you are craving food in the midst of chemotherapy. Eat one cracker and see how you feel.
* Once you arrive at home, plan on avoiding the smells of spicy foods. In the same way, avoid the smell of drinks as well. Some ovarian cancer patients have reported that the smell of their children’s hot chocolate or their husband’s coffee suddenly brought on a wave of nausea. To this end it is best to spend the first 24 hour period after chemotherapy without strong scents and odors. Continue reading ‘Dealing With Nausea and Vomiting When Undergoing Chemotherapy For Ovarian Cancer’ »

The question often asked these days is whether asbestos is still a hazard to people. As many ads as we see on TV talking about Mesothelioma, one would think that asbestos is still a real threat to our home air quality. Research seems to indicate it is not.

Asbestos was used in many building materials in the 19th century because is was found to have some great properties. It actually is a naturally occurring silicate mineral. It has long fibrous crystals and can withstand very high heat.. It is the long fibrous crystals that cause the problems in our lungs. Asbestos was used in buildings in the US through the 1970s. It was used to fireproof roofing and flooring, for heat insulation, and for a host of other purposes. Continue reading ‘Asbestos and Home Air Quality’ »

Acute myelogenous leukemia is the most common leukemia and is a fast growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Blood cells in the body are made up of platelets known as white and red blood cells. Those who have AML don’t have enough white or red blood cells and instead posses abnormal cells that grow quickly as the illness progresses.

AML is not genetic nor is it infectious however it is mostly caused by being exposed to benzene.

What is Benzene?

Benzene is an organic chemical compound. Benzene is used in production of oil, rubber, dyes and plastic. Benzene is commonly used as an additive in other chemicals. There are small amounts of benzene used in manufacturing processes for instance, detergents, pesticides and drugs. Continue reading ‘Acute Myelogenous Leukemia – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment’ »

When it comes to reducing your risk of developing colon cancer, there is a lot of good news. This is a type of cancer that usually develops slowly, which means that there is time to take steps to prevent it or at least to detect it before it becomes serious.

One of the best ways to prevent colon cancer is through a healthy diet.

Eat more vegetable and fruits

If you eat three or more servings of vegetables a day, you can lower you risk of developing colon cancer. It is not clear why, but it appears that the folic acid in vegetables helps keep ceels healthy. Generally speaking, a serving is about half a cup of chopped vegetables or a cup of leafy greens.

Fruits and veggies supply a variety of essential vitamins and minerals, and also contain cancer-fighting substances known as phytochemicals.

After convening an expert panel that reviewed hundreds of epidemiological studies on dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, the American Institute of Cancer Research found overwhelming evidence that fruit and vegetable consumption reduces the risk of cancer. Continue reading ‘6 Steps to Beating Colon Cancer’ »

Researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia have discovered that the HPV vaccine may be effective in preventing breast cancer, which affects over a million women a year worldwide.

In a new article published in the British Journal of Cancer, the experts reveal that they conducted studies of breast cells and found that there were several strains of HPV present which are known to have a high risk of initiating cancer of the cervix.

A team from UNSW School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, led by visiting professor James Lawson, declared that there was a presence of high-risk HPV in the nuclei of breast cancer epithelial cells in 21 per cent of 14 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) breast cancer specimens. Continue reading ‘Cervical Cancer Vaccine May Stop Breast Cancer’ »

People use mouthwash to reduce tendencies of bad breath. Moreover, mouthwash has some properties which kill known bacteria residing in the mouth. It is one effective way to rinse the mouth and therefore, it promotes good oral hygiene. Twenty five percent of the Americans have halitosis, a chronic bad breath. About seventy percent suffers from periodontal disease which includes periodontitis and gingivitis. Therefore majority of the population found the release of mouthwash in the market very helpful. Aside from the mouthwash’s chief task to cleanse the mouth off any accumulating bacteria, it helps with their social activities. There are times bad breath tends to stop people from talking to others. But with the help of mouthwash, people tend to be more confident while interacting with others.

Mouthwash ingredients include thymol, eucalyptol, hexetidine, methyl salicylate, menthol, chlorhexedine gluconate, benzalkolnium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, methylparaben, hydrogen peroxide, domiphen bromide, fluoride, enzymes and calcium. There are also water sweeteners such as sorbitol, sucralose, sodium saccharine and xylitol. Some mouthwash has alcohol which takes up to 27% vol. The alcohol content gives an antibacterial effect. According to research, alcohol causes mouth to be dry. It also aggravates the condition of chronic bad breath. It decreases saliva, which naturally makes breath fresh.

A researcher from the Dental Journal of Australia published a report linking mouthwash to oral cancer. It concludes that there is enough proof that alcohol-based mouthwash increases the chance of having an oral cancer. Alcohol based mouthwash has acetaldehyde as its by-product. As Acetaldehyde is produced, it builds up in the oral cavity. The researcher believes it is carcinogenic, thus causing cancer. Continue reading ‘Mouthwash May Lead to Oral Cancer’ »

Skin cancer is on a definite rise amongst people all over the world and this is becoming a major cause for concern for those who’re constantly under the glare of the sun. Skin cancer is known to be caused by overexposure to UV radiation which can be direct or indirect. This is particularly harmful for those whose jobs or work entail traveling or those who’re always on the move.

The sun’s rays can be harmful but it is next to impossible to ensure complete isolation from it because then one would have to stay cooped up indoors all the time and that is not what one can afford in these times. The best way is to ensure that the UV rays are prevented from harming your skin. As is usually believed, skin cancer does not always have symptoms like sunburns which means that you could have already been inflicted by the disease and in the first few stages you will be completely unaware of it. Shocking and terrifying, isn’t it? Well you don’t have to go sick with worry because we have a few tips to ensure that you’re well protected from the glare of the sun. Continue reading ‘Sun Protection For Yard Work’ »

I wonder why some doctors seem to pronounce the dreaded “you have cancer” on victims of the condition with some degree of “finality” as if that’s the end of the road for them. While certainly most will disagree that doctors seem to enjoy it, who knows – they just might. But whether they enjoy pronouncing it or not, you shouldn’t let the pronouncement be the end of the world for you.

This is because everything the doctors say can’t be guaranteed. If they say you are going to live for only 2 more years, there’s no guarantee of that. They are only supposing. So, don’t let their pronouncement make you lose all hopes of life. If you still have any bit of life in you, then you can still do all you can to fight the condition to a standstill and – wait for it – WIN!

Yes, you read that right. There are lots of prostate cancer survivors and conquerors out there who have successfully defeated the condition. The point is – if they could, you CAN as well. All you have to do is find out what they did to survive the cancer and do the exact same things. You just might get the same results. Don’t just sit alone and wait for death. Stand up and FIGHT and you will be surprised at the results you will get! Continue reading ‘You Have Prostate Cancer, Yes, But That is NOT the End of the World’ »