Cancer Diagnosis: Strategies for Getting the Best Treatment
As a patient with cancer, two of the most important decisions you will make are which treatment you will receive and where.
But diagnosing cancer is a very complex process that involves many health care professionals. In addition, the testing that is done on patients varies between doctors and specialists. And even the best health care professionals make mistakes.
How do newly diagnosed patients know they are getting the best therapy for their cancer?
Unfortunately, most patients don't get the best treatment because they are diagnosed by a doctor who is not an oncologist. Therefore, that doctor is not likely to direct them to the most up-to-date therapies available.
The first step toward getting what you need is to get a second opinion. The Institute for Advanced Study in Medicine reported that 25% of patients had their treatment changed based on a second opinion.
Comprehensive Cancer Centers are the best places to get second opinions. That's where the experts are, doctors who think about your type of cancer every day. And that's what you want.
If you aren't near a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center or Clinical Cancer Center (you can find their locations online), you can still get a second opinion. Choose a doctor who is not affiliated with your doctor, and who is at a hospital that is not affiliated with your doctor's hospital.
Another important part of getting the best therapy is to get a second opinion on your cancer by an expert pathologist. This involves getting the biopsy specimen to an outside pathologist.
Pathologists can't always precisely determine the stage of cancer, and sometimes not even the type of cancer. And, sometimes tests that could be done on your biopsy specimen aren't, simply because they aren't commonly used. But that doesn't mean these tests won't help you.
You need an expert to examine your biopsy specimens. For example, The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology has an excellent reputation in pathology.
Another important thing to do when you are first diagnosed is to contact the organizations for your type of cancer. They can lead you to experts in that field. Finally, get good nutritional counseling, and if you smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol, try your best to stop.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Skin Cancer; Early Treatment Wins the Game
Skin Cancer; Early Treatment Wins the Game
Skin cancer can happen to anyone and those at risk need to be smart and seek professional advice and/or early treatment. This makes sense of course but how do you know if you are at risk? Well if you work in an industry were you are exposed a lot to the sun you could be at risk.
If you get sunburns quite easily or have very light skin you would be more susceptible. Also if you have blue or green eyes or have blond or red hair you will be slightly more at risk. One of the most obvious things to think about is if you have skin cancer, which runs in your family. If you have a lot of moles you may wish to have a doctor look at them to see if they are the type that can become cancerous. Children who have had very bad skin burns in their past could be at risk as adults.
All doctors agree on one thing and that is of all the major types of skin cancer, early detection and treatment is your best chances for winning the game. So if you see spots on your skin, which are not symmetrical and growing these need to be checked out. The CDC says that;
"The three major types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Malignant melanoma causes more than 75% of all deaths from skin cancer. This disease can spread to other organs, most commonly the lungs and liver. Malignant melanoma diagnosed at an early stage usually can be cured, but melanoma diagnosed at a late stage is more likely to spread and cause death
Skin cancer can happen to anyone and those at risk need to be smart and seek professional advice and/or early treatment. This makes sense of course but how do you know if you are at risk? Well if you work in an industry were you are exposed a lot to the sun you could be at risk.
If you get sunburns quite easily or have very light skin you would be more susceptible. Also if you have blue or green eyes or have blond or red hair you will be slightly more at risk. One of the most obvious things to think about is if you have skin cancer, which runs in your family. If you have a lot of moles you may wish to have a doctor look at them to see if they are the type that can become cancerous. Children who have had very bad skin burns in their past could be at risk as adults.
All doctors agree on one thing and that is of all the major types of skin cancer, early detection and treatment is your best chances for winning the game. So if you see spots on your skin, which are not symmetrical and growing these need to be checked out. The CDC says that;
"The three major types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Malignant melanoma causes more than 75% of all deaths from skin cancer. This disease can spread to other organs, most commonly the lungs and liver. Malignant melanoma diagnosed at an early stage usually can be cured, but melanoma diagnosed at a late stage is more likely to spread and cause death
Skin Cancer Causes And Treatment
Skin Cancer Causes And Treatment
Skin cancer the abnormal growth of skin cells most often develops on skin exposed to the sun. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin which can have many causes. Skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin, so a tumor is usually clearly visible. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the single most important cause of skin cancer, especially when the overexposure resulted in sunburn and blistering. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages. There are three common types of skin cancer, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises.
The three most common types of skin cancer include:
Melanoma
This is less common than the other two types of skin cancer, though it can be a lot more serious. It develops from the melanocytes in the skin and is usually seen as a pigmented lesion with an irregular shape in the skin. This is definitely the most potentially harmful cancer as it can spread to various different areas within the body. If treated early, the good news is that this type of cancer has a very high cure rate, so get to the doctors as soon as possible for your best chance of recovery!
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This is usually seen within any part of the body which is exposed to excessive sun. Often occurring in the hands, lower lip, and the forehead, this type of cancer appears as a red bump or an ulceration of the skin which does not heal. The cancer if left untreated can spread to lymph nodes within the affected area.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma is by far the most common type of cancer you are likely to get and it usually appears as a small bump which has a pearly colored appearance. Usually the cancer is found on areas of the body which have had excessive sun exposure. This type of skin cancer does not usually spread to other parts of the body, and will only spread to the skin around the actual cancer.
Causes of Skin Cancer
1.Ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
2.Sunburn.
3.Heredity.
4.Environment (Cloud cover).
Symptoms of Skin Cancer
1.Change in a wart or mole.
2.Red, tender, flat spot that bleeds easily.
3.Small, fleshy bump with a smooth, pearly appearance.
4.Shiny bump that may look like a mole or cyst.
5.Skin growth that looks like a wart.
6.Patch of skin that feels scaly, bleeds, or develops a crust.
Treatment of Skin Cancer
Most skin cancers can be treated by removal of the lesion, making sure that the edges (margins) are free of tumor cells. The excisions provide the best cure for both early and high-risk disease. Radiation therapy and cryotherapy (freezing the cancer off) can provide adequate control of the disease; both, however, have lower overall cure rates than surgery.
Skin cancer the abnormal growth of skin cells most often develops on skin exposed to the sun. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin which can have many causes. Skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin, so a tumor is usually clearly visible. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the single most important cause of skin cancer, especially when the overexposure resulted in sunburn and blistering. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages. There are three common types of skin cancer, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises.
The three most common types of skin cancer include:
Melanoma
This is less common than the other two types of skin cancer, though it can be a lot more serious. It develops from the melanocytes in the skin and is usually seen as a pigmented lesion with an irregular shape in the skin. This is definitely the most potentially harmful cancer as it can spread to various different areas within the body. If treated early, the good news is that this type of cancer has a very high cure rate, so get to the doctors as soon as possible for your best chance of recovery!
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This is usually seen within any part of the body which is exposed to excessive sun. Often occurring in the hands, lower lip, and the forehead, this type of cancer appears as a red bump or an ulceration of the skin which does not heal. The cancer if left untreated can spread to lymph nodes within the affected area.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma is by far the most common type of cancer you are likely to get and it usually appears as a small bump which has a pearly colored appearance. Usually the cancer is found on areas of the body which have had excessive sun exposure. This type of skin cancer does not usually spread to other parts of the body, and will only spread to the skin around the actual cancer.
Causes of Skin Cancer
1.Ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
2.Sunburn.
3.Heredity.
4.Environment (Cloud cover).
Symptoms of Skin Cancer
1.Change in a wart or mole.
2.Red, tender, flat spot that bleeds easily.
3.Small, fleshy bump with a smooth, pearly appearance.
4.Shiny bump that may look like a mole or cyst.
5.Skin growth that looks like a wart.
6.Patch of skin that feels scaly, bleeds, or develops a crust.
Treatment of Skin Cancer
Most skin cancers can be treated by removal of the lesion, making sure that the edges (margins) are free of tumor cells. The excisions provide the best cure for both early and high-risk disease. Radiation therapy and cryotherapy (freezing the cancer off) can provide adequate control of the disease; both, however, have lower overall cure rates than surgery.
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