Eye Cancer info

Eye Cancer info

Cancer of the eye is uncommon. It can affect the outer parts of the eye, such as the eyelid, which are made up of muscles, skin and nerves. If the cancer starts inside the eyeball it's called intraocular cancer. The most common intraocular cancers in adults are melanoma and lymphoma. The most common eye cancer in children is retinoblastoma, which starts in the cells of the retina. Cancer can also spread to the eye from other parts of the body.
Treatment for eye cancer varies by the type and by how advanced it is. It may include surgery, radiation therapy, freezing or heat therapy, or laser therapy.

source:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/eyecancer.html

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Bone Cancer

Bone Cancer 

Cancer that starts in a bone is rare. Cancer that has spread to the bone from another part of the body is more common.
There are three types of bone cancer:

• Osteosarcoma - develops in growing bones, usually between ages 10 and 25
• Chondrosarcoma - starts in cartilage, usually after age 50
• Ewing's sarcoma - begins in nerve tissue in bone marrow of young people, often after treatment of another condition with radiation or chemotherapy

The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain. Other symptoms may vary depending on the location and size of the cancer. Surgery is often the main treatment for bone cancer. Other treatments may include amputation, chemotherapy and radiation.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

source :

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonecancer.html 

 

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Bladder Cancer

Bladder Cancer

The bladder is a hollow organ in your lower abdomen that stores urine. Bladder cancer occurs in the lining of the bladder. It is the sixth most common type of cancer in the United States.

Symptoms include
Blood in your urine
A frequent urge to urinate
Pain when you urinate
Low back pain

Smoking is a major risk factor for bladder cancer. Exposure to certain chemicals in the workplace is another. People with a family history of bladder cancer or who are older, white or male have a higher risk.

Treatments for bladder cancer include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and biologic therapy. Biologic therapy, or immunotherapy, boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bladdercancer.html

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skin cancer

 skin cancer

How can people with dark skin get skin cancer?

Although dark skin does not burn in the sun as easily as fair skin, everyone is at risk for skin cancer. Even people who don't burn are at risk for skin cancer. It doesn't matter whether you consider your skin light, dark, or somewhere in between. You are at risk for skin cancer. Being in the sun can damage your skin. Sunlight causes damage through ultraviolet, or UV rays, (they make up just one part of sunlight). Two parts of UV, UVA and UVB, can both cause damage to skin. Also, the sun isn't the only cause of skin cancer. There are other causes. That's why skin cancer may be found in places on the body never exposed to the sun.

Is it true that only people with light skin get skin cancer?

No. Anyone can get skin cancer. It's more common among people with a light (fair) skin tone, but skin cancer can affect anyone. Skin cancer can affect both men and women.

How can I find skin cancer early?

Talk with your doctor if you see any changes on your skin that do not go away within one month.

Check the skin on all surfaces of your body, even in your mouth.

Watch for a new mole or other new growth on your skin.

Check for changes in the appearance of an old growth on the skin or scar (especially a burn scar).

Watch for a patch of skin that is a different color and becomes darker or changes color.

Watch for a sore that does not heal – it may bleed or form a crust.

Check your nails for a dark band. Check with your doctor if you see changes, such as if the dark band begins to spread.

When skin cancer is found early, it can be treated more easily.

What does skin cancer look like?

There are many different types of skin cancer (such as melanoma and basal cell skin cancer). Each type looks different. Also, skin cancer in people with dark skin often looks different from skin cancer in people with fair skin. A change on the skin is the most common sign of skin cancer. This may be any new growth on the skin, a sore that doesn't heal, or a change in an old growth.

	Skin cancer can look like a thick and jagged scar.		It can look like a smooth, waxy bump or a firm red lump.
	It can look like a dark (or black) bump. The bump may seem waxy or shiny.		Sometimes skin cancer can look like a dark patch on your palm or the bottom of your foot. Or it can look like a dark band under your nail.

If you notice a change on your skin, see your doctor. Don't wait until the change looks like the more advanced skin cancers in these photos.

How can I protect myself from skin cancer?

Have your doctor check your skin if you are concerned about a change.
Your doctor may take a sample of your skin to check for cancer cells.
Ask your doctor about your risk of skin cancer:

• Some skin conditions and certain medicines (such as some antibiotics or hormones) may make your skin more sensitive to damage from the sun.
• Medicines or medical conditions (such as HIV) that suppress the immune system may make you more likely to develop skin cancer.
• Having scars or skin ulcers increases your risk.
• Exposure to a high level of arsenic (a poison that is sometimes found in well water or pesticides) increases your risk.

Stay out of the sun as much as you can. Whenever possible, avoid exposure to the sun from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you work or play outside, then…

• Try to wear long sleeves, long pants, and a hat that shades your face, ears, and neck with a brim all around.
• Use sunscreen with a label that says it is broad spectrum or is at least SPF 15 and can filter both UVA and UVB rays.
• Wear sunglasses that filter UV to protect your eyes and the skin around your eyes.
• If you are concerned about having a low level of vitamin D from not being in the sun, talk with your doctor about supplements.

Don't use tanning beds, tanning booths, or sunlamps.

 source:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/prevention/skin/anyone-can-get-skin-cancer

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Leukemia cancer

Leukemia cancer

Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells. White blood cells help your body fight infection. Your blood cells form in your bone marrow. In leukemia, however, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. These cells crowd out the healthy blood cells, making it hard for blood to do its work. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), there are too many of a specific type of white blood cell called a myeloblast.

AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated. Possible risk factors include smoking, previous chemotherapy treatment, and exposure to radiation.

Symptoms of AML include:

Fever
Shortness of breath
Easy bruising or bleeding
Bleeding under the skin
Weakness or feeling tired
Weight loss or loss of appetite

Tests that examine the blood and bone marrow diagnose AML. Treatments include chemotherapy, other drugs, radiation therapy, stem cell transplants, and targeted immune therapy. Once the leukemia is in remission, you need additional treatment to make sure that it does not come back.

NIH: National Cancer Institut
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/acutemyeloidleukemia.html

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