Personal Or Family History Of Skin Cancer
Melanoma
Individuals who have been diagnosed with melanoma are at increased risk for a second primary melanoma. That risk may be as high as 5% and is higher in older men and in those whose first melanoma was on the upper body and face.
People with family members who have or had melanoma have approximately twice the risk of developing melanoma as those without a family history, and should be examined on a regular basis.
Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers
The evidence for an increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancers with a family history of such cancers is increasing, but it is still weaker than the evidence for a familial connection to the risk of melanoma. The nonmelanoma skin cancers at this time are more related to sun exposure than genetics.
How Can I Tell If I Have Skin Cancer
¿Cómo se ve el cáncer de la piel? ¿Cómo puedo prevenir el cáncer de piel?¿Estoy en riesgo de desarrollar melanoma?Cáncer de piel en personas de colorCómo examinar sus manchasNoe Rozas comparte su
Skin cancer is actually one of the easiest cancers to find. Thats because skin cancer usually begins where you can see it.
You can get skin cancer anywhere on your skin from your scalp to the bottoms of your feet. Even if the area gets little sun, its possible for skin cancer to develop there.
You can also get skin cancer in places that may surprise you. Skin cancer can begin under a toenail or fingernail, on your genitals, inside your mouth, or on a lip.
What Skin Cancer Looks Like
Skin cancer appears on the body in many different ways. It can look like a:
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Changing mole or mole that looks different from your others
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Dome-shaped growth
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Non-healing sore or sore that heals and returns
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Brown or black streak under a nail
It can also show up in other ways.
To find skin cancer on your body, you dont have to remember a long list. Dermatologists sum it up this way. Its time to see a dermatologist if you notice a spot on your skin that:
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Differs from the others
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Itches
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Bleeds
To make it easy for you to check your skin, the AAD created the Body Mole Map. Youll find everything you need to know on a single page. Illustrations show you how to examine your skin and what to look for. Theres even place to record what your spots look like. Youll find this page, which you can print, at Body Mole Map.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer may cause only vague unexplained symptoms. Pain , weight loss, jaundice with or without itching, loss of appetite, nausea, change in stool, pancreatitis and recent-onset diabetes are symptoms that may indicate pancreatic cancer. If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, we urge you to speak to your doctor immediately and reference pancreatic cancer.
Sunlight And Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure
Skin cancer is associated with both the length and intensity of sun exposure. The risk of melanoma increases with excessive sun exposure during the first 10 to 18 years of life. Sunburns are also dangerous having 5 or more sunburns doubles the risk of developing skin cancer. The cancer typically arises many years later.
Tanning Devices
Tanning beds and sun lamps increase the risk for developing melanoma and other skin cancers, and the risk increases with frequency, age of use, and length of use. Women in their 20s, as well as people with blond or red hair are especially at risk. The World Health Organization has designated tanning devices as known carcinogens. More governmental restrictions are now in place to prevent young people from accessing these devices.
There is some evidence that long-term treatment for psoriasis and other skin conditions using UVA radiation and UVB may increase the risk for melanoma. If phototherapy is part of your treatment plan for skin disease, one should talk with the dermatologist about the risk of skin cancer developing and be checked regularly.
Ethnic Groups and Complexion
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Dark Lines On The Fingernails Or Toenails
The appearance of a dark area under a fingernail or toenail that appears without an obvious injury should always be investigated. Melanoma of the nail bed often presents when a pigmented streak of the nail involves the cuticle . These cancers are most common on the thumb and big toe but may occur on any nail.
While subungual melanomas are uncommon in whites, accounting for only around 1% of melanomas, they are the most common form of melanoma found in dark-skinned individuals.
Many Factors Increase The Risk Of Nausea And Vomiting With Chemotherapy
Nauseaand vomiting with chemotherapy are more likely if the patient:
- Is treated with certain chemotherapy drugs.
- Had severe or frequent periods of nausea and vomiting after past chemotherapy treatments.
- Is female.
- Is younger than 50 years.
- Had morning sickness or vomiting with a past pregnancy.
- Is receiving certain drugs, such as opioids .
- Has an infection, including an infection in the blood.
- Has kidney disease.
Patients who drank large amounts of alcohol over time have a lower risk of nausea and vomiting after being treated with chemotherapy.
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What About Other Treatments That I Hear About
When you have cancer you might hear about other ways to treat the cancer or treat your symptoms. These may not always be standard medical treatments. These treatments may be vitamins, herbs, special diets, and other things. You may wonder about these treatments.
Some of these are known to help, but many have not been tested. Some have been shown not to help. A few have even been found to be harmful. Talk to your doctor about anything youre thinking about using, whether its a vitamin, a diet, or anything else.
The Factors Of Variation Of Efudex Side Effects
There is no set list of side effects all Efudex users will encounter. The side effects vary depending upon the area you are treating, the length of treatment, and the number of times you are applying daily. The big reason Efudex cant easily be defined in terms of normal stems from the fact that our individual levels of damage differ considerably from one person to the next. I learned this pretty quickly the first two years I treated my chest with Efudex.
My own reactions to the cream were so different from the first year to the third year I would have sworn I wasnt using enough cream or that my tube of cream wasnt potent enough. The first year, the skin between my collar bone and breasts exploded in one intense patch of dry, itchy, redness that tightened and throbbed. The next fall, I treated the same area and noted a significant decrease in redness. The third year yielded a major reaction equal to that of the first year. I was amazed and confused all at once.
I compiled the following list of reported side effects after spending the last three years using the cream myself on my face and chest and sharing and learning along with fellow Efudex users.
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Cancer Symptoms Women Shouldn’t Ignore
The warning signs of gynecologic cancers can be vague and similar tothose of other conditions. That’s why its important to know what tolook for.
Cancer may not be on your radar, especially if youre relatively young and healthy. But it should be, regardless of your age or family history.
Each year, nearly 90,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer, such as endometrial , ovarian cancer or cervical cancer. More than 242,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Most of these cancers occur in women after menopause. But gynecologic cancers can strike women before menopause, too.
“Your risk for all cancer types rises as you age, but its important to know what to look for at any age,” says Therese Bevers, M.D., medical director of the Cancer Prevention Center. “That way, if symptoms appear, you can tell your doctor right away.”
The signs of cancer, particularly gynecologic cancers, can be vague and similar to those of other conditions. Only breast and cervical cancers can be detected through screening. So recognizing these symptoms and talking about them with your gynecologist or primary care doctor can increase your odds of finding cancer early, when its most treatable.
Here are 10 cancer symptoms that every woman should be on the lookout for.
3. Vaginal discharge colored with blood. Bloody, dark or smelly discharge is usually a sign of infection. But sometimes, its a warning sign of cervical, vaginal or endometrial cancer.
Tests That May Be Done
The doctor will ask you questions about when the spot on your skin first showed up and if it has changed in size or the way it looks or feels. The rest of your skin will be checked. During the exam your doctor will check the size, shape, color and texture of any skin changes. If signs are pointing to skin cancer, more tests will be done.
Skin biopsy
In a biopsy, the doctor takes out a small piece of tissue to check it for cancer cells. A biopsy is the only way to tell for sure if you have skin cancer and what kind it is.
There are many types of skin biopsies. Ask your doctor what kind you will need. Each type has pros and cons. The choice of which type to use depends on your own case.
In rare cases basal and squamous cell skin cancer can spread to the nearby lymph nodes Ask your doctor if your lymph nodes will be tested.
Basal and squamous cell cancers don’t often spread to other parts of the body. But if your doctor thinks your skin cancer might spread, you might need imaging tests, such as MRI or CT scans.
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What Causes Nausea And Vomiting In People With Cancer
Nausea and/or vomiting in the person with cancer can be caused by many different things, such as:
- Cancer treatments
- The expectation of vomiting because of vomiting before in the same setting
- Other diseases or illnesses
Not all people who get cancer treatments have nausea and/or vomiting. Your risk for having nausea or vomiting depends on the type of cancer being treated and the type and dose of treatment being given.
Chemotherapy and other drugs used to treat cancer travel throughout the body while radiation therapy treats one part of the body where the cancer is located. For this reason, chemotherapy and some other drugs used for cancer treatment causemore nausea and vomiting than radiation therapy. If you are getting chemotherapy, you might hear your cancer care team refer to it as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting . Your cancer care team knows which treatments have a higher risk for CINV because studies have shown that certain drugs used to treat cancer are more likely to cause nausea and vomiting than other others. Chemo and other drugs used to treat cancer are classified according to their emetogenicpotential as high, moderate, low, or minimal risk. Anti-nausea drugs are used to help control and even prevent nausea and vomiting depending on this risk. You may hear them called anti-emetics.
Diseases And Treatments That Increase Skin Cancer Risk
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Survivors of either non-Hodgkin lymphoma or melanoma face a higher risk for other cancers. These diseases may have common causes, such as exposure to UV radiation or shared genetic factors.
Human papillomavirus
Genital warts may also increase the risk of squamous cell cancer in the genital and anal areas and around fingernails.
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Dermoscopy And Total Body Photography
A combination of imaging approaches should be considered for early melanoma detection and diagnosis, since each technique alone has limitations. Some doctors now use various scope-like devices that enhance the visualization of the suspected lesion. These tools are more likely to be helpful for those with atypical nevi or history of melanoma.
MelaFind is a proprietary tool used to visually detect melanoma and it was approved for use by the FDA. It uses pattern recognition of certain factors that would lead a dermatologist to more highly suspect a lesion and perform a biopsy.
When Should I See A Doctor
Most cases of unexplained weight loss arent caused by cancer. Still, its a good idea to follow up with your healthcare provider about any significant weight loss that cant be explained by changes in your diet or activity levels.
Generally, losing more than 5 percent of your body weight within 6 to 12 months warrants a visit. And if youre an older adult with other health issues, even a smaller amount of weight loss may be reason to see your healthcare provider.
Your provider will begin by taking your medical history, including any medications you are taking. Urine and blood tests, as well as imaging scans, can find signs of cancer or another condition that may be behind your weight loss.
Seek immediate treatment if your weight loss is accompanies by any of the following symptoms:
- inability to swallow solids or liquids
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If Youre Getting Radiation Therapy To The Breast
If you have radiation to the breast, it can affect your heart or lungs as well causing other side effects.
Short-term side effects
Radiation to the breast can cause:
- Skin irritation, dryness, and color changes
- Breast soreness
- Breast swelling from fluid build-up
To avoid irritating the skin around the breast, women should try to go without wearing a bra whenever they can. If this isnt possible, wear a soft cotton bra without underwires.
If your shoulders feel stiff, ask your cancer care team about exercises to keep your shoulder moving freely.
Breast soreness, color changes, and fluid build-up will most likely go away a month or 2 after you finish radiation therapy. If fluid build-up continues to be a problem, ask your cancer care team what steps you can take. See Lymphedema for more information.
Long-term changes to the breast
Radiation therapy may cause long-term changes in the breast. Your skin may be slightly darker, and pores may be larger and more noticeable. The skin may be more or less sensitive and feel thicker and firmer than it was before treatment. Sometimes the size of your breast changes it may become larger because of fluid build-up or smaller because of scar tissue. These side effects may last long after treatment.
After about a year, you shouldnt have any new changes. If you do see changes in breast size, shape, appearance, or texture after this time, tell your cancer care team about them right away.
Less common side effects in nearby areas
Different Types Of Nausea And Vomiting Are Caused By Chemotherapy Radiation Therapy And Other Conditions
Nausea and vomiting can occur before, during, or after treatment.
The types of nausea and vomiting include:
- Acute: Nausea and vomiting that happen within 24 hours after treatment starts.
- Delayed: Nausea and vomiting that happen more than 24 hours after chemotherapy. This is also called late nausea and vomiting.
- Anticipatory: Nausea and vomiting that happen before a chemotherapy treatment begins. If a patient has had nausea and vomiting after an earlier chemotherapy session, he or she may have anticipatory nausea and vomiting before the next treatment. This usually begins after the third or fourth treatment. The smells, sights, and sounds of the treatment room may remind the patient of previous times and may trigger nausea and vomiting before the chemotherapy session has even begun.
- Breakthrough: Nausea and vomiting that happen within 5 days after getting antinausea treatment. Different drugs or doses are needed to prevent more nausea and vomiting.
- Refractory: Nausea and vomiting that does not respond to drugs.
- Chronic: Nausea and vomiting that lasts for a period of time after treatment ends.
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What Are Normal Efudex Side Effects
Of all the conundrums youve experienced on lifes journey, medications and prescribed treatments from your doctor or nurse practitioner can be the most bewildering. Efudex, a topical chemotherapy designated as a treatment for precancerous lesions, is particularly perplexing. If you are one of the many users of Efudex, also known as fluorouracil, you have likely found yourself asking your doctor or a fellow user one of the many questions swirling around your brain, all of which contain some variation of the word normal.
As a regular user of Efudex, let me ease your fears just a bit. There is no normal when it comes to Efudex cream. Not what you wanted to hear, I know. For that, I am truly sorry. When it comes to Efudex, anything goes. Amazingly, this is true not only from one user to the next but also from one persons first use to his or her next treatment. This makes Efudex somewhat of an enigma to both users and the members of their support systems.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma And Bowen Disease
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is the second most common type of skin cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma develops from flat, scale-like skin cells called keratinocytes, which lie on top of the basal cell layer of the epidermis. Most squamous cell carcinomas occur on sun-exposed areas, largely the forehead, temple, ears, neck, and back of the hands. Burns or other heat-related injured sites are more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma. People who have spent considerable time sunbathing may develop them on their lower legs. Squamous cell carcinomas occur more often than basal cell cancers in African Americans and Asians, and are more common in men than women.
Although squamous cell skin carcinomas usually can be removed completely with no risk of the cancer spreading, they are more likely than basal cell cancers to be invasive and spread elsewhere in the body.
Types of squamous cell carcinoma:
- Squamous cell carcinoma in situ is the earliest form of this type of cancer. The cancer is confined to the epidermis and has not invaded the deeper dermis. Cancer areas can appear as reddish patches that are scaly and crusted. They can look like warts.
- Invasive squamous cell carcinoma is more likely to spread. The skin cancer lesions can grow rapidly or slowly . Eventually they break into an open wound that will not heal.
Getting prompt treatment is important, because squamous cell cancers are more likely than basal cell cancers to spread to local lymph nodes.
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