When being treated for a disease as serious as cancer, it is very important to focus on getting adequate nutrition. However, it may be quite difficult for you to adapt a cancer diet that’s both balanced and adequate.

According to a report published by the World Cancer Research Fund in November 2007, foods containing lycopene and selenium probably protect against prostate cancer. Foods containing calcium are a probably cause of prostate cancer.

Here, you need to emphasize on repairing damaged cells due to the side effects caused by cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. Most effective cancer treatments such as chemotherapy tend to give you loads of fatigue and even sap your otherwise healthy appetite.

Hence, it is very important to make sure that you are getting all the adequate nutrients, minerals and vitamins that are required to keep a cancer diet balanced enough to keep you in a healthy state.

Southern Mediterranean diet and Japanese diet are often related to a long and healthy life. These also worked towards reducing the overall risk of Prostate cancer. These diets are rich in green tea, fish, vegetables, tomatoes, fruits, garlic, red wine, olive oil and soy and low in fat and calories. These diets are low in red meat.

Include the following and focus of principles given below when reevaluating daily diet:

• Exercise regularly. Walking is the best exercise you can adopt. Make it a daily habit.

• Restrict your calorie intake. Taking more calories than required would be really bad for cancer growth. You must eat what requires you to get to the next meal. Avoid all type of junk food.

• Make sure you include a variety of items in the meal you take. You must focus on increasing the diversity.

• Supplements should never be replaced with other things in your diet. Nutrients from natural food are always the best.

• Make regular controls by your health care professional; preferably every three months. Be proactive.

• Reduce animal fat in your diet as much as you can. According to several studies, it has been proved that excess amount of fat such as those found in high-fat dairy and red meat tend to stimulate the growth of Prostate cancer.

• Take special care to avoid trans-fatty acids. These are helpful in promoting cancer growth. These foods are rich in margarines, fried as well as baked foods.

• Increase your in-take of fresh fish. The food ingredient is high in alpha omega-3 fatty acids. You must eat cold-water fish ideally such as sardines, trout, salmon and mackerel at least twice or thrice a week. The fish must be baked, grilled or poached.

• Increase your intake of herbs, fresh fruits and vegetables. Include leafy green vegetables, seeds, nuts, fresh herbs, berries, colorful veggies and fruits in your diet.

For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about PROSTATE CANCER please visit PROSTATE INSIGHTS

Comments (0) Posted by admin on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007


What does a head wrap mean to you?

To Kelly, it meant more than Ben Affleck and Jennifer Gardner’s newly purchased property for $16 million dollars. In fact, when Craig gave her a head wrap, she cried uncontrollably for quite some time. What was so special about this pink head wrap, which cost only $10.80?

Kelly was diagnosed with breast cancer and soon after starting chemotherapy treatments, her hair started to fall out. Losing her hair was really no big deal at first; she knew she could handle being compared to Britney Spears for a while, but in the back of her mind, she silently acknowledged the fact that it was only a brave front she was putting up before family and friends. Each night, when the solitude of her room engulfed her, she crumbled like an ordinary child, scared and in panic.

Cancer. The Big C. She started to ask the common question “why me?”

Life-changing Effects of Cancer

Cancer strikes like a thief, often without warning. It carries with it not just the uncertainty of the future, but the difficulty of how to continue living a life as you’ve known it. To discover that you have cancer and your life hangs on the balance can only have devastating effects on you – if you CHOOSE it to be so.

A doctor’s pronouncement echoes past the patient to affect all those who love and depend on her. Cancer is not a personal disease; seldom can you find a person stricken with cancer who suffers all by herself. Instead, she rubs it on her spouse, kids, extended family members, friends and practically everyone she comes in contact with. Who can blame her?

For a mother, the prospect of not having the same vigor to chase her kids around the yard can be painful. For a young woman who has barely enjoyed parties and met new friends, it would seem as if she’s like a torch with its flame snuffed out before its oil runs dry. To sum it up, cancer is the ugly reminder of how unpredictable life is, how uncertain are our tomorrows, but it does not totally conclude life for a person. Partly, she decides it for herself.

What a Head Wrap Can Do

The ravages of chemotherapy strips a cancer patient not just of her hair but shards of her self-esteem as well. When left unattended, this can lead to severe depression, which may worsen the patient’s condition. Nothing can be more devastating to a woman’s self-confidence than to see herself in the mirror, just a faint reminder of who she was, not necessarily because of cancer, but because she lost her hair. Women dread cancer partly because it could mean losing their hair, a part of themselves, with it.

A head wrap conceals hair loss – in style. Unlike wigs that are expensive and may cause irritation on the scalp, head wraps can color-coordinate with a shirt and few accessories giving anyone who wears them a total look of confidence. When you feel good about yourself, any burden seems light. Feeling good about yourself has a lasting impact on your mood, which also affects your ability to cope with stress, relating to illness.

The “Can Do” Attitude

Kelly was devastated when she learned she had cancer. She felt weak in the knees and was thankful to have Craig by her side on that fateful afternoon and throughout her bumpy road to recovery. She was particularly thankful for all the head wraps she had gathered through the long days while enduring her treatment and now growing her hair back. She vowed to help chemo patients discover the therapeutic effects of looking good and feeling better with a colorful head wrap on their heads and coordinating shirts and earrings to complete their ensemble.

As a Breast Cancer Survivor, Kelly believes that she triumphed over cancer, partly because of her “can do” attitude – her refusal to just surrender to defeat too easily.

She was declared “survivor” by medical terms, when chemotherapy and other treatments halted her breast cancer. She now knows to be more vigilant towards her health more than ever before. Kelly CHOSE to commit to wellness and is optimistic she will remain healthy and cancer-free. She will choose to eat the right foods, get enough sleep, cultivate a healthy mental attitude and always remember to give thanks and praise.

She will renew this vow every day as soon as she wakes up in the morning and before she sleeps at night. One day soon, cancer research will deliver a cure, and Kelly is confident she will still be around to witness that day.

Christiene S. C. Villanueva invites you to check on iwearitwell, a one-of-a-kind online store that sells head wraps, comfort wear and coordinates for cancer-patients and those suffering from hair loss or alopecia. You may also register to iwearitwell’s newsletter for updates on cancer research, latest news and issues.

Comments (0) Posted by admin on Monday, October 29th, 2007


It’s common knowledge that a regular exercise program has loads of long-term health benefits. Here’s a list that will inspire you to start now.

1. Fat Loss. Exercise contributes to both weight loss and fat loss. Exercise burns calories, and when you burn more calories then you take in, the weight comes off. It’s as simple as this: the more exercise you get, the more calories you burn and the more weight you will lose.

2. Disease Prevention. Exercise prevents disease. Research has shown that regular exercise reduces your chances of getting serious diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke.

Experts have reported that approximately 4 out of 5 deaths from cancer and heart disease can be linked to stress and lack of exercise. And people with diabetes are at greater risk for heart attacks and strokes. This is proof that exercise can lower or eliminate many of the risk factors for some of our most deadly diseases. Want to stay healthy? It’s simple. Just exercise.

3. Disease Improvement. If you exercise routinely, you can improve, and in some cases, totally heal many serious and not-so-serious diseases. And this includes the killers listed above: heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer. Regular exercise also reduces HDL cholesterol, lowers triglyceride levels and corrects problems with blood pressure.

Men who exercise regularly reduce their risk for prostate cancer. Women who practice regular exercise reduce their risk for both breast and uterine cancer. These are scientific facts, and they should inspire you to begin a regular exercise program right now.

4. Improves Your Mental State. Exercise releases endorphins into the body. Endorphins give you a natural high and help fight depression. Endorphins are zooming into your blood stream after just 12 minutes of exercise. Is there any doubt that the more you exercise the better you will feel?

Serotonin is another chemical that your body releases both during exercise and after you finish. Studies have shown that people with more serotonin in their central nervous system are more likely to feel good and less likely to be depressed. Serotonin is also known as a sleep aid.

5. Boost Overall Well Being. When you exercise on a regular basis, you will become physically fit and have a great body. This boosts your energy levels and puts you in a good mood. Exercise shows you that you can stretch yourself to accomplish lofty goals, and this increases your well being because you realize that anything is possible.

6. Determination. A regular exercise program increases your energy levels, so naturally you will see an increase in productivity, both at home and at work. Sticking with an exercise program until you reach your goals gives you a sense of purpose and improves your perseverance. This helps keep you focused on your goals and makes you less likely to quit at any time.

7. Improved Social Skills. The results of working out routinely will undoubtedly lead to increased self esteem. When you look better Ð and you know you do after you workout Ð you will be more comfortable in social situations. Through exercise, you can increase your activity level and get out there and make some new friends. This helps diminish any feelings of isolation or sadness, because you begin to develop a strong support system. Regular exercise also boosts your desire for sex, so your personal relationships perk up too.

Now that you know all of the benefits of exercise, you should be racing to begin a regular workout program. There are many different ways to exercise. You can workout at home or join a gym. You can go to an exercise class or use a DVD on your own TV. The important thing is to start exercising. You will wonder how you ever lived without it.

For more on treadmill workouts, including tips on the tread climber, visit The Treadmill Workouts website.

Comments (0) Posted by admin on Sunday, October 21st, 2007


On what should have been a beautiful late spring day two years ago, soon turned into tragedy for two women (Helen and Denise) in their early 40’s when they both were diagnosed with invasive-
hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.They were very much alike, these two women. Both were happily married. Both had three children and both held down full time jobs. They were two bright and ambitious women who without realizing it, entered into a bond on that numbing, spring afternoon.

Both underwent several lymph node removals and a lumpectomy. Both endured the effects of 6 weeks of radiation therapy. Neither had to endure the grueling effects of chemotherapy. Both were determined to beat this monster that had invaded their bodies. Both bonded as close friends and when the feelings of hopelessness began to creep into their thoughts they had each other as confidants to lift up their spirits. They stood together, without ever having to alarm their families of their inner fears that their cancer would return.

With the conclusion of their treatments they both resumed their everyday routines and tried to reclaim a sense of normalcy back into their lives. They both were prescribed Tamoxifen for the next five years. Tamoxifen is very effective in preventing reoccurrence in invasive hormone-receptor-positive breast
cancer. Unknown to Denise, she was not yet finished with the challenges that this demon called cancer forced her to face.

Although, Tamoxifen does have some side effects it is relatively safe and thousands upon thousands of women take it daily without experiencing any side effects at all. Helen scarcely noticed any changes while taking the drug. She returned to work part-time at first, but quickly resumed her role as wife, mother and full time employee. One would scarcely believe that she had ever undergone cancer treatments and she glowed once again with signs of good health.

Denise on the other hand didn’t fair quite as well. She noticed immediately that her hair was starting to fall out. Sometimes averaging 200 strands a day. After two weeks of being on Tamoxifen and experiencing this rapid hair loss she was seriously considering discontinuing its use. The radiation therapy that was used to spare her life had left her tired and listless. Tamoxifen that was used to prevent the cancer from returning, was thinning her hair and most of all destroying her self esteem.

She researched the prescription medication Rogaine, but found the chemical name (minoxidil) had side effects as well. Rogaine was also very expensive and time consuming. She had contemplated ovary removal. Her reasoning being, she was positive that her family was complete. She quickly dismissed that thought not wanting to undergo anymore surgeries.

She then looked into Aromasin an FDA approved aromatase inhibitor. Aromasin was given to women with early stage disease, but who had already undergone 2 to 3 years of Tamoxifen. The next inhibitor that she looked into was Femara. Although, FDA approved for early stage breast cancer she needed to have completed 5 years of Tamoxifen. The third inhibitor was called Ariminex. This is given to patients with early stage disease and directly after surgery. After discussing this with her Doctor, she immediately switched from Tamoxifen to Ariminex.

Hair loss was the primary reason Denise switched from Tamoxifen to Ariminex. She had no other side effects with this drug, but as vanity would have it she just didn’t want to become bald. After taking Ariminex for just under four months she realized that she had traded one cosmetic side effect for another that was physical. Denise was still experiencing slight hair loss, but was now suffering from excruciating joint pain.

Her Doctor explained that by taking Tamoxifen, her continuing hair loss just might have been caused by the drug giving her a nudge into menopause. Women who enter menopause, because of the lower estrogen sometime experience hair loss. He also explained that everyone’s tolerance was different for these drugs and he could prescribe Femara for her instead of Ariminex. By this time Denise was taking extended release Tramadol for joint pain and felt exhausted and defeated. She was still not capable of returning to work, even though it had been almost a year since she had been first diagnosed with breast cancer.

Financially Denise and her family were barely making ends meet. Without her much needed paycheck, the household bills were accumulating. Her once vibrant marriage was suffering and the talk of their separation was only silenced by the tears in their children’s eyes. In one year everything she and her family had worked for appeared ready to come crashing down!

Denise was still contemplating whether she should begin taking Femara or stop taking all drugs altogether.

That morning she received a phone call that would change her life. It was Helen. Her confidant through the worst of times had called to find out how she was doing. It wasn’t long before Denise’s emotions came spilling out. Through tears and laughter Helen and Denise were once again reunited, and Denise was no longer fighting this battle, seemingly alone.

Helen who did and continues to work in the organic and natural food business, was saddened that Denise had not confided in her earlier on her struggles. She was delighted with the thought that she may be able to help her ailing friend.

Upon hearing Denise’s story it was clear to Helen that the only side effect that Helen’s brief taking of Tamoxifen had was hair loss. Because of those two simple four letter words (hair loss) the past year for Denise and her family had turned into a roller coaster of spiraling downward turns.

After a very long in depth discussions with Helen, Denise decided to take her advice and begin taking Shen Min. Shen Min is an herbal product that has literally changed Denise’s life. She discontinued Ariminex, and immediately felt a difference with her joints.She was then able to discontinue the use of Tramadol for joint pain, because she no longer suffered pain. She chose not to begin taking Femara, but instead decided to resume taking Tamoxifen, since other then hair loss there were no other side effects.

As Helen explained it to Denise, the Shen Min Advanced Formula for Women was actually extending her hairs growth phase, therefore reducing the amount of hairs that were in the resting and fallout phase. This herbal supplement had no side effect and the results were noticed within a month. It seemed like such a simple solution, yet Denise had suffered miserably for almost a year, by taking medications that lead to side effects without realizing that there are natural products that can be taken with conventional medication.

Helen’s introducing Denise to Shen Min literally changed her life. She is doing very well on Tamoxifen with no side effects. Her hair loss is at an acceptable normal rate and she is now back to work full time. She is no longer on any pain medications and her marriage is becoming stronger and back on the right track.

Although, this cancer/hair loss story does get somewhat complicated, it is insightful. If Denise had known about Shen Min when she first started on Tamoxifen she would have spared herself months of suffering with severe joint pain because of the Ariminex. Although aromatase inhibitor Ariminex is side effect free for the majority of its prescribed patients, Denise’s body for what ever reasons was unable to tolerate this medication.

The bottom line is that there is help for anyone who has unwanted hair loss. Shen Min has natural products consisting of capsules, topical formula’s and even herbal shampoo’s that can help hair loss in both men and women. If you or someone you know is suffering from hair loss, even if it is through genetics Shen Min just might be your answer to thinning hair.

Kimberly enjoys studying numerology,astrology,parapsychology and experimenting with herbal remedies. She has been a canine stylist for over 10 years. She is a strong advocate for pancreatic cancer research and helping people become aware of the torture that dogs endure in puppy mills. Stop puppy mills http://holisticdogandcat.blogspot.com

To review the Shen Min Hair Loss Products page http://shenminhair.blogspot.com

Comments (0) Posted by admin on Thursday, October 18th, 2007


Hot flushes or hot flashes in breast cancer patients are a common problem.

Many breast cancers are sensitive to circulating estrogen levels and for many women, suppressing the production or the effects of estrogen on the body is a major strategy in their treatment. A lack of estrogen will produce symptoms identical to the menopause and the most unpleasant of these are hot flushes, sweats or hot flashes.

A new research project has looked at the effect of a drug called Megace or megesterol acetate in treating hot flushes in women with breast cancer.

They studied nearly three hundred patients with breast cancer who had completed surgery and chemotherapy and at least four months of tamoxifen treatment for their condition.

Before they took part in the study the women had to have experienced at least ten hot flashes of any severity or at least five severe episodes each week.When the research data was looked at, eighty five percent of the women who took part were on tamoxifen, and forty percent had more than sixty hot flushes per week. Three quarters of them had experienced sweats and flashes for more than six months before they started in the study.

The women were divided into three groups. One group were given a placebo tablet, one group got 20mg of Megace and the other received 40mg of Megace each day. They all took their medicine for three months. A good outcome was defined as completion of treatment with a seventy five percent or greater reduction in hot flushes from that womens starting point.

If the treatment they were on worked well the women were given another three months of the same medication and dose. If they did not get benefit after three months then they were given 20mg a day of Megace on top of what they were already taking.

Reduction of flushings of seventy fiver percent or more was reported in

• only 14% of those women who were on placebo medication
• 65% of those women who were on the 20 mg dose
• 48% of the women who were on the 40 mg dose of drug

In addition, most successes at three months were maintained at six months in seventy seven percent of the women on 20 mg and in eighty one percent of the women on 40 mg per day – but there was no significant impact on other menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness or joint pains.

For the women taking Megace the main side effects were fluid retention and weight gain, fatigue and sometimes mild depression.

The researchers concluded that Megace was very successful in alleviating sweats and flushes in breast cancer survivors with lasting results at 6 months. They recommended the twenty milligram dose for most women and said that this treatment should be considered for all women with menopause flushing symptoms after breast cancer treatment.

Gordon Cameron is a physician in Edinburgh Scotland. He has a special interest in the symptoms of breast cancer.

Comments (0) Posted by admin on Monday, October 15th, 2007


Whatever stage you’re at in life, it’s always going to be devastating to find out you have a terminal illness. Not only does it highlight your own mortality, but being told you have an incurable condition also changes the way you approach life. It can be overwhelming, and without the right support can often lead to feelings of angst, fear and isolation.

Cancer is one such illness affecting millions of people globally. Appearing in many forms, such as breast, lung or bowel cancer, it not only affects those diagnosed, but also their families and friends.

The establishment of charities therefore, such as ones specifically designed to help those with cancer, have played a significant role in helping people to understand their condition, how to treat it and how they can still make the most of life. They have also been fundamental in providing emotional support when things become too much.

Individuals nowadays have access to a wealth of information, as well as a huge network of people who have experienced, or are currently experiencing, life with cancer. And, because everyone deals with issues in their own way, it is a great opportunity to learn how others positively cope and what they do to continue living as normally as possible.

Not only that, but fundraising activities and volunteers offering up their time have also helped charities to secure funds for vital research to be conducted, expensive equipment to be purchased and essential care for patients to be offered.

In order to improve the level of service cancer patients receive, a unique concept – cancer voices – was established in the UK in 2001 by cancer patients: it has since been adopted by cancer charities in Australia and New Zealand.

Cancer voices is essentially a network of people who have cancer, those who have recovered from cancer, carers and nurses of cancer patients, and friends or families who have been affected by cancer, through someone they have known.

And, because the people involved have experienced life with cancer, including the treatment and after-care received, they are an authority on whether things like the current cancer policy is effective, or if the environments used to treat patients are conducive to bettering one’s well-being.

Following training, which is provided free of charge, people have a real chance to help influence such things as: how cancer care is delivered; what drugs should be made available to patients; what services can or should be improved; and opinions on the available cancer information.

People are also encouraged to speak out about their experiences, in order to make the public aware of what they can do to help, or how individuals can cope with the illness. Cancer voices, therefore, is an opportunity for people who have been either directly or indirectly affected by cancer to help in the future of policy shaping and research into the disease.

The ultimate result is that people who develop cancer in the future benefit through the provision of better knowledge, services and care.

Isla Campbell writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.

Comments (0) Posted by admin on Friday, October 12th, 2007


Although many people believe that young women don’t get breast cancer, the fact is they can and they do. One in every 229 women between the ages of 30 and 39 will be diagnosed with breast cancer within the next 10 years.

The statistics that surround younger women and breast cancer are frightening. Although only a small percentage of all new breast cancer cases each year involve women aged 40 and younger, breast cancer is still the leading cause of death for women between the ages of 15 and 54. The number of young women diagnosed each year with breast cancer is between 11-12,000. Close to 1400 of those women will die each year. A lot of young women and their doctors do not realize that they too are at risk for this disease.

One of the problems with detection of breast cancer in younger women is that a mammogram is not an effective screening tool for women under 40. Younger women tend to have dense breast tissue and that prevents tumors or areas of calcifications to be seen in the film. Because of the lack of screening tools, younger women are often diagnosed at a later stage in the disease than their older counterparts. In addition, young women’s cancers are generally more aggressive and have lower rates of survival. The survival rate for 5 years is 83% for younger women – lower than the survival rate for post-menopausal women.

Another issue that impacts younger women who have breast cancer is that most research is done on breast cancer patients who are over the age of 40 or post-menopausal. Younger women are an underrepresented population in research studies. The drug Tamoxifen is an example of a drug which affects post-menopausal women differently than pre-menopausal women, so younger women who are prescribed this drug as treatment need to do careful research on their own to make sure that the benefits outweigh the risks of the drug.

An additional area of concern for younger women who have breast cancer include issues such as early onset on menopause and fertility issues. Many young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have not yet begun a family. One of the side effects of chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapies can be irreversible menopause. Tamoxifen is a drug that can affect fertility, so again, younger women will need to research their choices carefully if they plan to have children or start a family in the future. One of the newer treatments for women with hormone receptive breast cancer has only been shown to be effective with post-menopausal women, so a treatment option that younger women will have to make in the future is if they want to take tamoxifen OR shut down or remove their ovaries to bring on early menopause to benefit from a more effective treatment.

The final issue that young women with breast cancer face is the isolation they sometimes feel – brought about by being the youngest in their support group and having to deal with different issues than their older counterparts. One organization which helps provide a network for young breast cancer survivors is the Young Survival Coalition.

Remember – no woman is too young to have Breast Cancer.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Comments (0) Posted by admin on Monday, October 8th, 2007


Have you read about this recently? The Ralph Nader Research Group says, “U.S. drinking water contains more than 2,100 toxic chemicals that can cause cancer.” I don’t know about you, but when I read that, it spurred me into action and I went out looking at home water treatment systems and shortly after bought one.

Since I wanted to make the best choice on how to rid my water of those 2,l00 cancer causing contaminates I researched water treatment products. I discovered there were many to choose from.

Let me tell you a little of what I found for home water treatment systems. There are reverses osmosis systems, carbon filtration systems and distilled water systems. These all work a little different, and one of them is better than the other two.

Reverse osmosis systems and distilled water systems de-mineralize the water. The minerals in the water are important for our bodies to function correctly. If we drink water without the natural minerals in it, our bodies will try to compensate for the lack of minerals by pulling them from somewhere else.

One of the minerals that is so important for our strong bones in calcium. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my body pulling calcium out of my bones to balance the water I drink. Other important minerals such as potassium and magnesium are also naturally present in our water.

So from a mineral standpoint reverse osmosis and distilled water is not the way to go. A couple other things to look at with a reverse osmosis system are the cost to run the home water treatment systems and what contaminates they filter out.

Reverse osmosis water treatment products run on electricity. With the high cost of electricity and the fact that there are home water treatment systems that don’t need electricity, that also do a better job, I don’t think it is prudent to use a reverse osmosis system.

A reverse osmosis system will remove out the sludge, the particles and debris in the water, but the liquid chemical impurities, and many microscopic parasites and bacteria are still in the water after undergoing the treatment process. And since the main job of home water treatment systems is to remove those deadly contaminates, reverse osmosis just doesn’t do the job.

So the water treatment products we have left are the carbon filtration ones. There are different models of these; some are superior to others. The best ones are the ones that use different types of filtration. With these you remove all the contaminants that are in the water.

The different types of filtration are carbon filters, sub micron filters, multi block filters and ion exchange. When you combine all of these together each one filters out various types of contamination. If water treatment products only have one of these types of filters, only part of the dangerous chemicals and substances are removed.

So if you are spurred into action like I was, look for water treatment products that use all the methods I’ve mentioned above to purify your water. Everyone needs to drink pure, healthy water free from dangerous contaminates.

Juanita Ruby is passionate about health. She knows our bodies contain 70% water, thus the quality of our water greatly affects our health. Visit her website at http://www.your-best-water-site.com/ to discover which home water treatment systems she trusts for her family’s health.

Comments (0) Posted by admin on Friday, October 5th, 2007


Skin cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. Because of this, much research is being done to offer sufferers the best possible hope for survival. Nearly all of these malignancies are curable if diagnosed and treated in the very early stages. Therefore, doctors recommend early, aggressive treatment for skin cancer patients.

Doctors consider a cancer treatment to be successful if the patient is alive and shows no signs of having the cancer present in his or her body five years after the date of diagnosis. The likelihood of successful treatment depends greatly on which type of skin cancer a person has.

Persons who have basal cell cancer, for example, are most likely to survive and experience successful treatment. Basal carcinomas grow extremely slowly and do not typically spread. In fact, the treatment success rate for these persons is higher than 99 percent. In comparison, those who have been diagnosed with squamous cell have a success rate just a bit higher than 95 percent. It can, however, metastasize to other organs through the bloodstream and lymph nodes if it does not get treated early.

People who have been diagnosed with a malignant melanoma have about an 88 percent chance of treatment success if they are treated before the cancer spreads. Approximately 80 percent of those diagnosed with melanoma are fortunate to find their cancers at this time. If their cancers have begun to spread to other body organs, only about 10 percent of these patients will live for as many as five years after being diagnosed.

Many different skin cancer treatments are available. Those cancers that have not spread can be treated with surgical removal, and this method of treatment is usually successful. If the cancer has spread, however, people may require other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation.

Melanoma is extremely difficult to cure. Therefore, doctors typically resort to combinations of medicines, radiation, and chemotherapy. Sometimes other investigation treatments are attempted. Current procedures being trialed include photodynamic therapy, as well as some types of biological therapies.

How successful a treatment for skin cancer is depends largely on the amount of time the cancer has been present before it is found. Nearly all skin cancers can be cured if treated early. For this reason, it is important to be able to recognize the signs of skin cancer and see your doctor at once if you suspect anything at all unusual.

http://www.SkinCancer-101.com is a website fully committed to giving you the very best information regarding types of skin cancers, symptoms, and cures. Making critical decisions can be very important in any particular stage of skin cancer. If you would like to know more about helpful skin cancer treatments or you simply want to know the common signs of skin cancer, we’ve got you covered!

Comments (0) Posted by admin on Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007