What is Skin cancer: Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer found in humans. Around 1 million skin cancer cases were registered for every early and this annual rate is increasing drastically due to increase in risk factors. Skin cancer can be recognized by the changes in appearance of the skin. Skin cancer causes the skin cells to grow rapidly without any controlling limit.

Skin cancer is a combination of several diseases with different types of causes, symptoms and treatments. Skin cancer effects the basic life cycle of the cells and causes an abnormal growth and division of cells without any controlling limit, then it results in forming tumor (excess tissue) in the body.

Tumors are of two types, they are as follows:

• Benign tumor
• Malignant tumor

Benign tumor: This tumor is not cancerous. They can be treated easily. They don’t spread to other parts of the body. If this tumor continues to grow in the same site for long time then it causes damage to the distant organs.

Malignant tumor: This tumor is cancerous, they causes damage to the adjacent organs by spreading the cancer cells at high rate. The cells in this tumor invade the distant organs and forms new tumors through blood flow or by lymphatic system. The new tumor has the same characteristic features of the primary tumor. For example, if the skin cancer spreads to the lungs, the cancer cells in the lungs are actually belonging to the skin cancer cells. Then this disease is called as metastatic skin cancer.

Skin cancer types: Skin cancer is categorized into three different types they are

• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma

Basal cell carcinoma: This skin cancer is not metastatic .It doesn’t spread to other parts but causes damage to nearby tissues. The risk factors for basal cell carcinoma are listed below. The basal cell carcinoma looks like dome shaped bump. This bump shape is covered by the telangiectases blood vessels .the starting stage of this benign tumor cannot be detected easily because it is shiny and translucent. With the biopsy process we can detect the starting age of this skin cancer. Some of the carcinomas contain melanin pigment which makes the tumor to look dark rather than shiny.
Basal cell carcinomas generally appear on the back side or chest. Basal cell carcinomas make the skin dry with raw patches. These carcinomas take several years to grow into uncontrolled size and damage the nearby senses by disfiguring ear, nose or eye.

Squamous cell carcinoma: This cancer occurs in the squamous cells. These carcinomas appear to be thin, flat cells which look like fish scales. These Squamous cells present in the surface tissues of the skin. So if there is any abnormality in the squamous cells, then Squamous cell carcinoma occurs. Due to excess growth of squamous carcinoma cells a mound is formed which is called as keratoacanthoma.

Risk factors of basal cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma and Melanoma:

Age: This type of skin cancer occurs after the age of 50 years. But the sun burning effects starts in the early stage.

Sun exposure: People who face severe blistering sunburns can have the chance of occurring melanoma cancer. So, sunburns in young age will be a risk factor for casing basal cell carcinoma cancer. Take sun lotion creams to avoid the risk factor of melanoma cancer.

UV radiation: Due to long exposure to the ultraviolet radiations, the chances of having basal cell carcinoma cancer increases. People who stay in the sun for longer time will have more risk factors. Due to this UV rays the skin becomes grey and causes skin irritation. Aging of the skin appears due to increase in risk factors. So, please stay away from UV rays to reduce the risk factors of basal cell carcinoma cancer.

Therapeutic treatment: Taking this treatment for curing other cancer diseases can increase the chance of having basal cell carcinoma cancer.

Weak immune system: People with weak immune system will have more chances of getting skin cancer.

Family pedigree: Risk factors of skin cancer sometimes can be caused due to the family relation link. It some time runs in the families. So please take regular checkup to reduce the risk factors of this cancer.

Fair skin: People with fair skin have more chances to expose to melanoma cancer because it is easily burned and freaked out. So, people with fair skin should take some skin lotions to reduce the causing factors of melanoma cancer.

Having more moles on the body: Too many moles in the body can cause melanoma cancer for sure.

Skin cancer symptoms and signs:
• Gray skin
• Head aches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Pain in moles
• Asymmetry
• Border irregularity
• Color diameter
• Weight loss
• Chronic cough
• Skin thickening
• Itching, tingling, Irritations.
• Redness
• Swelling
• Patches
• bleeding
Treatment for basal cell carcinoma and Squamous cell carcinoma:

Surgical operation: Surgery operation is carried to remove the entire tumor. This process is useful during the early stages of the tumor occurrence.

Curettage and desiccation: Curette is the instrument used by the dermatologists to remove the tumor by scooping out the cell carcinoma. And desiccation is the electric current process useful in burning the remained cancer cells. This treatment is carried for small cancers.

Radiation therapy: This treatment is based on the extent of the skin disease. Radiotherapy is a process of removing carcinoma cancer cells by using high intensity x-rays. These high energy x-rays are aimed at the effected part of the skin surface to destroy the cancer cells.

Cryo surgery: This is a new process evolved in treating the carcinoma cancer cells. In this process the cancer causing cells in the body are destroyed completely by injecting a freezing liquid through intravascular veins of the body. The freezing liquid used in this treatment process is nothing but argon or liquid nitrogen. This freezing liquid is directly injected into the body for the removal of cancer cells. This treatment is given when there is advancement in the skin cancer. This treatment produces side effects like damage to the urethra and bladder by damaging normal cells.

Mohs micrographic surgery: This treatment process gives 98 percent of success rate in removing carcinoma cells. This treatment causes very low side effects and damages very less normal cells. This process is carried by making small incision to the effected part of the body for removing the entire carcinoma tumor or part of it by micrographic instruments. The sequence of removing carcinoma cells is carried continuously without causing any pain. The cure rate is very high and this is the best process for treating advanced skin cancers.

Medical therapy by using creams: This treatment can be taken to avoid surgery. This medical therapy creams kills the cancer cells and increases the body immune system to protect from infections.

Treatment of melanoma cancer:
Surgery: Surgery is carried to remove the cancer tumor. Surgery can be carried in the early stages of the tumor occurrence. Surgery is taken place only if the cancer is located in only one part of the body. During the surgery process the damaged lymph nodes are also removed along with the tumor. This surgery process depends on the location, area and size of the tumor.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs are called as anti-cancer drugs used to destroy cancer cells .there are many types of chemotherapy drugs available in the market for the treatment of cancer. These drugs are available in the form of pills but mostly given by drip into the blood veins.

Radiotherapy: Radiotherapy is a process of removing cancer cells by using high intensity x-rays. These high energy x-rays are aimed at the cancer affected part of the body to destroy the cancer cells. This process also causes damage to the normal cells for its side effects.

Biotherapy: Due to weak immune system in the body, there are chances for the development of cancer. So this Biotherapy treatment process is useful in rebuilding strong immune system in the body. Biotherapy is also called as immunotherapy or biological response modifier therapy. This treatment process is really useful in repairing, enhancing and stimulating the weak immune system of the body. This process can be carried along with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Melanoma cancer is treated as the serious skin cancer disease due to its risk factors. It is treated as a malignant tumor because it spreads through out the body. The treatment for this melanoma cancer should be carried in the early stages to cure it completely.

Basal cell carcinoma and Squamous cell carcinoma are most common type of skin cancers found in people. These two types of skin cancers are together called as Non-melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma skin cancer is termed as metastatic skin cancer because of its serious effects. Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer which spreads through out the body.

Smoking and the ill effects of smoking need not be illustrated any further. Both the topics have been discussed to no ends. Countless numbers of programs, advertisements, campaigns, have been continuously conducted all over the world in order to spread awareness regarding the ill effects of smoking. Inspite of all the awareness campaigns and the sorts, there is doubt if there has been any change in the scenario as regards smoking. The number of people taking to smoking is only constantly increasing.

Smoking is one of the worst possible addictions. Smoking not only harms the people who are addicted to it but also the ones around them. There are a number of diseases that attack specially on smoking and there are many others that are worsened on smoking. Smoking increases the risks of having many diseases. Still the addiction of smoking is only gaining force. The fear of bad health and even the fear of death have failed to be a deterrent in making people give up smoking. The only way to make people give up the puff is banning the tobacco industry. But this is almost an illogical option. The governments of all the countries are earning huge profits and hence they can’t even think of banning the industry. However some countries have implemented laws and have banned smoking in the public places. The United Kingdom is one of them. However banning smoking in the public places is not a way out to make people stop smoking.

Anyways, coming back to the topic of diseases, smoking only increases the risks of dangerous diseases like cancer. But recently there have been a very strange revelation from the medical world. Studies have shown that smoking does not worsen breast cancer. The results have been arrived at by conducting a study on about six thousand women over a period of thirty years, with breast cancer. Smoking didn’t even hamper in the process of treating breast cancer nor did it react with the breast cancer medications.

Interestingly, smoking has been proved to be a risk for lung cancer, head cancer, and cancer in the neck, esophagus, and bladder. Smoking is also dangerous in the case of leukemia which is commonly termed as blood cancer. But breast cancer is a rare exception.

However, there is no need of exalting in pleasure as smoking has been proved to be dangerous for a number of other diseases. Hence you would do yourself no good by avoiding breast cancer and getting its other versions in return. Smoking can only bring harms to the mental and physical health of the smokers and the others around. There can be no better alternative to quit smoking.

It’s only for the purpose of quit smoking that the medical giants Pfizer launched the quit smoking drug Chantix. Pfizer chantix is one of the most popular quit smoking pills in the market today and you can easily buy chantix from any local medicine store. And those of you who are eager to give up smoking but are falling short of the will power as well as time just go to the net and order chantix online. Enjoy a smoke free life ahead

Smoking: Steps to Help You Break the Habit

What you need to Know

More than 400,000 deaths in the U.S. each year are from smoking-related illnesses.

Smoking kills an estimated 120,000 people each year in the UK. It is a major cause of illness and premature death – on average, persistent smokers die 10 years younger than non-smokers.

Tobacco contains over 4,000 chemicals, many of which are harmful. These include:

• Benzene – solvent used in fuel and chemical manufacture

• Formaldehyde – highly poisonous, colourless liquid used to preserve dead bodies

• Ammonia – chemical found in cleaning fluids. Used in cigarettes to increase the delivery of nicotine

• Hydrogen cyanide – poisonous gas used in the manufacture of plastics, dyes, and pesticides. Often used as a fumigant to kill rats

• Cadmium – extremely poisonous metal found in batteries

• Acetone – solvent found in nail polish remover

• Arsenic – ingredient in rat poison

The three main components of inhaled smoke are nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar, all of which can cause disease.

Nicotine

It is absorbed into the bloodstream and effects the brain within 10 seconds. If you are a regular smoker, when the blood level of nicotine falls, you usually develop withdrawal symptoms such as craving, anxiety, restlessness, headaches, irritability, hunger, difficulty with concentration, or just feeling awful. These symptoms are relieved by the next cigarette. So, most smokers need to smoke regularly to feel ‘normal’, and to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas found in car fumes, which reduces the amount of oxygen carried in the blood. Oxygen is vital for the body’s organs to function efficiently. The reduction in oxygen changes the consistency of the blood, making it thicker and putting the heart under increased strain as it pumps blood around the body.

Tar

Tar contains many substances proven to cause cancer. Irritants found in tar damage the lungs causing narrowing of the tubes (bronchioles) and damaging the small hairs (cilia) that protect the lungs from dirt and infection.

Effects of Smoking and the reasons to stop

International studies of millions of people by government, industry, universities, and private research institutions have determined that smoking can cause:

Cancers

• Lung cancer (About 30,000 people in the UK die from lung cancer each year. More than 8 in 10 cases are directly related to smoking).

• Mouth, throat and nose cancer

• Cancer of the larynx

• Oesophageal cancer

• Pancreatic cancer

• Bladder cancer

• Stomach cancer

• Kidney cancer

• Leukaemia

Heart and circulatory diseases

• Heart attacks and Heart disease (is the biggest killer illness in the UK. About 120,000 people in the UK die each year from heart disease).

• Arteriosclerosis – build up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels. Causes loss of elasticity in the artery walls, which can lead to diseases such as stroke, gangrene and aortic aneurysms.

• High blood pressure

Respiratory disease and Other illnesses

• Asthma.

• Chronic Polmunary (About 25,000 people in the UK die each year from this serious lung disease. More than 8 in 10 of these deaths are directly linked to smoking).

• Increased frequency of colds, particularly chest colds and bronchitis. • Shortness of breath.

• Headaches.

• Stained teeth, fingers, and hair

• Insomnia.

• Diarrhea and colitis.

• Arthritis.

• Decreased sexual activity

and mental depression.

• Blood flow to the extremities is decreased (cold hands and feet).

• Smoking decreases the oxygen supply, requiring a higher blood pressure, thus causing extensive circulatory problems and premature heart attacks. Smokers have difficulty running and exercising.

• Air pollution (auto exhausts, industry wastes, etc.) increases the lung cancer rate of the smoker, but not of the non-smoker.

• The time to recover from any specific ill, whether caused by smoking or not, is much longer for the smoker. Often, a non-smoker will survive a sickness from which he would have died had he smoked.

• The smoker’s body requires more sleep every night. This extra sleep must come from his spare time. Besides needing more sleep, smokers don’t sleep as well.

• Smokers are sick more often, Smoking destroys vitamins, particularly vitamin C and the B’s. Lower intelligence has been related to smoking. In fact, smoking is both a cause and an effect of lower intelligence, just as smoking is both a cause and effect of lower income.

What are the benefits of stopping smoking?

The benefits begin straight away. You reduce your risk of getting serious disease no matter what age you give up. However, the sooner you stop, the greater the reduction in your risk.

It is never too late to stop smoking to gain health benefits.

• Benefits of stopping smoking include the following:

o Breathing improves.

o Chest infections and colds become less frequent.

o Reduction in ’smoker’s cough’.

o The smell of stale tobacco goes from your breath, clothes, hair, and face.

o Foods and drinks taste and smell much better.

o Finances improve.

o You are likely to feel good about yourself.

How can I stop smoking?

About 2 in 3 smokers want to stop smoking. Some people can give up easily. Willpower and determination are the most important aspects when giving up smoking. However, nicotine is a drug of addiction and many people find giving up a struggle.

Getting Ready to Quit

• Set a date for quitting. If possible, have a friend quit smoking with you.

• Notice when and why you smoke. Try to find the things in your daily life that you often do while smoking (such as drinking your morning cup of coffee, etc).

• Change your smoking routines: Keep your cigarettes in a different place. Smoke with your other hand. Don’t do anything else when smoking. Think about how you feel when you smoke.

• Smoke only in certain places, such as outdoors.

• When you want a cigarette, wait a few minutes. Try to think of something to do instead of smoking; you might chew gum or drink a glass of water. Buy one pack of cigarettes at a time. Switch to a brand of cigarettes you don’t like.

• Just before your stop date, get rid of all of your cigarettes, matches, lighters and ashtrays.

On the Day You Quit

• Get support and encouragement.

• Learn how to handle stress and the urge to smoke. When you get that urge to smoke (and you will), drink some water. Relax by taking a hot bath, going for a walk, or breathing slowly and deeply. Think of changes in your daily routine that will help you resist the urge to smoke. For example, if you used to smoke when you drank coffee, drink hot tea instead. Think about how your cigarette money helps support those hypocritical tobacco companies whose income is derived at the expense of the health, wealth, happiness, efficiency, and resources of the addicted smoker.

• Get medication and use it correctly. Nicotine replacement products are ways to take in nicotine without smoking. These products are like: gum, patch, nasal spray, inhaler and lozenge. Using one of these roughly doubles your chance of stopping smoking if you really want to stop.

• Give yourself rewards for stopping smoking. For example, with the money you save by not smoking, buy yourself something special.

Keep trying. Many ex-smokers did not succeed at first, but they kept trying.The first few days after stopping will probably be the hardest. Show yourself and to the other who you are. Life’s too good and too short to waste on that filthy habit.

SKIN CANCER

There are three major forms of skin cancer.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA is the most common form of skin cancer. It occurs most frequently in men who spend a great deal of time outdoors and primarily produces lesions on the head and neck. Basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads throughout the body but can invade neighbouring bone and nerves.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA is the second most common skin cancer. It primarily affects people who sunburn easily, tan poorly, and have blue eyes and red or blonde hair. Squamous cell carcinoma most commonly develops from actinic keratoses and can metastasize if left untreated. Squamous cell carcinoma of the lip is 12 times more common among men than among women.

MALIGNANT MELANOMA is the rarest form of skin cancer but is the most deadly. It affects the cells which produce melanin and seems to be more prevalent among city-dwellers than among people who work out-of-doors. It does not necessarily occur on sun-exposed areas of the body and is thought to be linked to brief, intense periods of sun exposure and a history of severe sunburn in childhood or adolescence. Malignant melanoma metastasizes easily and is often fatal if not caught in time.

The skin cancer epidemic is a worldwide phenomenon. In 1978 there were approximately 480,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer in the United States alone. This is expected to rise to over one million in 1994. Malignant melanoma is growing at a rate of 7% per year in the United States. In 1991 cancer experts estimated that there would be about 32,000 cases during the year of which 6,500 would be fatal. In Canada melanoma incidence rose by 6% per year for men and by 4.6% per year for women during the period 1970-1986. Australia has the highest melanoma rate in the world. For men the rate doubled between 1980 and 1987 and for women it increased by more than 50%. It is now estimated that by age 75 two out of three Australians will have been treated for some form of skin cancer.

If the ozone layer has not yet changed significantly except at the poles, then what is causing the enormous increase in skin cancer?

The sunscreen connection
The Australian experience provides the first clue. The rise in melanoma has been exceptionally high in Queensland where the medical establishment has long and vigorously promoted the use of sunscreens. Queensland now has more incidences of melanoma per capita than any other place. Worldwide, the greatest rise in melanoma has been experienced in countries where chemical sunscreens have been heavily promoted.

Drs. Cedric and Frank Garland of the University of California are the foremost opponents of the use of chemical sunscreens. They point out that, although sunscreens do protect against sunburn, there is no scientific proof that they protect against melanoma or basal cell carcinoma in humans. There is, however, some evidence that regular use of sunscreens helps prevent the formation of actinic keratoses, the precursors of squamous cell carcinoma.

The Garland brothers strongly believe that the increased use of chemical sunscreens is the primary cause of the skin cancer epidemic. They emphasize that people using sunscreen tend to stay longer in the sun because they do not get a sunburn – they develop a false sense of security. Chemical sunscreens are formulated to absorb UVB radiation, they let most of the UVA rays through. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and are strongly absorbed by the melanocytes which are involved both in melanin production (sun tanning) and in melanoma formation. UVA rays also have a depressing effect on the immune system.

ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
UVA rays constitute 90-95% of the ultraviolet light reaching the earth. They have a relatively long wavelength (320-400 nm) and are not absorbed by the ozone layer. UVA light penetrates the furthest into the skin and is involved in the initial stages of suntanning. UVA tends to suppress the immune function and is implicated in premature aging of the skin.

UVB rays are partially absorbed by the ozone layer and have a medium wavelength (290-320 nm). They do not penetrate the skin as far as the UVA rays do and are the primary cause of sunburn. They are also responsible for most of the tissue damage which results in wrinkles and aging of the skin and are implicated in cataract formation.

UVC rays have the shortest wavelength (below 290 nm) and are almost totally absorbed by the ozone layer. As the ozone layer thins UVC rays may begin to contribute to sunburning and premature aging of the skin.

All forms of ultraviolet radiation are believed to contribute to the development of skin cancer.

Most chemical sunscreens contain from 2 to 5% of benzophenone or its derivatives (oxybenzone, benzophenone-3) as their active ingredient. Benzophenone is one of the most powerful free radical generators known to man. It is used in industrial processes to initiate chemical reactions and promote cross-linking. Benzophenone is activated by ultraviolet light. The absorbed energy breaks benzophenone’s double bond to produce two free radical sites. The free radicals desperately look for a hydrogen atom to make them “feel whole again”. They may find this hydrogen atom among the other ingredients of the sunscreen, but it is conceivable that they could also find it on the surface of the skin and thereby initiate a chain reaction which could ultimately lead to melanoma and other skin cancers. Researchers at the Harvard Medical School have recently discovered that psoralen, another ultraviolet light-activated free radical generator, is an extremely efficient carcinogen. They found that the rate of squamous cell carcinoma among patients with psoriasis, who had been repeatedly treated with UVA light after a topical application of psoralen, was 83 times higher than among the general population.

The benefits of sunlight
Some scientists believe that UV light causes skin cancer through the combined effect of suppression of the immune system and damage to DNA. Exposure to UV light is, however, not all bad. Most of the body’s vitamin D supply, about 75% of it, is generated by the skin’s exposure to UVB rays. Using a sunscreen drastically lowers the cutaneous production of vitamin D3. A low blood level of vitamin D is known to increase the risk for the development of breast and colon cancer and may also accelerate the growth of melanoma.

Dr. Gordon Ainsleigh in California believes that the use of sunscreens causes more cancer deaths than it prevents. He estimates that the 17% increase in breast cancer observed between 1991 and 1992 may be the result of the pervasive use of sunscreens over the past decade. Recent studies have also shown a higher rate of melanoma among men who regularly use sunscreens and a higher rate of basal cell carcinoma among women using sunscreens.

Dr. Ainsleigh estimates that 30,000 cancer deaths in the United States alone could be prevented each year if people would adopt a regimen of regular, moderate sun exposure.

Although the medical establishment still strongly supports the use of sunscreens there is a growing consensus among progressive researchers that the use of sunscreens does not prevent skin cancer and, as a matter of fact, may promote skin cancers as well as colon and breast cancer.

The bottom line
So what should you do to protect yourself as much as possible against these cancers? Summarizing current research the following recommendations appear reasonable:

DO NOT rely on the use of sunscreens to protect you against skin cancer.
DO NOT try to get a tan by visiting a tanning studio. The rays from their UV lamps are extremely harmful and the tan produced does not have the protective effect of a sunlight-induced tan.
DO try to develop a moderate natural suntan unless you have extremely sensitive skin and burn easily. Regular and moderate unprotected sun exposure in the early morning or late afternoon will help maintain a protective tan and keep your vitamin D stores at an optimum level.
DO wear protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat when you are outside. Avoid sun exposure between 10 AM and 3 PM if at all possible. Remember that UV rays, particularly UVA, are present even on cloudy days.
DO wear sunglasses that filter out 100% of the ultraviolet light to protect yourself against the development of cataracts.
DO remember that sunlight is strongly reflected from sand, snow, ice, and concrete and can increase your direct sunlight exposure by 10 to 50%.
DO make sure you get enough vitamin D3 and beta-carotene, if necessary through supplementation. Recent research has shown that taking 30 mg of beta-carotene a day protects against the suppression of the immune system by UVA rays.
DO make sure to supplement your diet with antioxidants. Dr. Abram Hoffer in Victoria, Canada recommends that vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium be used as a protection against the damages of excessive ultraviolet radiation. He suggests daily dosages of 3 grams or more of vitamin C, 800 IU of vitamin E, and 200 micrograms of selenium (l-selenomethionine). Vitamins C and E also protect against cataract formation.
DO cut down on the fat in your diet. Recent research has shown that patients with non- melanoma skin cancers can reduce their risk of developing additional actinic keratoses (precursors to skin cancer) by switching to a low fat diet.

SUNSCREENS
Sunscreens are designed to protect against sunburn (UVB rays) and generally provide little protection against UVA rays. They come in two forms:

CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS contain chemicals such as benzophenone or oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) as the active ingredient. They prevent sunburn by absorbing the ultraviolet (UVB) rays.

PHYSICAL SUNSCREENS contain inert minerals such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or talc and work by reflecting the ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) rays away from the skin.

A sunscreen with a SPF of 15 filters out approximately 94% of the UVB rays. One with a SPF of 30 filters out 97%. The SPF applies for UVB rays only. The protection provided against UVA rays in chemical sunscreens is about 10% of the UVB rating.

DO wear a physical sunscreen with a SPF of 30 if you absolutely must be out in the sun for extended periods of time. Physical sunscreens containing , zinc oxide, or corn starch work by reflecting the UV radiation rather than by absorbing it. Sunscreens are tested by using artificial UV light and a screen with a SPF of 30 is not twice as effective as one with a factor of 15. Also, reapplying sunscreen during the day does not extend the period of protection. Even “broad-spectrum”
sunscreens are not very good in filtering out UVA rays. A natural suntan is probably more effective.

Read the labels on your products and avoid benzophene, diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), propylene glycol (PG), polyethyleneglycol (PEG), dea, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), mineral oil, petrolatum, lanolin.

DO see your healthcare provider if you spot any unusual moles or growth on your skin – particularly if they are irregular in shape, bleed, itch, or appear to be changing. Most skin cancers can be cured if caught in time.

The saga of sunscreens and skin cancer is far from over. Research is continuing and new findings are being published at an accelerated pace. But until we know the whole story, it would seem prudent to take precautions based on what we do know.

Neways International has been a  company manufacturing safe, effective, alternative products that really work for over 15 years.

Sincerely,

Wayne Campbell
Neways International Independent Associate
ID: 333821218
http://www.neways.com

 

How do cigarettes cause lung cancer? In addition to containing many toxic gases, the tar found in your favorite brand has a lot of cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) as well as cocarcinogens which increase the production of cancer cells.

This leads to the development of small cell (oat) carcinoma, the deadliest form of lung cancer, and squamous cell cancer – both of which are usually found in smokers.

“Your risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke each day, the number of years you smoke, the amount of smoke you inhale, and the amount of tar and nicotine in the cigarettes you smoke,” said Dr. David E. Larson, editor-in-chief of the “Mayo Clinic Family Health Book.”

While lung cancer is primarily a male problem, many women now have the disease, probably because the number of female smokers has increased. In the United States, lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer in terms of cancer deaths in women.

“The higher rates of tobacco-related cancers among men reflect the fact that in the past, more men than women smoked, and smoked heavily. In recent years, the proportion of smokers among males has been steadily decreasing in many developed countries. Unfortunately, the proportion of smokers among women has been steadily increasing all over the world,” according to Drs. Adriano V. Laudico, Divina B. Esteban, Corazon A. Ngelangel, and Lilia M. Reyes in “Cancer Facts and Estimates.”

“With many more women smoking than ever before, the number of women with lung cancer has increased at an alarming rate, so that smoking is now responsible for 75 percent of all lung cancers in women. The cancer rate for female smokers is 67 percent higher than for nonsmokers,” said Marrion Morra, assistant director of the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center at Yale University in Connecticut, and Eve Potts in “Choices: Realistic Alternatives in Cancer Treatment.”

Even nonsmokers aren’t spared from the onslaught of lung cancer. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that between 500 and 5,000 cases of lung cancer appear each year in nonsmokers as a result of inhaling someone else’s smoke. The side stream smoke inhaled by a nonsmoker has a higher percentage of tar, nicotine, and other poisonous gases – all of which contribute to lung cancer.

“The tobacco industry likes to tell people that there are other causes of lung cancer. But there is no denying the fact that smoking is a major cause of the disease. I don’t think we have to look for other causes,” said Dr. Calixto Zaldivar, former director of the Lung Center of the Philippines.

Other risk factors for lung cancer include exposure to industrial carcinogens such as asbestos, chromium compounds, radioactive ores, nickel, arsenic, and other irritating substances.

“A worker in these kinds of industries who smokes faces an even greater risk. If you are over 40, smoke two packs a day, and/or are in an occupation that is thought to be cancer producing, you should have frequent medical checkups,” Morra and Potts said. (Tomorrow: How to prevent lung cancer.)

To strengthen your body, take Immunitril – your first line of defense in maintaining a healthy immune system. For details, visit http://www.bodestore.com/immunitril.html.

When you breathe in, air passes from your nose or mouth through the windpipe (trachea), which divides into two tubes (airways), one going to each lung. These are known as the right and left bronchus and they divide to form smaller tubes called bronchioles, which carry air through the lungs. At the end of the bronchioles are millions of tiny air sacs called alveoli. In the alveoli, oxygen is absorbed from air breathed in and passes into the bloodstream to be circulated around the body.

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. The lungs are a pair of cone-shaped organs situated inside the chest, they bring oxygen into the body and take out waste carbon dioxide. There is a strong link between smoking and lung cancer. There are two main categories of lung cancer; Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) , and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). World-wide over 1 million people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year.

Sometimes the instructions to a cell go haywire and that cell and its offspring reproduce wildly, without regard for the shape and function of a lung. That wild reproduction can form tumors that clog up the lung and make it stop functioning as it should. Because of the large size of the lungs, cancer may grow for many years, undetected, without causing suspicion. Lung cancer can spread outside the lungs without causing any symptoms.Adding to the confusion, the most common symptom of lung cancer, a persistent cough, can often be mistaken for a cold or bronchitis.

The main types of lung cancer are small cell lung carcinoma and non-small cell lung carcinoma. This distinction is important because the treatment varies; non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is sometimes treated with surgery, while small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) usually responds better to chemotherapy and radiation.The most common cause of lung cancer is long term exposure to tobacco smoke. The occurrence of lung cancer in non-smokers, who account for fewer than 10% of cases, appears to be due to a combination of genetic factors, radon gas, asbestos, and air pollution, including second-hand smoke.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. It is a leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. Cigarette smoking causes most lung cancers. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater your risk of lung cancer. High levels of pollution, radiation and asbestos exposure may also increase risk.

Cancer of the lung, like all cancers, results from an abnormality in the body’s basic unit of life, the cell. Normally, the body maintains a system of checks and balances on cell growth so that cells divide to produce new cells only when needed. Disruption of this system of checks and balances on cell growth results in an uncontrolled division and proliferation of cells that eventually forms a mass known as a tumor.

Yet most lung cancer deaths could be prevented. That’s because smoking accounts for nearly 90 percent of lung cancer cases. Your risk of lung cancer increases with the length of time and number of cigarettes you smoke. If you quit smoking, even after smoking for many years, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing lung cancer. Protecting yourself from other risk factors for lung cancer, such as exposure to asbestos, radon and secondhand smoke, also decreases your risk.

Skin cancer is generally separated into two main categories, melanoma and nonmelanoma. Melanoma is the most severe form of skin cancer. The nonmelanoma group encompasses all other skin cancers. The two most common forms of nonmelanoma skin cancer, squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma, are named for the squamous or basal cells which become cancerous.

The top layer of skin, the epidermis, is made up of basal and squamous cells. The surface of the skin is made of round, flat squamous cells, and below these are the basal cells. Hair follicles and sweat glands are in the dermis below the epidermis.

Treatment of basal or squamous cell carcinoma is usually very successful with no side effects if caught early enough. Since symptoms first appear on the skin, detection of skin cancer in its earliest stage of development is possible if you recognize it. These common cancers can be surgically removed if they have not advanced, making aggressive therapy unnecessary. The danger is in not recognizing the symptoms and not going to a doctor, or in contracting skin cancer in a place you wouldn’t normally see it and failing to find it before it metastasizes. To avoid this, you should do regular skin self-examinations, checking for any possible skin cancer symptoms. If you find a small lump, rash, or sore which does not heal, you should ask your doctor if it may be skin cancer.

Melanoma is named for the melanocyte cells which give pigment to the skin and can become cancerous. These cells are located between the dermis and epidermis, and can form benign growths known as nevi, or moles. This occurs when the melanocyte cells reproduce too fast or fail to die, and accumulate into harmless growths which do not spread like cancer does. Most people have between 10 and 40 moles throughout their skin, but having a significantly higher number of nevi is a risk factor for melanoma, as is having dysplastic, or irregularly shaped, nevi. If new moles form, or if changes occur in existing moles, especially dysplastic nevi, you should see a doctor because this may be a symptom of melanoma. Watch for any changes in the skin surrounding a mole, or in the size, shape, or color of the mole.

Generally, if you have a skin anomaly which may be skin cancer, your doctor will perform a biopsy. If the possible tumor can be conveniently removed, the doctor will remove it completely and test it for cancer. No further treatment may be necessary; if the cancer has progressed, you may need topical radiation or chemotherapy, the surgical removal of local lymph nodes, or more aggressive treatment if the cancer has metastasized. If it is not treated, wandering cancerous skin cells can travel through the body and create additional tumors in other organs or systems.

Any kind of skin cancer, squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma, or melanoma, should be treated as soon as it is discovered in order to prevent metastasis.

The word cigarette comes from the French and means small cigar. The earliest cigarette dates back to around the ninth century and took the form of reeds and smoking tubes.

Cigarettes, as we know them today, are full of tobacco which is processed from the fresh leaves of the Nicotiana plant. The process involves the plant being stripped of its leaves, these leaves being dried and cured before being shredded into small pieces. There are many varied ways of consuming tobacco, but smoking a cigarette is regarded as the most popular with more than 5.5 trillion cigarettes produced per annum.

So what do we get from smoking a cigarette? There are many reasons for picking up that first tab, each one is particular to the individual involved. The smoke a cigarette delivers is full of nicotine and produces a mild psychoactive effect.

Within ten seconds of inhaling smoke, the brain feels the effect of the drug. The receptor proteins on the surface of the neurons (nerve cells) bind easily to nicotine. When the nicotine hits the nicotine receptor, the neuron sends nerve impulses to targeted organs and tissues around the body. This process causes the release of neurotransmitters which then produces the effects of nicotine.

Epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine are the three main chemicals released when we smoke. Epinephrine and norepinephrine raise both blood pressure and heart rate as well as heightening our sense of awareness and concentration. Dopamine is the chemical that is released which causes the more pleasurable effects of smoking and can dramatically change the mood of the individual.

Over time, a smoker builds up a certain tolerance to nicotine which means (as with most addictive drugs) that more nicotine is needed to reach the same high. This is where the addiction kicks in: to feel the same level of calmness that the smoker felt before they started smoking, they have to inhale more tobacco smoke a day.

The implications of smoking on the human body are devastating. Heart disease, and lung cancer are the biggest and most common killers. Other problems associated with smoking are arterial disease, mouth cancer and pregnancy related problems.

Lung cancer is the disease of uncontrolled cell growth in the lung. It can lead to a process called metastasis which is the invasion of adjacent tissue beyond the lungs. Lung cancer is the biggest killer of all the cancer family, contributing more than 1.3 million deaths world wide per annum.

There are two main types of lung cancer; Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). NSCLCs account for approximately three quarters of lung cancer and can stem from three main areas; squamous cell lung carcinoma, adrenocarcinoma and large cell lung carcinoma. The first type starts near the bronchus and is a slower growing form of the disease. Adrenocarcinoma usually originates in the in peripheral lung tissue and is the NSCLC most heavily associated with smoking. Large cell lung carcinoma is a fast growing form of the disease and develops near the surface of the lung.

SCLC is less common than than NSCLC but is a quick killer. The disease starts in the larger airways (the primary and secondary bronchi) and spreads to the rest of the lungs almost immediately. This form of lung cancer is also heavily associated with smoking.

Symptoms of lung cancer include shortness of breath, heavy coughing (often accompanied by coughing up blood) and huge weight loss. There are treatments available, but the patient has to act quick. By spotting the disease at an early stage, doctors have a higher chance of saving the inflicted by either surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. With effective treatment, the five year survival rate is 14%.

Heart disease is another big problem associated with smoking. On its own, and with no other contributing factors, cigarette smoke significantly increases the risk of coronary heart disease. When adding other factors such as obesity, diabetes and/or high blood pressure, the risk escalates even more. The Surgeon General stated that smoking is “the leading preventable cause of disease and deaths in the United States.”

Smoking not only increases blood pressure, but it also decreases exercise tolerance, increases the tendency for blood to clot and replaces oxygen with carbon monoxide in the blood. The ultimate effect of this is an added strain on the heart – a problem that worsens the more the individual smokes. As oxygen levels reduce, the heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body which in turn makes heart attacks and strokes more likely.

Although heart disease accounts for approximately 30-40% of the mortality rate, stopping smoking can greatly reduce the likelihood of a tobacco related death. After kicking the habit, the risk of heart disease falls dramatically quicker than the risk of lung cancer. There have been significant reductions in heart problems after just one year of kicking the habit.

In many countries around the world, tobacco smoking is hugely frowned upon. Tobacco advertising has been outlawed in countries across the globe and some even enforce smoking bans in public places.

In Britain, the smoking ban is partly due to the death of TV producer and general showman, Roy Castle. After dying of lung cancer in 1994 having never smoked a single cigarette, his death was blamed on the equally dangerous second-hand smoke.

England joined the league of nations enforcing the ban in 2007, along with many European countries and 50% of America. Currently, Bhutan is the only country in the world to enforce a full ban on smoking. In 2004 a ban was placed on the sale of tobacco products which was followed by a full ban on smoking in public places in 2005.

 

Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. This growth may lead to metastasis, invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs. The vast majority of primary lung cancers are carcinomas of the lung, derived from epithelial cells. Lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and the second most common in women,[1][2] is responsible for 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually.

What causes lung cancer?

Smoking

The incidence of lung cancer is strongly correlated with cigarette smoking, with about 90% of lung cancers arising as a result of tobacco use. The risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked over time; doctors refer to this risk in terms of pack-years of smoking history (the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked).

Lung cancer most commonly begins in the cells that line your lungs. Smoking causes the majority of lung cancers â?? both in smokers and in people exposed to secondhand smoke. But lung cancer also occurs in people who never smoked. In these cases, there may be no clear cause of lung cancer. Doctors have identified factors that may increase the risk.

Cancer that originates from lung cells is called a primary lung cancer. Primary lung cancer can start in the airways that branch off the trachea to supply the lungs (the bronchi) or in the small air sacs of the lung (the alveoli). Cancer may also spread (metastasize) to the lung from other parts of the body (most commonly from the breasts, colon, prostate, kidneys, thyroid gland, stomach, cervix, rectum, testes, bone, or skin).

Lung Cancer Symptoms

Lung cancer symptoms are commonly not experienced until the disease had advanced, sometimes delaying diagnosis. The symptoms of lung cancer also mimic the symptoms of other benign illnesses.

The most common lung cancer symptoms experienced are :

Onset of wheezing

Recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis

A persistent cough that does not go away

A sign is also an indication that something is not right in the body. But signs are defined as things that can be seen by a doctor, nurse, or other health care professional. Fever, rapid breathing rate, and abnormal breathing sounds heard through a stethoscope may be signs of pneumonia.

Lung Cancer Diagnosis

To help find the cause of symptoms, your doctor will evaluate your medical history, smoking history, exposure to environmental and occupational substances, and family history of cancer. Your doctor also will perform a physical exam and may recommend a chest X-ray and other tests. If lung cancer is suspected, sputum cytology â?? the microscopic examination of cells obtained from a deep-cough sample of mucus in the lungs â?? is a simple test that may be useful in detecting lung cancer. To confirm the presence of lung cancer, your doctor must examine tissue.

How can I prevent lung cancer?

The best way to prevent lung cancer is to quit smoking, or to never start in the first place. You should try and avoid being around people who are smoking; and also avoid pipes, cigars, and marijuana. If you live in an area with radon, you should make sure there is adequate ventilation in your basement to get rid of it. Use a detector to make sure the radon levels are low.

Treatment Of Lung Cancer

Many factors must be taken into account to determine the best treatment for an individual diagnosed with lung cancer. The specific type of cell, the location of the lung tumor, the stage of the disease with possible metastasis (spread to other parts of the body), and the general health of the individual must be considered. Various treatment plans may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or surgery.

Malignant Melanoma Skin cancer is a type of skin cancer that starts in the pigmentation system of the skin. The skin layer that become tanned in the summer. This type of a cancer begins in moles or in different areas of normal looking skin. In rare cases, the tumor may start in the eyes, the intestine, the respiratory passage and the brain.

Malignant melanoma is a dangerous type of cancer. In this case, the chances of the survival of patient depend on early discovery and treatment.

The skin is responsible for protecting the body from several vices such as heat, infection, injury, sunlight and water loss. The outermost layer is known as the epidermis. It consists of flat scaly squamous cells. These cells contain a protein that makes the skin strong and also flexible. There are also basal cells and melanocytes that lie deeper inside the epidermis.

Melanocytes are responsible for producing a pigment known as melanin. This pigment provides color to our skin and also protects it from sun damage.

Whenever, the skin is exposed to the sun, it tends to produce pigment and tans. Melanocytes cluster together and result in moles. Some of these moles may even become malignant melanomas.

Melanomas are mainly divided in to four major types. The division depends on the location, shape and their tendency to grow outward or downward in to the dermis.

i) Superficial

This type of melanomas grows outwards in order to form an irregular pattern on the skin.

ii) Nodular

The melanomas are lumpy and blue-black in appearance. These may grow faster and even spread downwards.

iii) Acral melanomas

It occurs on the palms, feet, nailbeds or soles of the feet.

iv) Lentigo maligna

This type of melanomas usually occurs on the faces of elderly people.

Experts say that this type of cancer origins from the mucous membranes of the mouth, vagina, anus and the eye. It can also start on other places in the body where melanocytes are usually located.

There are several symptoms that indicate the existence or growth of malignant melanoma skin cancer on the body.

Here are some of the symptoms you need to look for:

a) Color

The color of the mole gets darker or even appears as different colors mixed together.

b) Size

The size of the mole grows larger.

c) Shape

One half of the mole does not match the other. The edges of the mole become ragged, notched or even blurred.

d) Surface

The surface of the mole is usually raised, flaking, scaly, oozing or like an erosion.

e) Texture

The texture of the existing mole is lumpy or hard.

f) Skin surrounding the mole

The pigment usually spreads from the mole in to the skin that earlier looked normal. The area surrounding the mole becomes red or swells.

g) Sensation

The sensation is either itchy, tender or painful.

So whenever an existing mole gets bigger, changes in shape, creates an irregular edge, gets darker in color, becomes patchy or multi-shaded, itches, pains, bleeds, becomes crusty or appears to be inflamed, rush for medical help immediately.