Breast cancer is a condition in which the cells of the breast undergo a malignant growth. The malignant growth of the cells results in a group of cancerous cells (also called malignant tumor) which may spread into surrounding tissues or even to distant parts of the body. This deadly disease can occur in both men and women. However, men are less likely to be affected by it.

To cure the disease, doctors usually recommend their patients to take any or a combination of these treatment options: radiation therapy, targeted drugs, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and surgery to remove a part or the entire affected breast. Sometimes, even after the cancer cells are successfully removed, the disease may re-occur. On the other hand, the cancer can spread to other areas of the body, making it a metastatic breast cancer.

When a person reaches the metastatic stage, it means that the cancer cells have spread way beyond the affected breast. This condition happens when the cells break away from the cancer in the breast. The spread of the cells can occur in lymphatic vessels or blood vessels which may build up a new cancer deposit.

Metastatic breast cancer is also called secondary, invasive, or advanced breast cancer. At this stage, the cells can even be found in the liver, lungs, bones, and brain. Often the disease does not spread to these areas altogether but the location of the spread varies between sufferers. Moreover, it can happen before or after the treatments given to the patient.

When the cancer cells have spread to the liver, usually the patient suffers from symptoms such as tiredness, weight loss, appetite loss, and uncomfortable feeling around the liver area (the right side of the stomach). Some can also suffer from jaundice while others may develop swollen stomach due to fluid build up in the liver. On the other hand, when the cells have reached the lungs, symptoms include dry cough, shortness of breath, pain in the chest, and feeling of heaviness in the chest.

The spread of breast cancer to the bone can elicit symptoms including constant pain in the affected bone which is worsened during movements and creates uneasiness during night sleep. When it has spread to the brain, usually the patient will experience persistent headache, vomiting, and nausea. If the cancerous cells attack a particular part of the brain, other symptoms such as seizures, weakened limbs, or blurry vision may also occur. However, it is also worth noting that these symptoms can be a warning signs of other diseases. At any rate, you should consult a doctor should you experience any of these symptoms.

By David Dodiros

Skin cancer treatment is given to a patient to remove and destroy a cancer and leave as small and unnoticeable scar as possible. The size and location of the skin cancer, patient’s age, patient’s medical history, patient’s health and the risk of scarring will help to determine the best form of skin cancer treatment for the patient. Skin cancer treatment is usually a form of radiation therapy, surgery or chemotherapy. The doctor may even suggest a combination of these methods to eradicate the skin cancer from the patient.

Common types of skin cancer treatment are:
1. Surgery offers an easy and quick method to remove the skin cancer. The cancer is cut from the skin and the recovery time is very short.

2. Moths surgery is a special skin cancer treatment that aims at removing a minimal amount of healthy tissue and all of the cancerous tissue. It is also used for treating recurring cancers and large tumors in hard-to-treat places.

3. A popular method with doctors is to use curettage. This treatment is where cancer is scooped out using a curette which is a sharp instrument, with a spoon shaped end. 4. Laser therapy is used for treating cancer involving the outer layer of skin where a narrow beam of light destroys and removes cancer cells.

5. Precancerous skin conditions and small skin cancers are best treated with cryosurgery. Here liquid nitrogen is applied to the growth to freeze and kill abnormal cells. The dead tissues falls off once the area thaws. This skin treatment does not hurt, but there may be pain and swelling once the area thaws out.

6. With topical chemotherapy, anticancer drugs such as lotion or creams are applied to the skin and are best for cancers limited to the epidermis.

7. The best treatment is radiation where high energy rays are used for damaging cancer cells and to stop them from growing. This treatment is mainly used for treating areas that are difficult to treat with surgery like the tip of the ear and nose.

8. Skin grafting may be required close to the wound if a large tumor is removed, this will help to minimize the amount of scarring. With this skin cancer treatment, a piece of healthy skin from another part of the body is used for replacing skin that was removed.

Even though there is effective skin cancer treatment, it can reoccur somewhere else on the skin. This is why following up treatments with regular doctor checkups, regular self examinations and following of the doctor’s instructions are important to minimize the risk of skin cancer recurring again. If you have skin cancer you may be constantly worried about the cancer spreading throughout your body and getting worse. Not all cancers are curable, but many are, so never give up looking for an answer to your skin cancer problems.

Skin Cancer Treatment Tips
Skin cancer is the most common form of human cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), so a tumor is usually clearly visible. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squalors cell cancer. It accounts for more than 75 percent of all skin cancers. Squalors cell carcinoma also can spread internally. They account for about 20 percent of skin cancers in the United States. Melanoma is generally the most serious form of skin cancer because it tends to spread (metastasize) throughout the body quickly.

They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands and arms. Skin cancer is most closely associated with chronic inflammation of the skin. Sunburn or excessive sun damage, especially early in life. Chronic non-healing wounds, especially burns.

Treatment for skin cancer and the precancerous skin lesions known as actinic Kerasotes varies, depending on the size, type, depth and location of the lesions. The best ways to lower the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer are to avoid intense sunlight for long periods of time and to practice sun safety. For low-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.

Interferon and interleukin-2 are under study to treat melanoma and no melanoma skin cancers. Wear sunglasses with 99% to 100% UV absorption to provide optimal protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin. Wearing protective clothing (long sleeves and hats) when outdoors. Photodynamic therapy destroys skin cancer cells with a combination of laser light and drugs that makes cancer cells sensitive to light. Avoid other sources of UV light. Tanning beds and sun lamps are dangerous because they can damage your skin. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Radiation may destroy basal and squalors cell carcinomas if surgery isn't an option. Reapply sun block every 2 hours and after swimming. In chemotherapy, drugs are used to kill cancer cells.

Skin Cancer Treatment and Prevention Tips
1. Radiation may destroy basal and squalors cell carcinomas.
2. Reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, especially in early years.
3. Wearing protective clothing (long sleeves and hats) when outdoors.
4. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB radiation.
5. Wear sunglasses with 99% to 100% UV absorption to provide optimal protection for the eyes.