Ways to Prevent Skin Cancer

One of the most preventable (and often very treatable) cancers is that of the skin. There are ways to prevent skin cancer and enjoy being outside. By taking care of your skin and checking it often for suspicious growths you should have no trouble from the effects of skin cancer.

First and foremost, try to avoid the sun as much as you can. Seek the shade provided by trees, beach umbrellas or buildings wherever possible. Wear hats and lightweight clothing to cover your skin, protecting it from the sun's rays that could cause lesions leading to skin cancer.

Be aware that even when the sky is cloudy that you can still suffer from the effects of the sun. It is possible to burn your skin when it is cloudy outside. The same is true with swimming pools. Even if you are in the water, you can easily be sunburned.

One of the most effective ways to prevent skin cancer is to apply sunscreen. You should make sure to be wearing at least SPF 30 when in the sun, or stronger sunscreen depending on how easily you burn. Also, be sure to reapply after swimming, or if you are sweating heavily.

Children's skin is even more delicate than your own and therefore must be looked after carefully. However, it is important to remember that children who have not reached 6 months of age cannot wear sunscreen on their skin yet. With that in mind be sure to keep them out of direct sunlight at all times and remember to always keep their skin covered. Warn older children that prolonged unprotected exposure to the sun's harmful rays can eventually lead to skin cancer and that they would be safer in the shade.

Skin cancer can be treated but it is important for you to pay attention to any changes to existing growths or new abnormalities that appear suddenly. It is most important to watch for any changes like increase in size or irregular shapes. Watching for transparent or multicolored growths on you skin is a must. And furthermore, it you have any cuts or wounds that don't appear to be healing, consult your doctor promptly.

You should make it a point to have your skin checked on a regular basis when visiting a doctor. Ensure that you examine your skin every month. This is one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer early. Make sure to be watchful of your skin and health and if you develop any problems, consult a doctor for immediate treatment.

Concerns about ways to prevent skin cancer? I offer more tips and recommendations about the ways to prevent skin cancer like what sunscreens and what happens when you get sunburned. Skin care should be important to everyone. The skin is the largest organ we have.

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Beat Cancer of the Skin

What is skin cancer? Let's talk about this today because whenever we mention the word 'cancer' a fear comes over us and we panic or are scared to pieces of the end results.

There are 2 positive aspects to skin cancer and that is that it develops outside of our bodies and we can take preventive action to reducing the risks of getting skin cancers.

There are 3 major kinds of skin cancers. The first one is Basal cell carcinoma and is the most common as it is usually a small, maybe round, usually raised reddish spot. When detected early the possibilities of cure are great but definitely needs to be treated as an unwanted part of our skin.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common of skin cancers and usually shows up as a result of sun exposed areas. It is a slow grower and has a tendency to spread to other parts of the body and it is has a relation to actinic keratosis, a preliminary stage of a skin cancer. The cure rates of it are also good when taken care of when first noticed.

Malignant Melanoma is the most dangerous one and is life-threatening to most. It's potential power will cause it to spread to other parts of ones body. This is usually in the form of a moles that is changing in size, color and maybe even quite black and possibly shiny as mine was. Early detection is the key for survival in this case.

Other precancerous lesions sometimes can or have the potential of turning into cancerous condition so always check your skin for some different patterns and textures.

Actinic Keratosis is a precancerous skin disease and nearly always occurs on sun exposed areas and looks totally harmless and usually rough and scaly in patches and you need to have that checked out also and it can develop into a skin cancer.

Who is susceptible to skin cancers? those of us that are fair skinned, light complexion and those who sun burn quite easily and work outside without the proper long sleeves and a big brimmed hat.

Take charge of your health matters to prevent skin cancers while you are young, don't sun bath and burn yourself outside on the beach or pool side, or for that matter in a tanning salon. A beautiful tan is not worth the ugly scar when the removal of a skin cancer of any kind needs to be removed from ones body.

Take the time to visit a dermatologist office and see those with part of their nose, parts of their ears and holes in their arms and legs from over-doing ,being in the sun for extended periods of time. Is it worth it? I personally do not. My procedures were from working out in the sun and not properly covered with long sleeved shirts and that big brimmed hat.

Blogging for your health matters offering tips for health at http://www.irenekats.com/blog offering information on various health tips to prevent disease, immune system problems and eating raw foods for better for all concerned.Beat cancer with tips for health at: http://www.irenekatsklassics.com

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Skin Cancer

Many people fear the words skin cancer, and with good reason as it the fastest growing type of cancer. In recent years it has surged past lung, prostate and breast cancers as the most common type. Even in the United States alone it is estimated that over a million people will be diagnosed with skin cancer each year.

Skin cancer is in essence a malignant growth in the epidermis layer of skin. The fact that a tumor of some sort grows makes it one of the more easily identifiable forms of cancer, and should be caught early enough to treat because of it. There are three main forms of skin cancer; basel cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Of the three types malignant melanoma is the most serious, and accounts for almost fifty thousand deaths around the world each year, this is in no small part due to the fact that it can spread to other bodily organs.

Basel cell carcinoma is normally identified by a small and smooth lump in the skin, and crusty red spots. Squamous cell carcinoma symptoms include a firm red lump. Both versions are relatively easy to treat although malignant melanoma does require surgery to remove discolored moles, as well as chemo and radiation treatments. Treatment though is not without dangers and is no guarantee that skin cancer will not return at some future date.

It is evident that there has been an increase in the number of cases of skin cancer being diagnosed in recent years. This has been put down to an increase in the number of people wishing to tan themselves in artificial booths and in the more natural surrounds of the hot holiday destinations. It should be fairly easy to reduce the numbers of diagnosed skin cancer, reversing trends back to the figures of even twenty years ago. It could happen with simple education and warning people about the dangers of ultraviolet radiation. The dangers of the sun can be easily avoided with the wearing of appropriate clothing and the use of sun screen.

Skin cancer has the possibility to become a major killer worldwide, and a great deal of education needs to occur in the next few years otherwise it could overtake many any other diseases as a major killer. Like many disease though it can be prevented to a large degree and as long as identified early enough it can be successfully treated.

Manuel Wiggins is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about skin cancer visit Prevent Skin Cancer Online for current articles and discussions.

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Mohs technique used for skin cancer detection

Skin cancer is the most common form of skin cancer in humans. Skin cancer is also known as being the common form of cancer in America and generally develops in the epidermis which is the outermost layer of skin. This is when you will likely see a visible tumor.
There are actually three main types of skin cancer which include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, as well as melanoma. Basal cell carcinomas and most types of squamous cell carcinomas are both slow growing and highly treatable, even more so if detected in the early stages.
On the other hand melanoma is one of the most serious forms of skin cancer mainly because it affects the deeper layers of skin and has a greater potential of spreading out to other tissues in your body. Squamous cell carcinoma also has the chances of spreading internally. There are more than one million estimated new cases of cancer each year with the annual rates constantly on the rise. This obviously has raised a large degree of concern for people all over the country.
There are different types of skin cancer treatments available right now, but prevention is the best thing you can do. One of the most common ways to get rid of skin cancer is excision skin surgery. You can also opt for another common treatment called mohs micrographic surgery where the area of the growth is numbed prior to the procedure.
Some have even estimated that nearly fifty percent of all Americans who live to be sixty five years old will develop skin cancer at least once. Skin cancer tends to show up on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. The most dangerous type of skin cancer is melanoma, and luckily it is far less common. For localized melanoma the surviving rate for suffers is around ninety nine percent, while the survival rates for regional and distant stage diseases are at sixty five and fifteen.
About the Author
Jeff Klemin is an SEO and web marketing consultant. Find the latest information on mohs here. Contact Jeff here for Utah search engine optimization.

Can Green Tea Treat Skin Cancer?

Some of the most promising cancer research going on today involves the use of green tea and its ability to prevent cancer and even treat cancer in patients who have already been diagnosed with the disease. Researchers are examining many possibilities for how green tea might be used, and working to determine the cancer types for which it holds the most promise. Over the last few years, scientists have learned a great deal about the importance of a diet rich in anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants are a powerful tool in slowing down the aging process and preventing disease. They are even more important than even with the number of processed foods we consume. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in anti-oxidants, as is dark chocolate and green tea. Coffee is also a source of anti-oxidants, though it is not nearly as rich in them as green tea. The process our bodies go through to convert our food to energy creates free radicals each day. Free radicals are oxygen containing molecules that damage our cells and DNA. If we don’t combat them, the make us age more quickly, they contribute to the development of blocked arteries and the make us more susceptible to the diseases and problems of aging. So, it’s certain that we all need to consume a high level of anti-oxidants as part of our everyday diet. But, of particular interest are the anti-oxidants in green tea. Asian cultures consume a large amount of green tea, and have espoused its healing properties for centuries. And, it just so happens that they have a much lower incidence of cancer and heart disease. There are, of course, other differences between Asian culture and ours. Notably, we are far more likely to be overweight; and research has shown us that obesity is a significant risk factor for many diseases including cancer and heart disease. However, one other interesting fact; Asian cultures, particularly Japanese men are far more likely to smoke than we are, yet they still have a much lower incidence of cancer and heart disease. So, green tea is of significant importance in our quest to live longer and be healthier. There are hundreds of studies that have shown that green tea is a good cancer preventative and can increase the effectiveness of cancer treatments. One important study is linked to skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. While only 4% of skin cancer cases are melanoma, it causes more deaths than any other type of skin cancer. The number of new cases of melanoma is on the rise in the US- an estimated 62,000 Americans will be diagnosed in 2006, and about 8000 people will die from melanoma in the US this year. Nonmelanoma is extremely common. It is estimated that about one million people develop nonmelanoma cancer each year; this is about the same number of people who contract all other types of cancer combined. However, people rarely die from nonmelanoma – only about 1000 each year in the US. Since skin cancer is so prevalent in our country, it’s critical that we spend time and money researching how we can treat this cancer. Of course, skin cancer is, in part, preventable. So, as part of a healthy lifestyle we should be diligent about protecting ourselves from the sun, because this is the most important aspect of preventing both types of skin cancer. To reduce your risk of skin cancer, be sure that you are always protected from the sun, even on cloudy days, and even in the winter. Cover as much of your body as possible with clothing, and use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher on any areas that you cannot cover. Be sure to follow the directions on sunscreen closely; many people do not use enough sunscreen and do not reapply it often enough. As scientists are researching ways to prevent and treat skin cancer, the results involving green tea are promising. One particular study reported by the Alternative Medicine Review showed excellent results in skin cancer prevention and treatment in mice with the use of green tea both applied topically and given orally. In this study, mice were exposed to about seven different kinds of carcinogens, all of which are known to cause or contribute to skin cancer. The mice were divided into groups. Some of the groups were treated with green tea by substituting it for their drinking water. Others were treated topically with green tea extract. Some of the groups of mice were already suffering from skin cancer, as well. The research was conducted so that mice undergoing exposure to each different carcinogen were treated with green tea in both forms. For example, some of the mice being exposed to UVB rays were treated with only oral green tea, while others were treated with only topical green tea extract. The research concluded that all of the mice benefited from the green tea treatment, whether it was given orally or applied topically. In every group, the green tea was effective at preventing skin cancer. The study found that green tea applied topically seems to scavenge and destroy skin cells that are likely to become cancerous before they can mutate. The green tea, whether given orally or applied topically, slowed down the cancer growth in the mice that were already infected. In addition, green tea given orally seemed to cause some regression of existing skin cancer. Of course, these results are very promising. If this research is a good indicator of how green tea might work in humans, as well, then topically applied green tea may become the new trend in skin products. In addition, these findings support other findings that conclude that drinking green tea is effective in preventing and treating many forms of cancer. The next step, of course, is to conduct human trials to see if the same results prove true. It certainly seems that we have enough information to suggest that green tea should be part of everyone’s diet for its ability to slow down aging and prevent disease. The most exciting news from this study is the idea that we might benefit dramatically from the simple step of applying a form of green tea to our skin. Addition of green tea to our sunscreens, lotions and moisturizers could have a dramatic effect on the number of skin cancer diagnosed each year. And, even for those already diagnosed with skin cancer, green tea applied to the skin might prove to be an effective treatment to kill the cancer cells, or at least slow down their progression. Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, green tea and wu long tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com

Photodynamic Therapy for Skin Cancer

There will be nearly 11,000 deaths from skin cancer in 2006 — about 8,000 from melanoma and 3,000 from other skin cancers, says the American Cancer Society.
Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers and accounts for almost half of all cancers in the United States. There are two types of skin cancer, nonmelanoma and melanoma.
U.S. doctors find more than 1 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer, usually in a patient´s basal cells or squamous cells. Exposing skin — the face, ear, neck, lips, and the backs of the hands — to the sun causes most nonmelanoma skin cancer. While they can grow fast or slow, they rarely spread to other parts of the body.
The second kind, melanoma does spread to other areas of the body making it more dangerous. It accounts for just a small percentage of skin cancer, but it causes most skin cancer deaths. Melanoma is a cancer that begins in the pigment cells that produce the skin coloring (melanin) which helps protect deeper layers of the skin from the sun´s harmful rays. Detected early, melanoma is almost always curable.
Photodynamic therapy
Both nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers respond to photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatment for skin cancer that combines a light source and a photosensitizing agent (a drug that is activated by light) to destroy cancer cells. It´s sometimes called photoradiation therapy, phototherapy or photochemotherapy and is useful when there are several lesions on the skin or scalp.

A photosensitizing agent, for example fluorouracil, spread on the skin makes PDT work, because the agent collects more readily in cancer cells than in normal cells. Exposing the agent to light makes it react with oxygen to create chemicals that can kill a skin cancer cell. However, the approved light sources can only penetrate a limited depth of tissue; therefore doctors mainly use PDT to treat areas on or just under the skin. It´s less effective for treating large tumors, because the light cannot pass deep into the tumors. Because it´s a localized treatment, doctors don´t use PDT to treat skin cancer that has metastasized.
Doctors sometimes use PDT in precancerous treatments. It usually needs pre-approval by a healthcare provider. Just because the treatment is in the facial area, case managers shouldn´t assume it´s a cosmetic treatment. Check to see the patient´s age, if the patient is over 60 years old, the case is probably not cosmetic. Also, look at the chart to see if there are multiple lesions on the skin or scalp, usually three or more.
About AllMed Healthcare Management
Founded in 1995, AllMed is a URAC-accredited Independent Review Organization (IRO) serving insurance payers, providers, TPAs and claims managers nationwide. Reviews are conducted by board-certified physicians in active practice. AllMed's growing customer base for its independent medical review and hospital peer review services includes premier organizations, such as Educator's Mutual Life, IMS Managed Care, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, HealthGuard, several Blue Cross Blue Shield organizations, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Allianz and many other leading healthcare payers. Read the AllMed Medical News Blog and the Independent Review Organization Blog.

Skin Cancer - A Reminder

We need to get alerted: skin cancer is the most popular cancer. Every year, more than 1,000,000 skin cancer cases are diagnosed and tens of thousands of skin cancer patients die in the U.S. alone. The number of skin cancer exceeds that of all other cancers combined. Among more than 1 million of skin cancer cases, 100,000 are melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer and there is no cure for it.
The skin cancer risk is more serious to the children because they are young and more susceptible, and they expose to more sunlight than adults due to their extensive outdoor activities. Half of the total life time exposure for an individual is received during his childhood. So special care is needed for the children.
Usually, skin cancers come years later after the subjects get exposed to too much sunlight. So just because you do not see a skin cancer right away does not mean you are free of skin cancer risk. So careful protection is the key.