Most skin tumors are benign but though rare, malignant skin tumors are one of deadliest because they quickly spread to the brain. Skin cancer starts in the epidermis or the outermost portion of the skin which is formed by three kinds of cells – the squamous, basal and melanocytes. The type of skin cancer depends on what particular epidermis cell has been infected.

Squamous cells are flat cells composed of keratin and are the outmost layer of the skin. Growth of cancer cells in this area is relatively slow. However, squamous cell carcinoma is a serious type of cancer since it can reach vital organs. This is why it is best for the disease to be treated at its onset. First stages of squamous cell carcinoma only spread up to the lymph nodes which are components of the body that can trap dead cells. The cancer cells can be removed together with the nodes that trapped them. But if the cells successfully destroy the lymph nodes, the spread of the cancer will accelerate. Open wounds that do not heal are signs of squamous cell carcinoma.

Squamous and basal cell carcinomas are collectively termed Nonmelanoma cancers to separate them from the last and most fatal type of skin cancer which is Melanoma. Melanoma cancer is already malignant at its onset and it spreads rapidly. 75% of rare skin cancer deaths are due to tumor in the melanocytes. Melanocyte cells are responsible for the color of the skin. About 160,000 worldwide – mostly females – are diagnosed with this cancer and 30% of these cases lead to death. Melanoma can develop on almost all parts of the body but is frequently observed in the arms and legs. The first stages of melanoma are still treatable and are accompanied by noticeable symptoms such as sudden growth of freckles and moles. Old moles tend to grown continuously. In advance stages of melanoma, moles become itchy and may also start to bleed. There will also be alterations in color and can grown to about 6mm.

The first of the 5 prostate cancer stages is usually only found through a blood test or biopsy in the affect region of the body. It is usually found through a prostate-specific antigen level in the blood test. This stage is called T-1, professionally. It consists of a microscopic tumor that is only in the prostate itself. It is undetectable by rectal exams and ultrasounds and usually presents no symptoms. T-1 cancers are usually local cancers.

The second stage of prostate cancer is called T2, professionally. This stage is one where the tumor can be felt through a digital rectal exam. It can also be viewed through ultrasound. The tumor is still confined to the prostate area. T2 cancers are usually local cancers.

The third stage of prostate cancer is a spreading tumor. This stage is professionally known as stage T3. The cancer at this stage will now start to move to the seminal vesicles and close-by tissues. It has not spread yet to the lymph nodes in the body. T3 cancers usually are regional cancers that affect areas just beyond the prostate.

The fourth stage of prostate cancer is afflicting the organs and tissues that reside nearest the prostate. This stage is professionally known as T4. T4 cancers are usually cancers that are regionally located. They reach just beyond the prostate area of the body.

The fifth stage of prostate cancer is afflicting the whole of the body. It can affect any organ, bone or lymph node. This stage is professionally known as N+ or M+. The N+ portion means that it is affecting the pelvic lymph nodes. The M+ portion of this stage means that the cancer is affecting the other lymph nodes, organs and bones that are distant from the prostate area of the body. All the parts that are mentioned for Stage M+ do not have to be afflicted with cancer in order to be classified as M+. At this stage, the cancer is considered to be a metastatic cancer, meaning that the cancer is reaching lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Once a person is diagnosed with cancer regardless of its type he or she will certainly decide to change his or her lifestyle. It is already different once you are considered as a cancer patient. You are no longer capable of doing the usual things that you used to do. Cancer also prohibits you to perform your daily tasks because your body is already very weak.

Moreover the only way to survive from cancer is to undergo therapy. Prostate cancer is one of the most famous types of cancer for male patients. Prostate cancer has something to do with the prostate glands of a person. It occurs when the prostate glands are producing abnormal types of cells that can cause damage to the other portion of your body.

The bitter side of having prostate cancer is when you are no longer satisfied with yourself. You develop a feeling of inferiority because you feel like you are no longer capable of having a normal life. The psychological impact of prostate cancer is more complicated compared to its general physiological side effects. It will surely affect the personality as well as the behavior of the patient.

The greater risk of having prostate cancer is impotence. Aside from the fact that impotence hinders the process of reproduction it also affects the psychological condition of the patient. The masculine side of a man is often challenged especially if he is no longer capable of performing his duties. It will affect his lifestyle and the way he is going to live his life.

The attitude of a person may also change because of this type of disease. Most patients diagnosed with cancer are partly no longer interested with their work and other tasks. They also often believe on the negative side of the world and they are usually hopeless. They also believe that there is no way for them to survive and live a healthy life.

A wide and systematic study has been conducted in order to trace the origins of this type of cancer. The study also includes the current statistics of prostate cancer. It has been found out that genetics and the environment or lifestyle of a person is the essential factors that trigger this form of cancer to occur. It also very alarming to discover that even young adults could also be the victims of such type of cancer.

Since prostate cancer have already managed to cause so much pain to its victims, several organizations are calling the attention of the public to support their campaigns against the negative effects of this kind of cancer. These organizations are mainly composed of people who managed to survive from such disease. Their main goal is to inform and convince the public about the harmful effects of this strain of cancer. They are also encouraging the public to be more responsible with their health. They often advised their members to undergo several medical check-ups in order for their doctors to monitor their current condition.

According to medical experts, there is a greater chance to treat or cure cancer during its early stages of development. There is also a greater possibility that the patient will survive from this type of disease if the doctors have immediately diagnosed his current condition and before it has reached the most complicated stage of cancer which is stage four. There are tons of ways on how you can prevent yourself from this type of disease. One of the finest ways to deal with cancer is to accept the fact that you have this kind of disease. It is better to embrace the truth and seek for a solution than to ignore it.

However there are also some individuals who are not convinced with the negative effects of this type of cancer. They are also reluctant with the idea that they can be diagnosed with such type of cancer if they will not take good care of their health. They also refuse to accept the idea of changing their lifestyle into a healthier one to prevent them from having prostate cancer. It is already very difficult for them to change their lifestyle because they can no longer control and limit themselves from their usual ways of living.

There are several ways of giving radiation dosage to a cancerous tumor. The most common method is to deliver the required dosage from an external beam of radiation produced outside the body. In this case the source of radiation beam is located 80-100 cm from the body of the person receiving radiation. Sometimes placing the source of radiation within the tumor might have advantages over delivering radiation from an external source. This method of delivering required radiation from an internal source embedded within the tumor is called brachytherapy.

If you are aware of the inverse square law in physics you would know the dosage of radiation therapy delivery changes by a great proportion depending upon the distance of the radiation source to the intended target. In brachytherapy the source of radiation is within the tumor volume and the proper placement of these sources of radiation within the tumor is of crucial importance.

There are several radioactive isotopes used in the brachytherapy. These include radium-226, cesium-137, cobalt-60, iridium192, iodine-125, gold-198 and palladium-103. Radium has a longer half-life compared to some of the other radioactive isotopes. In the past radium was the primary isotope used in brachytherapy, but recently radium has been largely replaced by cesium, gold and iridium, which have relatively shorter half-life and lower energies and because of this the radiation from these isotopes can be easily shielded.

Brachytherapy can be delivered with devices known as implants. These devices may be in the form of needles or seeds or ribbons. Brachytherapy can be delivered with permanent or temporary implants. These implants might be temporary or permanent. Temporary implants usually have a longer half-life and higher energies compared to the permanent implants. All temporary implants are inserted into the tumor during surgery. The duration of treatment for the temporary implant is usually 1-3 days.

Interstitial low-dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy is usually used for cancers involving the mouth and oral cavity, pharynx. This mode of treatment is often used in the treatment of sarcomas. Prostate cancer treatment is the most common form of LDR brachytherapy using seeds. Uterine cancer is the most common application of intracavitary LDR treatment. These patients are often isolated to prevent radiation exposure to nursing and other supportive staff during the care of the person.

The most common uses of high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy includes treatment of esophageal cancer, lung cancer and recently breast cancer and prostate cancer. Most HDR treatments are done as outpatient procedures allowing the patients to return to home the same day as treatment. Patients who are receiving treatment for prostate cancer is an exception who may remain in the hospital for 2-3 days during the treatment.

Impotence (incapability to achieve or keep an erection) – this is the foremost side effect of the treatments for advanced prostate cancers. Almost 90% of men who undergoes the orchiectomy or the process of removing testicles via surgery are experiencing impotence. Hormonal therapy or drugs reducing testosterone level can as well cause impotence. Without any assistance, some patients recover their erections in no time at all, but others have resulted to treatments ranging from oral medications, medicines injected to the penis or even penis implants. Everything must be discussed with the doctor prior to having a treatment resulting to impotence.

Incontinence (incapability in controlling the urine flow) – this is a usual side effect of cancer surgery and prostate cancer radiations therapy. With this case, nearly all patients in the long run will actually get back their urinary control. Kegel exercises will help you fortify the sphincter along with the nearby pelvis muscles to help you recover urinary control. Biofeedback and medications can as well relieve incontinence, but most importantly, discuss with the physician everything about this matter.

Infertility – It is proven that most of the treatments for prostate cancer will result to infertility. There are several techniques to defend fertility but it should be done prior to any cancer treatments. This side effect must be tackled with your doctor before you submit yourself with the treatment process.

Prostate cancer pains and weakening of bones – this is the result of bone metastasis, where in the cancer has spread out to the bones. This condition will result to pains and weakens the bone that makes you prone into bone-fractures. Doctors can give treatments to relieve this type of side effect that weakens the bone and causing painful feelings.

Bisphosphonates to strengthen bones – this drug can help lessen or interrupt problems such as fracture caused by bone metastasis of the tumor. Researchers now explore the risk of using a new bisphosphonate Zometa, to avoid the growth and succession of bone metastasis in prostate cancer.

Risk factors that the study identified were:

1. An outdoor summer job.
2. History of blistering sunburn
3. Having naturally red or blond hair
4. Freckling of the upper back
5. Personal history of previous melanoma
6. History of actinic keratosis

The study participants were 18 to 70 years of age, a good sampling across a broad range. Having fair skin or a past history of two or more episodes of blistering sunburn confirm our previous understanding of how those innocent events lead to greater risk of skin cancer. Actinic keratosis is a form of sun damaged skin that can be a precancerous condition. The skin remembers or accumulates sun damage over a lifetime in many small installments. The average lifetime risk of developing a melanoma is relatively low at 1.5%.

Having even one of these risk factors increased the odds by more than twice to 3-5%. Dr Rigel’s study actually looked at over 40 risk factors but these six were the only ones that correlated closely with more frequent skin cancer. An interesting note is that age alone without a history of excessive sun exposure was not a risk factor. Editorial comments by Dr Rigel summarized that the real risks are simply “genetic susceptibility and exposure to ultraviolet light”.

These findings emphasize the need for preventive measures when spending time outdoors. Liberal and frequent use of sunscreens and appropriate clothing to minimize the damaging effects of excessive sun exposure is critical. In the future there may be other more sophisticated ways to decrease our susceptibility. For now basic common sense and consistent use of inexpensive tools like sunscreens and sun block can make the difference in a life free of skin cancer.

There are more than 300 types of cancer, and so far we have only two vaccines; but it is a start. For years, the treatment of cancer (after the fact, so to speak) was the focus of most research, and there has been a lot of progress in treating cancer with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The credit for every bit of the progress that has been made in cancer treatment goes to researchers and scientists who dedicate their lives to learning more and finding new treatments. This progress was made in laboratories as well through clinical trials of new drugs and new procedures. Now the focus has broadened to include the idea of prevention through the use of vaccines.

Researchers and scientists have learned a lot more over the years about how the body fights cancer on its own. The body has a built-in defense system that is called the immune system. The human immune system is really amazing. It’s a network of specialized tissues and cells that fight disease. The idea of vaccines to prevent diseases of all kinds is to make use of the body’s natural defense system – the immune system. Vaccines are called “biological” therapies – a kind of germ warfare to prevent diseases in the human body.

Vaccines for cancer will be developed in laboratories and through clinical trials just like treatments have been developed. There isn’t likely to be an announcement on the evening news that a vaccine has been developed that totally prevents all kinds of cancer, but the researchers are out there looking for it. Maybe someday…