Cancer Control Blog

What Are the Symptoms of Skin Cancer?

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:56:23 +0000

Skin cancer is a type of cancer that affects many people. There are a variety of reasons as to why this type of cancer may form. Some people choose to ignore the warning signs of skin cancer and then find that it’s too late to get help. It’s important to recognize the symptoms of this disease so that medical attention can be received as soon as possible. While the warning signs can vary from person to person, medical professionals can help diagnose and treat individuals with this skin disease.

Each person may experience different symptoms. It’s common to have small raised lumps or moles on the skin. These lumps or moles are often pale in color and smooth to the touch. Many people with skin cancer also experience rough patches on the skin. These patches may be scaly and may be found on various parts of the body. Some individuals also experience sores that may become crusty. There are a variety of skin growths that may point to signs of skin cancer. Any new growths should not be ignored.

Many growths that are found on the body are painless. It’s important to note though, that some individuals may experience pain. This can be a warning sign that something is not right. If pain is experienced along with a mole, patch, or growth, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.

Anyone can develop skin cancer, but some people are more likely to get it. If you have freckles, pale skin, naturally red or blonde hair, spend a lot of time outdoors, or have a family history of skin cancer, then it’s important to be more cautious.

Always keep an eye on your body to make sure that you’re not showing symptoms. You should also take extra care of your skin so that you can avoid developing skin cancer altogether.

If you notice any of the above skin cancer symptoms, it’s important to talk to a medical professional right away. Like many cancers, skin cancer is best treated if it’s detected as soon as possible. If it goes unnoticed or untreated, it can be more difficult to correct. A medical professional can properly diagnose as well as determine the best treatment options so that there is success. If you have any questions or concerns that needed addressed, consult a professional.

CPR Training – Saving Lives

admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:51:59 +0000

CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a procedure that is performed on an emergency basis to help return life to a person whose heart has stopped beating. This is not a difficult technique but it is one that most people find they understand better if they have CPR training. CPR training can provide not only the techniques but it also provides on hands training with mannequins that are designed for such a purpose. This can help a person to know if they are doing the procedure correctly or not.

There are many ways that one can take CPR training. Some hospitals and community centers will offer the training. Local parks and recreations may also offer training in CPR. A great source for training is the American Red Cross. By attending these classes one will have an instructor who will go over the techniques and then help persons to test their knowledge by working on the mannequin. The instructor can then provide feedback as to what needs to be corrected or changed so that the person is sure they have the techniques down well. Many times a certificate is given to those who pass the class and this can be of benefit in some circumstances at work and other activities.

CPR training is something that everyone should consider doing. One never knows when the need may arise and only those who can act quickly and know what they are doing can be of assistance to a person who has stopped breathing or whose heart has stopped beating. It takes mere seconds for the situation to turn into a grave scene if help is not administered. By being one who is trained in CPR a person can quickly get to work, helping the victim to breathe and keep their heart beating until medical help can arrive to take care of the victim. It can be the difference between life and death.

Everyone in one’s family should have some type of CPR training to make sure they can assist others in the family as well. This is especially true of families with small children, elderly or sick people and also for those who have pools. Learning these life savings skills can make all the difference should an emergency arise where help is needed. Even one’s pets can be given a form of CPR should they stop breathing or their heart stop beating. It is a wise decision for all members of the family to learn CPR and know how to help should the need arise.

Types of Cancer – The Deadliest Forms of Cancer

admin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:57:04 +0000

It has been reported that cancer has killed or will kill up to 13% of the earth’s population. Cancer touches millions of lives each year. Generically, cancer is an over-proliferation of cells which grow at an uncontrolled rate and harm tissue and organs in the process. It can be caused by exposure to a carcinogen, such as tobacco or asbestos. It can also be the result of a genetic mutation that occurs within the body. Cancer is scary, and there a certain types of cancer that are scarier than others. That is because they are among the most deadly forms of cancer known to mankind.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly types of cancer. That is because most people who have pancreatic cancer don’t know it until the cancer has progressed pretty far. A tumor will form in the pancreas and will cause pain in the upper abdomen, loss of appetite, dark colored urine and stool, fatigue, and nausea and vomiting. Because pancreatic cancer is pretty well advanced by the time symptoms occur and the cancer is discovered, a lot of times doctors cannot operate to remove the tumor. In addition, many times the cancer metastasizes, or moves to other areas of the body before it is discovered. That is why this form of cancer is so deadly to so many people.

Another one of the most deadly types of cancer is lung cancer. It has been reported that the five year survival rate for those diagnosed with lung cancer is only 14%. Most lung cancers are caused by air pollution, tobacco smoke or asbestos. Symptoms include shortness of breath, weight loss and coughing that sometimes produces blood. Treatment for this type of cancer might include surgery to remove the affected tissues and chemotherapy and radiation. Often a smoker with lung cancer is so addicted to nicotine that he does not stop smoking even in the face of a lung cancer diagnosis. Perhaps this reason is why lung cancer rates as one of the deadliest forms of cancer.

Brain cancer is another one of the deadliest types of cancer. It has been reported that brain cancer kills about 13,000 people annually in the United States alone. It is so deadly because of the level of difficulty in operating on the area. In addition, damage to the brain cannot be repaired. Symptoms of brain cancer include headaches, altered vision, vomiting, and altered behavior.

Cancer Symptoms – Recognizing Ovarian Cancer

admin — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 13:28:45 +0000

Recently, a dear friend of mine lost her sixty year old mother to ovarian cancer. Even with the pain so raw, she thought to impress upon me and others about the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Recognizing ovarian cancer symptoms is so important because the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths. That boils down to almost twenty thousand women per year being diagnosed with the disease and almost fifteen thousand deaths from it each year. Catching it early is one of the keys to having a successful outcome.

Ovarian cancer symptoms mimic other conditions and are more likely to be ignored than some other types of cancer symptoms. A woman with ovarian cancer may experience bloating of the abdomen as well as general pelvic area pain and pain during intercourse. She might have persistent feelings of indigestion, gas and/or nausea as well as changes in bowel habits. She might lose her appetite and have a persistent lack of energy. She might feel the need to urinate more frequently. The scary thing about all of these symptoms is that they can be explained away as the results of excess stress or depression or as a digestive problem. My friend’s mom experienced all if not all of the above-listed symptoms on and off and failed to recognize them for what they were – ovarian cancer.

My friend’s mom was a caring soul who never met a stranger who did not become her friend. In memory of her, I would like to ask each and every woman who has experienced the above-listed symptoms for more than one week to schedule an appointment with either her primary care physician or gynecologist. It is important to address what might be ovarian cancer symptoms immediately in order to give yourself the best possible chances for survival.

Even if you do not experience the above-mentioned ovarian cancer symptoms, if you know of a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, then it is important to make sure that you get an annual or semi-annual gynecological examination to ensure that you are healthy. In fact, it has been shown that some women are genetically more prone to these types of cancers and it is possible to be screened to find out the likelihood of your getting breast and/or ovarian cancer. It’s not like you want to hear bad news if in fact you have the gene for these types of cancer, but it is my belief that knowledge is power when it comes to fighting back against cancer.

Know the Facts about Cancer Research

admin — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 19:43:59 +0000

Clinical cancer research is conducted every day to determine the safety and effectiveness of medications used to treat cancer as well as the safety and effectiveness of treatment regimens and/or devices used to treat cancer. Its purpose is also to identify strategies to effectively treat and cure cancer. It is carried out on actual cancer victims under close medical supervision. If you or someone you love is facing cancer, then you should know that every day thousands of highly educated doctors and researchers are gathering data to determine the best ways to fight and perhaps someday eradicate this disease altogether.

The National Cancer Institute, a branch of the United States National Institutes of Health, has a website and publishes information regarding clinical cancer research. In fact, if you or someone you know is looking to join a clinical trial for the treatment of cancer, you can search the site’s over 8,000 studies to see if you are eligible to be a participant in a specific study. In addition, the site publishes results gleaned from former clinical studies which may be of interest to you. Patients can also learn important general facts about clinical studies as well as general information about noteworthy studies. The National Cancer Institute offers a wealth of information.

When designing clinical cancer research studies, scientists and doctors first design the trials and decide who may participate in the study. Factors that go into determining whether or not a person can participate in the study might include their age, type and level of their illness and other personal factors such as the level of family support. A participant will be given informed consent of the benefits/risks of the study drugs and/or procedures. During the study, the participant will be given the treatment and will be closely monitored. At the end of the study, a report will be completed regarding the effectiveness and safety of the treatment. If the study is considered a success, then it may be more widely implemented in the fight against cancer.

It is good to know that clinical cancer research is going on today and will be going on into the future. Cancer research has resulted in new and better ways to fight a multitude of different types and forms of cancer including leukemia, breast and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, to name a few. With proper funding, scientists and doctors will uncover better ways to treat cancer. With any luck, they will also discover what causes most forms of cancers which could lead to a breakthrough in eradicating the insidious disease altogether.

Cancer Facts & Statistics – The Hard and Scary Truths about Cancer

admin — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 17:54:30 +0000

The American Cancer Society is an organization that is committed to tracking and reporting the incidence of cancer in the United States. Its website offers a wealth of cancer facts & statistics. For example, the agency tracks the overall occurrence of cancer in the population as well as the mortality and survival rates for people diagnosed with different types of cancer. It also tracks important data about social behaviors that are likely to have an effect upon the risk of developing certain types of cancer (such as smoking). It also tracks data about the use of screening tests that are used to uncover a person’s likelihood of developing certain types of cancers. All of this information is vitally important to understanding the causes of cancer and hopefully, can someday be used to help in the eradication of all forms of cancer.

One set of cancer facts and statistics that the American Cancer Society provides is the percentage of people who are diagnosed with different types of cancer each year. The data is organized by gender as well as race. In 2010, the agency reported that 28% of men in the United States were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Likewise, 28% of U.S. women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Fifteen percent of men and 14% of women were diagnosed with lung cancer. The American Cancer Society also determined that a man has a 1 in 6 chance of developing prostate cancer while a woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer. These cancer facts & statistics are helpful to give you an idea of your own risks for cancer.

In addition to information about cancer diagnosis in general, the American Cancer Society also publishes other cancer facts & statistics such as the mortality rates for people with different types of cancer. For example, cancer is the #2 killer of persons in the United States. In a study conducted in 2010, it was reported that lung cancer was the #1 most fatal form of cancer, killing 26% of women diagnosed with it and 29% of men diagnosed with it. Prostate cancer kills 11% of men diagnosed with it and breast cancer kills 19% of women diagnosed with it. Colon cancer kills 9% of people diagnosed with it regardless of their gender.

Facing cancer facts & statistics is difficult. These numbers represent a tough truth about the ravages of cancer in the United States. If you are reading this right now, you probably know of several if not dozens of cancer cases. Even so, seeing the hard and scary truths about cancer in black and white is hard to take. If anything though, it should strengthen our resolve to support cancer research into the future in the hopes of ending the nightmare of this terrible disease.

Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. – Bringing Great Mind Together to Fight Cancer

admin — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 17:36:58 +0000

Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. is an exciting and useful website intended to put vital tools and information at your fingertips. The acronym P.L.A.N.E.T. stands for “Plan, Link, Act, Network with Evidence-Based Tools.” Its meaning is also two-fold in that cancer affects just about every member of the planet earth in some way or another at some point in their lives. Whether it’s one’s own cancer diagnosis or the cancer diagnosis of a friend or relative, cancer affects us all. Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. strives to bring important cancer information, statistics and studies as well as links to other useful websites to public health professionals in an attempt to bring them together in a practical way to come up with real answers in the fight against cancer.

Even if you are not a public health professional, Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. has a wealth of information about cancer. With its overall goal of reducing cancer risks as well as the number of new cancer cases and the number of cancer deaths, the site brings people and information together. The site also states that it is committed to improving the quality of life for cancer survivors as well. To achieve those goals, the site is geared towards planners, researchers and other health professionals. The site is designed to be a portal which provides access to important cancer-fighting tools and information. For example, the site can provide you with information about cancer risks by state, can lead you to partner organizations that work with high risk cancer populations, and can give you understanding of cancer research conclusions.

Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. offers information for scientists who research cancer who are interested in becoming affiliated with the site. In that way, the site can facilitate possible collaborations between scientists operating in various laboratories throughout the country and abroad. This collaborative work might result in huge strides being made in the fight against cancer by enabling those scientists to put their heads together in a practical way. Different agencies that are also committed to fighting cancer can also link up with the site to allow their users to get the information from the Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. site too.

Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. lists six steps to true and comprehensive cancer control on its site. The main idea is to take the research being conducted by scientists and medical doctors and transform that research into practical cancer treatments. The site offers access to important data and other resources that can help researchers to design, implement and evaluate cancer control programs for the betterment of all our lives. The site is sponsored by groups such as the American Cancer Institute, the Commission on Cancer, and the Center for Disease Control.