Causes of Melanoma

Most UV radiation is from the sun, but there are other common sources of UV radiation. The most common source of UV radiation (aside from the sun) is a tanning bed. Be careful when using a tanning bed – don’t overdo it!

Most UV exposure that leads to skin cancer occurred to people in their childhood or young adult years. Children and young adults usually get a lot of intense sun exposure when they are young, but the resultant cancer may not show up for years or decades!

If you have family members who had (or have) melanoma, then you are in a higher risk category. Also, if you had a bad sunburn in your childhood, then you are in an creased risk category.

Although most skin moles never turn into a melanoma… there are still some that do. That is why its so important to detect changes in your skin and report them to your doctor immediately. We still don’t know why some moles turn into cancerous melanoma. We also don’t know why having lots of moles on your skin or having atypical moles increases your risk of getting melanoma.

Who Usually Gets Melanoma?

Anyone can get melanoma. If you have skin, you have a chance of getting melanoma! But there are people who have a higher risk of getting melanoma than others.

People who have lots of moles, irregular moles or large moles are at a higher risk. People with close blood relatives that have had melanoma, or who have previously had melanoma themselves are at a higher risk. Frequent sun exposure, fair skin, or inheriting a gene mutation (or any combination of these) can put a person in a higher risk category.

Talk to your doctor if you have a history of melanoma in your close blood relatives, to determine if you should have a skin exam to determine your risk factors.

Others who commonly develop melanoma are those that have fair skin and they get sunburns or freckles easily. Also those who have naturally red or blonde hair are at an elevated risk. Those who had severe sunburns as a child or young adult, or any type of cancerous or pre-cancerous spot on their skin at any age are also at an elevated risk.

No one is immune to getting melanoma. Even people with dark complexions who don’t sunburn easily can still develop melanoma! Anyone can get it!

Places that have intense year-round sunshine are more likely to have people with melanoma. Think about Florida and southern California. Also, just like with most other cancers, the older you get, the higher your risk for developing melanoma.

Doctors used to believe that dark complexion people with brown or black skin were immune from getting melanoma. That is not true. Anyone can develop melanoma. When dark complexion people get melanoma it is usually on their palms or soles of their feet or under their nails.

Summary

Anyone can develop melanoma. There are certain risk factors for getting this type of skin cancer. Although it is not completely preventable, early detection is very easy. Of course, the earlier you can detect a cancer, the better the survival rates.

Jonathan is a professional educator in the healthcare field with over 15 years of experience. You can visit his latest website which helps people find best-selling pool tables for sale for their needs, where you can learn about Bumper Pool Tables.

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All cancers involve the malfunction of genes that control cell growth and division. Every cell in the body has a program that tells it what to do, called the DNA or the genetic code.

If the cell DNA code gets changed a bit by hormonal imbalance, chemicals, or free radicals, mutations occur. The cells with mutated DNA no longer look like the original cells we were born with. Also, mutations accumulate with age, that’s why about 78% of all cancers are diagnosed in persons 55 years and older.

About 5% of all cancers are strongly hereditary. However, most cancers do not result from inherited genes but from damage to genes occurring during one’s lifetime.

We all have a few cancer cells in our bodies, which are normally suppressed by our immune system. We need about a billion cancer cells to get to the lump or bump stage, which means a tumor takes years to develop.

Cancer is, by and large, a man-made disease. There is a lot you can do now to significantly reduce that risk. Be aware of the multiple factors that can bring on this disease as well as the many nutritional interventions that can reduce your cancer risk.

Factors That Can Cause Cancer

1. Constant Emotional Stress

Negative emotions are the most powerful aspect of creating illness. Even the CDC (Center for Disease and Prevention) states that 85% of disease is caused by emotions. If you are constantly stressed or harboring angry, fearful, worrying, cynical, depressed or pessimistic emotions, the body can generate free radicals that promote DNA damage.

Look closely at your life and identify anything that is out of balance. If you have a hard time addressing and resolving it yourself, seek professional help (such as a life coach or therapist).
Are you always looking at a glass half empty? Changing your attitude from negative to positive can influence a situation and emotional outcome.
Learn to honor your feelings and be truthful to yourself instead of suppressing them by saying things like “I’m just fine”. People who are capable of releasing their emotions alleviate tension in the body and are generally happier.
Having a support system along with healthy outlets for stress (such as exercise or playing a musical instrument) are ever so important for emotional wellness.
Live your life with purpose, passion, and gratitude.

2. Toxins Accumulating In The Body

In modern days, we are continually exposed to numerous environmental and dietary toxins. Once these toxins enter the body, they tend to accumulate (especially in the fat cells) and produce enormous amounts of free radicals which in due course, damage the DNA. Hence, it is crucial to recognize and avoid them in the first place.

Environmental toxins:

Use of tobacco products and exposure to secondhand smoke
Air pollution
Excessive sun exposure
Toxic chemicals in household cleaners, air fresheners, bug sprays, soaps, personal hygiene products, and cosmetics.
Radiation exposure from diagnostic exams such as CT scans, X-rays, and mammography. Try to minimize having such exams or if you can afford it, opt for MRI. A much cheaper and effective alternative is thermography, which detects precancerous and cancerous tissues that are hot in contrast to benign lesions that are cool. Unfortunately, most insurance policies still don’t cover it yet.
Electromagnetic radiation from cell phones and cordless phones. Two recently released long-term studies found that radiation from cell phones substantially increase the risk of salivary gland and brain tumors. For this reason, it is safest to use the speaker, wired headsets, followed by bluetooth headsets (lower radiation than cell phones). Try not to hold wireless phones directly to the ear.

Dietary toxins:

Pesticides and herbicides in conventionally grown produce
Antibiotics and hormones in factory-farmed meats and farmed fish. If possible, choose organic, grass-fed meats (second best is organic meats) and wild-caught fish from pristine, cold water. Fish caught from clean waters are void of mercury which is a toxin to the brain.
Genetically modified foods (GMO) such as canola oil and soy products
Preservatives and additives in processed foods
Nitrates and nitrites in processed and smoked meats
MSG
Oxidized or rancid fat from refined polyunsaturated oils made from soy, cottonseed, corn, sunflower, and safflower. These oils are high in omega-6 fats and promote inflammation in the body. They are often found in processed foods, fast foods, and restaurant foods.
Carcinogens from charred or burned meats. Avoid frying or charbroiling. Instead, boil, poach, steam, or roast at 300 degrees F or below.
Artificial sweeteners
Toxic gases released from Teflon and other nonstick cookwares
Harmful chemicals from plastic water bottles leaching out and contaminating the water. If you leave the bottle in a hot car or reuse it, the exposure is magnified.

3. Extra Pounds

It is crucial to maintain a healthy weight throughout life. Two-thirds of the Americans are either overweight or obese. Extra pounds raise the risk of many cancers, including breast, colon, esophageal, kidney, pancreatic, and uterine. If you need help and support in losing weight healthily, contact me for a complimentary phone consultation regarding the Metabolic Typing Nutrition Program.

4. Hormonal Imbalance

We all have cancer-protective genes in our bodies, they are like light switches. Sadly, when we age, these switches get turned off as our hormonal production declines. Of course, by not managing stress, eating badly, and consuming and living with chemicals, we put even more stress on our entire hormonal system.

To reinstate these cancer-protective genes, we need to live and eat better and restore the hormones to proper balance. When you replace your hormones, it is critical that you use bio-identical hormones that are exactly the same as those produced by the body, not the synthetic hormones manufactured by drug companies as they have been shown to cause cancer. Please consult a healthcare professional who is familiar with bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

Below are some hormones that have a direct effect on cancer growth:

DHEA is a key hormone that decreases the quantity of an important enzyme involved in the pathway that feeds energy to cancer cells. By keeping DHEA at the right level, this pathway becomes less active. People who are constantly stressed and have fatigued adrenals have lower DHEA levels, which means they are more prone to stimulating the growth of cancer cells.
Estriol by itself is a weak estrogen. But in the presence of other estrogens such as estradiol or estrone, it becomes an anti-carcinogen and is cancer-protective. As we age, the body makes less estriol, supplementing with proper amounts can reduce cancer risk.
It is crucial to have the right balance of 2-hydroxyestrogen and 16 alpha-hydroxyestrogen, both are estrogen metabolites (by-products of estrogen in urine). If there is more 2 than 16, breast cancer risk is lower. If it is the other way round, more 16 than 2, the risk is higher. This 2/16 ratio is the single greatest factor impacting estrogen-sensitive cancer risk and is also totally modifiable through dietary interventions (see below).
2-methoxyestradiol (another estrogen metabolite) is a very potent anticancer hormone that the body manufactures. It also inhibits the growth of fibroid cells in the uterus.

5. Excessive Alcohol Intake

Studies show that women who drink more than 2 drinks a day significantly increase their free iron (iron not bound to protein) concentrations in breast tissue. Free iron triggers intense inflammation and free radical generation.

However, one’s iron intake does not correlate with risk of breast cancer. It is high alcohol intake and excessive estrogen that lead to a higher incidence of invasive breast cancer.

6. Too Much Or Too Little Exercise

Exercise is crucial as it increases oxygen supply to the cells. Normal, healthy cells require sufficient oxygen to function well, whereas, cancer cells can only multiply and flourish in an anaerobic (no oxygen) environment. What’s more, when you sweat, it carries away a lot of toxins accumulated in the body, especially the toxins in the fat cells.

Having said that, too much exercise is not beneficial either as the body becomes constantly stressed, producing a vast amount of free radicals that can eventually lead to DNA damage.

Diet That Reduces Cancer Risk

Limit sugar intake as cancer cells ferment sugar to create energy to grow and spread. Sugar also produces excess insulin which acts as a second stimulant for cell growth, cell division, and ultimately multiplication of cancer cells. Therefore, pay attention to how much sugar and refined carbs (which acts like sugar) you consume at one time as increased blood glucose level means more insulin in the body.
Vitamin D3 (from sun and/or supplements) is the most powerful vitamin in preventing new cancer and inhibiting established cancers by stimulating and strengthening the immune system. When you increase your D3, make sure the body has adequate vitamin K as they work together as a team. Good dietary sources of K are green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, collard greens, swiss chard, turnip greens, mustard greens, brussels sprouts, and broccoli.
Brassica vegetables boost the body’s level of 2-hydroxyestrogen in reducing breast cancer risk. Eat 3 or more servings a week of broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, collard greens, Kohlirabi, rutabaga, turnips, bok choy and mustard greens. You can also get the benefits of these vegetables in a supplement called indole-3-carbinol.
More omega-3 fats and less omega-6 fats as their ratio influences the rate of cell proliferation through hormones called prostaglandins. Omega-3 fats reduce inflammation while omega-6 fats increase it. Good sources of 3s are fish caught in pristine, cold waters and grass-fed meats. Unfortunately, most cows in the U.S. are corn-fed, so their meat and dairy products are much higher in omega-6 fats instead.
Eat a large variety of vegetables and fruits to get a balanced dose of different antioxidants which protect against the free radicals. Do not over focus on just one particular antioxidant.
Natural folic acid from green leafy vegetables are far superior in boosting the body’s natural defenses against cancer than the synthetic folic acid in fortified refined flour products. In addition, make sure you have enough vitamin B12 as it works with folate to protect DNA from damage. Vitamin B12 is not found in plant foods but only in animal products, including calf’s liver, meats, poultry, shellfish, fish, and dairy products.
Drink enough clean, filtered water every day as it keeps the lymphatic system clean and helps the body detox. For an average person, drink 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses a day.
Have adequate protein at every meal and snack throughout the day, which will help the liver eliminate toxins through the bile and stool. Protein also helps to maintain an even blood sugar level.
Increase fiber (soluble and insoluble) intake to reduce the risk of colon, breast, and prostate cancer. Aim for 40-50 grams a day which is more than double what an average American eats every day.
Lastly, there is also compelling anticancer evidence for resveratrol (in red wine but only drink in moderation), curcumin (in turmeric), green tea, grape seed extract, pomegranate extract, quercetin (in onions, apples, and grapes), Conjugated Linoleic Acid (in grass-fed meats and its dairy), luteolin (in celery, green pepper, carrots, olive oil, thyme, rosemary, and oregano), and ginger.

The Bottom Line

To reduce your cancer risk,

Avoid:

constant emotional stress,
accumulation of toxins (environmental and dietary) in the body,
extra pounds,
hormonal imbalance,
excessive alcohol intake, and
too much or too little exercise.
Do:
limit sugar intake,
make sure you have enough vitamin D3,
eat more Brassica vegetables,
have more omega-3 fats and less omega-6 fats,
eat a large variety of vegetables and fruits,
drink enough clean, filtered water, and
have adequate protein and fiber.

Carol Chuang is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and a Metabolic Typing Advisor. She has a Masters degree in Nutrition and is the founder of CC Health Counseling, LLC. Her passion in life is to stay healthy and to help others become healthy. She believes that a key ingredient to optimal health is to eat a diet that is right for one’s specific body type. Eating organic or eating healthy is not enough to guarantee good health. The truth is that there is no one diet that is right for everyone. Our metabolisms are different, so should our diets. Carol specializes in Metabolic Typing, helping her clients find the right diet for their Metabolic Type. To learn more about Metabolic Typing, her nutrition counseling practice, and how to get a complimentary phone consultation, please go to http://cchealthcounseling.com/

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Although it is much less common than either basal cell and squamous cell cancers, it is still remains the cause of the greatest number of skin cancer-related deaths.

Over exposure to the ultraviolet radiation of the sun can have very damaging effects on the DNA in the skin cells. Once the DNA becomes damaged, there is a greater incidence of cancerous changes that will develop in the affected cells.

Moles start out as benign tumors, composed of melanocytes and these can become cancerous.

The critical points to look for are changes in the size or shape:

1. Has the mole developed an irregular edge?
2. Is the mole getting darker or showing multiple shades?
3. Is there any presence of inflammation, itching or bleeding?
4. Is there any growth of a crusty surface?

If you notice any of the signs or multiple signs, you need to see a physician immediately. Any individual who has numerous abnormal moles is more likely to develop melanoma.

Individuals who have fair skin, especially with red hair, are also at a higher risk. If your skin is highly freckled, you are also at a greater risk for the disease. People who have darker skin pigmentation, have greater natural protection.

If there is a family history of malignant melanoma, especially a mother, father, brother or sister, this factor significantly increases the risk. Statistically, individuals who have a primary relative diagnosed with melanoma, will develop it themselves.

The best preventative measures are careful monitoring for any changes in your skin, minimizing your exposure to the sun during the hours of 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun and when you go swimming, you must use some type of sunscreen.

Melanoma must be diagnosed at the earliest stages, so they treatment can be initiated. If it is NOT diagnosed early and treated, it can easily spread to other parts of the body and be fatal.

Mickey Lieberman is a Computer Consultant with over 30 years of experience working with both IBM mainframes, in various capacities and PC’s. My skin cancer was diagnosed early and surgically removed.

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According to the American Gastroenterological Association has published a position statement and guidelines on genetic testing for hereditary colon cancer. The integration of genetic testing into clinical practice provides multiple benefits to individuals in families with histories of colorectal cancer. These benefits include earlier detection of colorectal neoplasms and prevention of cancer, removal of patient doubt, greater choice of surgical and other intervention options, elimination of unnecessary screening, and provision of information for planning family and career decisions. In hereditary colon cancer, genetic testing has been shown to be cost-effective.

Testing for occult blood in the stool is a proven cost-effective solution for reducing colon cancer mortality. However, this method has limited sensitivity because distinct early stage tumors do not bleed, and many cases of false positive impact because trace amounts of blood may be present without the source being polyps or cancer. More direct methods of testing for tumor cells through mutant DNA shed in stool are now being developed. These methods test for mutations in the APC gene and other genes that trigger colon tumors and nonapoptotic human DNA that is a general feature of cancer.

Inside the gut, pathological consequence of chronic inflammation include epithelial ulceration, villus atrophy, crypt hypertrophy, crypt abscesses, granuloma formation and fibrosis. Ample evidence exists implicating the involvement of events of both immune and non immune origin. With the distinctive exception of celiac disease, where the instigating antigen is wheat gluten, the initiating events or antigen for most severe gastrointestinal infection remains to be colorectal cancer screening is recommended at more regular intervals and beginning at a younger age for those at higher risk due to hereditary syndromes. The germline mutations are present in every cell, it is important to be aware of the increased risk for extra colonic tumors in these syndromes, but each has a different spectrum of risk in other organs.

Inflammation deep inside the gut possibly develop as an effect of interactions between somatic intestinal cells, such as fibroblasts, and effector cells of the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. These interactions are mediated by both soluble factors and cell-to-cell contact. Agonizing inflammation is either resolved or develops into chronic inflammatory reactions, which can trigger in fibrosis and loss of function. Unless it is already too late cleansing colon or colon cleanse are solutions that can prolong the overall health of the colon.

In conclusion, the colon is the sewage system in the body, maintaining its optimum health is very crucial to longevity of a person’s lifespan. Colorectal cleansing can bring many benefits such as ensuring the absorption of consumed nutrients is operating at prime level. Without cleansing colon, the walls of the colon are covered by harmful & non-beneficial fecal matter that been entrapped for months & years. That concludes to lower colorectal efficiency in absorbing the required nutrients for the body needs. Colon health should not be ignored & it’s often not a high priority in general society perhaps due to lack of awareness. Prevention is ultimately better than a cure; ensure your colorectal is in a healthy condition by considering colon detox .

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