At this point in time the system that is most commonly used for the staging process of colon cancer is called the American Joint Committee on Cancer’s (AJCC) TNM staging system. Simply put this system used for staging places the patients into one of four stages.

Stage 0

Stage 0 also known as carcinoma in situ or colorectal cancer. In this stage the colon cancer has been detected in the innermost lining of the colon.

Stage I

In this stage the colon cancer has already begun to spread. But the cancer is still in the inner lining of the rectum or colon. In this stage the colon cancer has not reached the outer walls of the colon yet. Stage I is also known as Duke A or colorectal cancer.

Stage II

In this stage the colon cancer spread more deeply into or through the colon or rectum. Possibly the colon cancer may have affected other tissue as well. In this stage the colon cancer hasn’t reached the Lymph nodes (bean-sized structures which can be found in the entire body that helps the body fight all kinds of infections and diseases. Stage II is also known as Duke B or colorectal cancer.

Stage III

When you are in this stage the colon cancer has now spread to the Lymph nodes although it hasn’t spread to nearby parts of the body. Stage III is also known as Duke C or colorectal cancer.

Stage IV

In this stage the colon cancer has spread through the Lymph node system to other nearby tissue. This is most commonly called metastasis. The organs that most likely are affected are the lungs and liver. Stage IV is also known as Duke D or colorectal cancer.

Recurrent Colon Cancer or Cancerous Cells

When doctors talk about recurrent colon cancer they mean that cancerous cells that have already been treated have returned. These cancerous cells could possibly have returned as colorectal cancer but they might as well return in any other part of the body too.

Free Skin Exams Offered

A 38-foot, custom-built Mobile Diagnosis Vehicle (MDv) is traveling across the country offering the public free skin cancer examinations by local, board-certified dermatologists in more than 20 cities. The Tour kicked off in early March at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco and has traveled to Los Angeles before heading to Phoenix, Dallas, Houston and Tampa, so far.

The Skin Cancer Screening Tour is already making a difference. Dermatologists volunteering at the MDv have conducted more than 1,000 patient examinations while looking for four primary forms of skin cancer or precancerous skin conditions. So far, the doctors have identified incidences of these conditions in a number of people, including:

• 271 with Actinic Keratosis (AK)-AK affects 1.3 million people annually. AK is the most common type of precancerous skin lesion. If left untreated, AK can lead to Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

• 24 with Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)-SCC is a form of skin cancer that affects 200,000 Americans each year. SCCs can metastasize (spread) quickly.

• 111 with Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)-BCC is a common form of skin cancer, affecting more than 800,000 Americans annually. Chronic exposure to sunlight is most often the cause of BCC, which occurs most frequently on exposed parts of the body.

• 11 with Melanoma-Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and has increased more rapidly than any other form of skin cancer during the past 10 years. By 2010, the number of Americans with melanomas is projected to rise to 1 in 50. If melanoma is diagnosed and removed early, it is almost 100 percent curable.

“We’re very proud of the results The Skin Cancer Screening Tour has achieved so far,” says Daniel Glassman, president and CEO of Bradley Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the parent company of Doak Dermatologics. “We hope this program will encourage those at risk for skin cancer to be aware of the need to visit a dermatologist regularly.”

Skin cancer comes in three forms: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. Of the three, melanoma is the most dangerous and life threatening. Skin cancer claims the lives of approximately ten thousand Americans on an annual basis.

What causes skin cancer?

Overexposure to ultraviolet sunlight (UV rays) is believed to be the dominant external factor in a persons development of skin cancer, although genetic factors can play a role. To protect yourself from UV rays, you should take the following 5 steps for proper skin cancer prevention:

1. Avoid Direct Sun Exposure: Avoid exposing your skin to direct sunlight during midday (generally from 10am to 4pm). This is the time when UV rays are most intense. Plan your schedule to avoid outdoor activities during these hours. Also, be aware that sand and snow reflect sunlight, so if youre at the beach or a ski resort, direct sunlight can bombard you from every direction with UV rays.

2. Cover Yourself: When out in the sun, keep your skin covered. Wear long-sleeves and long pants if possible. Wearing a hat with a 3 to 4 inch brim all around is preferable. This will guard your neck and cheeks from dangerous prolonged exposure. Also note that dry, dark-colored garments offer the best protection.

3. Use Sunscreen Properly: You should always use sunscreen when enduring prolonged exposure in the sun. Find a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of at least 15 and read the directions for proper application. The higher the SPF, the higher the protection you will receive against dangerous sunburns. However, sunscreen does not offer bulletproof protection, and UV rays can penetrate water, so just because you feel cool in the water doesnt mean youre protected from sunburn.

4. Use Sunglasses That Block UV Rays: Making certain your sunglasses can block UV rays helps to guard your eyes from serious sun damage. The best constructed sunglasses should have a UV ray absorption rate of 99% to 100%. Never assume that darker lenses equal increased protection. UV rays are blocked by a chemical applied to the lenses. This chemical has nothing to do with the color of transparency of sunglass lenses.

5. Stay Away From Tanning Beds: It is a myth to believe that tanning beds and sunlamps are free of harmful UV rays. These cosmetic instruments might make your skin more attractive in the short-term, but they can significantly increase your risk of developing skin cancer in the long-term. Health professionals advise their patients to avoid them.

By implementing these 5 steps in your daily routine, you can significantly decrease your risk of developing skin cancer, while maintaining a healthy lifestyle that allows for proper exposure to the sun. Another important step in prevention of skin cancer is routine examination by a doctor. If skin cancer is detected early, then your odds of survival are markedly increased.

- Myth: Tanning Beds are Safer than the Sun

20 minutes of exposure in a tanning bed is roughly equivalent to four hours in the sun. Although sun beds use UVA rather than UVB rays, ‘The Skin Cancer Answer’ states that “UVA penetrates more deeply into the skin than UVB, can cause skin cancer, and may suppress the immune system.”

- Myth: Wearing Sunscreen at the Beach is Protection

85 percent of UV rays can even make it through on cloudy days. That means you are equally at risk in the car, walking the dog or letting your children out to play at any time of year – even when you’re not at the beach. Of course, you are usually less attired at the beach and so covering up is recommended even when wearing sunscreen. Sunscreen also wears off with sweat and water and should always be applied every two hours or after getting wet.

- Myth: Taking Care Of Your Skin Now Will Protect You

Sadly, skin cancer can take 20 or more years to develop. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that most people receive about 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood is estimated to double the risk of melanoma later in life. Taking better care now will reduce the risk, but not eliminate the damage already done.

- Myth: Having a Tan Means You’re More Protected

Dark skinned individuals are less likely to develop cancer, but tanned skin is actually damaged skin. Repeated tanning injures the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer.

So how do you plan to protect your family this year? Some suggestions are to limit exposure to the sun – especially for infants. Examine your skin for early signs of damage. Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and apply it at least 30 minutes before exposure and every two hours after that. Teach your children good safety habits and be sure you and they are covered up when outdoors.

Have fun and be safe.

An extensive search for court rulings in which an employer was held responsible for one of their staff contracting skin cancer whilst at work has provider no evidence and no case law provided. However this does not mean that an employer in the future might be found liable if they do not protect their employees welfare whilst at work.

The risks created by the suns rays should never be ignored, but what is being said is that you as an employee are not completely responsible for your own skin protection and employers to some extent must take ownership of the associated risks.

Free sun protection creams and guidance information on the risks of sun exposure should be supplied to employees if they are exposed for considerable amounts of time in the sun, as an example lets think about external workers such as builders, external landscapers etc.

A suggestion if you are spending prolonged periods of time in the sun to protect yourself is to when ever possible wear long sleeved, loose fitting clothing. Not only will this protect your skin, it will also help to keep the body temperature down and also minimise the risk of a heat stroke. Your employer could supply light weight clothing which allows the body top breathe in all weathers or prohibit the removing of clothing for their own safety.

Advise on using sun barrier creams could be instigated and the rule to use these for skin protection mandatory whilst exposed to the sun. A sun protection of no less than Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15 should be used as this will provide adequate protection.

Also advice on breaks that they should be taken in doors or in the shade out of the suns rays is another way protection can be offered. If temperatures are particularly hot then, your employer might want to consider being flexible with break allowances incorporating more frequent short rest breaks out of the sun. This time could be used to apply more protection barrier creams and to re hydrate by drinking more fresh cold drinking water.

Most of the bulbs used in the salons emit both UVA and UVB radiations that are also found in the sunlight and are responsible for both Melanoma and Nonmelonoma types of cancers. Exposure to tanning bulbs also reduces our bodys ability to repair the damaged DNA, which is caused by UV radiation.

Tanning not only may cause cancers as the last damage but also prematurely ages the skin. How many of us realize that tanning is bodys response to damage to the skin. every time, you get tanned , you accumulate skin damage. There is no such thing as safe tanning.

Unfortunately the cosmetic trends are pushing more women to tanning salons. More people are inviting cancer for the sake of the tanned look. Melanoma can kill if not diagnosed earlier. Unfortunately the young population is not changing its behavior about getting tanned. as they accumulate skin damage over the years, their getting affected by skin cancer at later stage of their life is increasing.

If you are one of those who believe that a tan is good and that tanning beds or sun lamps are safe, please stop using them. You are putting your life to a very painful death.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

Thankfully, most skin cancers, about 95 percent, are not life threatening. Skin cancer falls into two broad areas: basal-cell cancer / sqamous-cell cancer, and melanoma. The two most common of these cancers are the basal-cell and sqamous-cell carcinomas. These typically are easily treated, usually with surgery, and rarely lead to death. If neglected, however, over time, these can eventually lead to disfigurement and/or can spread with dire consequences. Only about 5 percent of all skin cancers are malignant melanomas, but these are far more dangerous and account for almost all deaths due to skin cancer. This aggressive form of cancer needs to be addressed immediately. Like most cancers, the risk of malignant melanomas will increase with age. If you feel you have developed any type of skin cancer be sure to see a dermatologist at once.

Most skin cancers, as one might imagine, occur on the face, neck and hands as these are the areas that receive the most exposure to the sun due to the fact that most of us wear clothes. These are also the areas that are most exposed to the view of others. As the usual AMA’s (American Medical Association) approach to skin cancer is knife and needle, this can leave unsightly scars just where you might not want any.

But there are alternatives. Having had a number of non-melanoma skin cancers, I’ve had the opportunity to try both the AMA (have the scars to prove it) as well as several “alternative” approaches. The method of treatment that I’ve settled on is the herb Chaparral. Chaparral is a plant that grows in the deserts of the southwestern U.S. and has been used historically by the indigenous populations of the region for a number of ailments. Today, it can be found in powder form at most health food stores. A small bag is all one needs and only cost a few bucks. I make a paste by mixing the powder with wheat germ oil (also found at your local health food store) and apply it directly to the lesion. Then I cover it with a Band-Aid. I do this once in the morning (after my shower) and again in the evening for six or seven days- carefully removing the old paste with a Q-tip. The advantages I have found are as follows: No pain. Perhaps a slight tingling at first. As chaparral only targets the cancerous cells, without affecting the surrounding normal tissue, my skin can quickly begin to repair itself naturally after the cancer is gone leaving usually just a “new skin” pink spot for several months. And all this at a fraction of the cost of a surgical procedure.

If this all seems a bit strange to you, please understand that this is nothing new. There are a number of books that have been written that offer other non-evasive, less painful methods of treating basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers as well. I would recommend the book, The Skin Cancer Answer: The Natural Treatment for Basal and Sqamos-Cell Carcinomas and Keratoses. This book is priced right, easy to read and provides you with what many might feel is a better method of treatment. But check around- and see what work best for you, knowing that many others have taken the non-AMA approach. In any event, use a dermatologist to diagnose what type of skin condition you might have, discuss it with him, but know that there may be cost effective, alternatives to the knife and needle.

A skin cancer is a cancer that results in the overproduction of harmful cells on the skin. This cancer is usually detected by looking for a pigment called melanoma. Signs of skin cancer include a sudden change in the appearance of the skin or the presence of wounds or sores that don’t heal. The two most common forms of skin cancer are asquamous cells and carcinoma. These two are also better known as non-melanoma skin cancer. There is an estimated 1,000,000 new cases of non-melanoma cancer in the United States for this year alone.

Skin cancer occurs when the UV Light (Ultra Violet) from the sun damages the DNA in skin, causing skin cells to mutate and grow into cancers. Although sunlight is very important, it keeps us warm and it allows skin to manufacture vitamin D which is essential to metabolic processes that leads to having strong bones. On the other hand,the UV light found in sunlight damages the DNA in skin, causing its skin cells to mutate.

People who are at most risk or likely to get skin cancer are those people who spent a lot of time outdoors. People who engage in frequent outdoor activities like mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking, working in the farm, or fishing are thought to be predisposed to skin cancer. Urbanites who fancy spending their weekends on hot tropical island getaways are also at risk.

Generally when a cancer is found, it is removed through surgical means and it’s only in advanced cases that the use of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy is considered. Another least common type of skin cancer is the melanoma which is mostly a common skin cancer in men and women between the ages of 15 to 44 years old. Melanoma is a cancer of melancytes and usually looks dark brown, black or blue-black. It can looked flat or raised. It can look as a patch of normal skin like a mole or a freckle. Some signs of this cancer include:

1.A change of color (much darker than before)
2.Bleeding
3.Itching
4.A mole appears for the first time when you are already over 30

PREVENTING SKIN CANCER AND OTHER SKIN CARE TREATMENT TIPS

lThe sun is at its peak between 10 am to 4 pm and so try to seek the shade or bring a hat or umbrella with you if there is no place that you can seek as a cover from the heat rays.
lUse a sunscreen always with an SPF of 15 or higher when ever possible
lUse a UV-blocking sunglasses.
lExamine your skin, look for some slight changes.
lWhen in doubt seek help from a skin professional so you can take some skin test.

The overall outlook is that you can prevent skin cancer. If you suspect that your mole is cancerous, let a well-trained doctor examine it right away or visit a dermatologist.

Dust mites are too small to be seen with the naked eye. You can find all sorts of information about dust mites on the Internet. However here we will talk about how to control dust mites effectively and reduce symptoms from them.

- Change bed sheets, pillowcases and blankets at least once a week. To kill dust mites, you have to wash bedding in a washing machine at a temperature of at least 130 F. So we recommend you to choose light coloured bedding so that their colour will not noticeably fade.

- Protect your mattress, box springs and pillows with allergy-proof covers. This keeps dust mites away from the flakes of dead human skin cells which are a primary food source for them.

- Keep stuffed toys away from your bed. You might be amazed to learn that stuffed toys can attract dust mites.

- Reduce humidity. It helps if you can lower the relative humidity in your house, normally lower than 50% is sufficent. When dust mites can’t absorb moisture from the air they will shrink and die. You can use air conditioners and dehumidifiers to achieve this benefit.

- Use stone, hardwood or laminate flooring instead of carpet if possible This eliminates an ideal dust mite territory. If you cannot choose your flooring, make sure that you use asteam cleaner on your carpets at least once a year.

- Dust and vacuum your home at least once a week. You need to clean your house regularly. Find a cleaner if you cannot afford the time. Regular dusting and vacuuming will help to control dust and therefore dust mites in your house. Use a damp mop or damp cloths on hard floors and furnishings as dry cloths stir up dust mite remains. Vacuum carpets, sofas, curtains and window blinds regularly with a powerful vacuum cleaner, preferably with a special filter.

- Keep away furry and feathered animals from your bedroom. Your pets’ dead skin cells are another food source for dust mites. So it’s best to have your pets sleep as far away from your bedroom as possible. You can treat your pets’ sleeping areas the same as yours, i.e. regular cleaning and use allergy-proof covers.

Every little helps. For more information, use our special cleaning team, if you are based in London or the South East.

Eczema is also considered a skin allergy. Eczema is generally an inherited trait and it usually starts in childhood. A eczema sufferer will have skin that is dry and itchy. There is sometimes also flaking and scaling of the skin and weeping blisters. Children who suffer from eczema are usually found to suffer from hay fever and asthma too.

Hives are another form of contact dermatitis that can be brought on from an internal allergen, such as an allergy to food or medicine, or from an external allergen such as contact with an animal, some plants (poison ivy or poison oak) or soap products. For some foods like chocolate, nuts, tomatoes, and berries can cause hives. Most hives appear quickly but are gone within 24 to 48 hours.

As with other types of allergies such as seasonal pollen, animal allergy or food allergy there is no cure for skin allergies. Most outbreaks of contact dermatitis can be treated with over the counter antihistamines. The best way to avoid an outbreak is to avoid what is causing the outbreak. You can look for non allergenic and fragrance free make up and beauty products. Those who suffer from eczema should avoid extremes of heat and cold and use heavy moisturizers on their skin to help protect and heal it.