Every woman, no matter what her age, should know how to do self-examination for breast cancer. This needs to be done monthly. If you do not know how to do such an exam, ask your doctor. Regular mammograms should start when a woman if 40 years old. An early diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death.

Monthly exams consist of feeling around the breasts and looking at the nipples in a mirror. If you are experiencing symptoms such as discharge from a nipple, a change in the shape of one nipple, lumps or hardness, call your doctor immediately.

If your doctor suspects breast cancer, more tests will be ordered. A biopsy will determine if a tumor is indeed cancerous or if it is benign (usually fibrous).

Once breast cancer has been diagnosed, the next step is to find out how far the cancer has spread and in what stage it is. Often, if it is caught early on, a lumpectomy is done. Some women choose to have radiation and chemotherapy before surgery to try to shrink the cancer so they do not have to have a breast removed. When a woman has a mastectomy (breast removal), the lymphatic nodes under the arm are often taken to ensure the cancer does not reoccur. Many women have a lumpectomy - where the lump is all that is removed - followed by chemotherapy and radiation. Hormone therapy may be prescribed as well.

Surprisingly, only 10 percent of breast cancer is considered to be genetic. This is counter to what was believed just a few years ago. The fact is that breast cancer can happen to anyone whether or not they have family members who have had the disease.

Due to education, self-examination, mammography and earlier diagnosis, more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before. This is why a woman must know her own body and be able to detect the slightest change in her health. If you are not already doing monthly exams, find out how they are done and start doing them. If you are 40 years of age or older, you should be having regular mammograms.

INTRODUCTION: Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine also known as the colon, the lower part of your digestive system. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the US, and the leading cause of deaths from cancer among non-smokers.

It is, in the majority of cases, a treatable disease providing it is caught early. The facts show that when colon cancer is caught early, there is a 95 percent survival rate. It may be nutritionally based. For example, the rate of colon cancer is much higher in North America than in China, but Chinese who move to North America have a higher incidence.

EARLY: Most colorectal cancers are predictable by early diagnosis and screening. In fact, screening prevents more deaths due to early detection than breast or prostate cancer screening. Other research is looking at multiple genes involved in colon cancer and at improving screening techniques so more cancers can be detected early.

This includes looking for markers in blood, stool or urine that might provide an easier screening method to detect early signs of colon cancer. In general, when treatment starts at an early stage, more than 90 percent of patients survive at least 5 years after their diagnosis. However, only about 39% of colon cancer is found at an early stage.

SYMPTOMS: Symptoms tend to vary depending on the position or site of the cancer within the colon or rectum, though there may not be any symptoms at all. Symptoms of colorectal cancer can include intense abdominal pain, bloody stools or rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, or major changes in bowel habits (recurring constipation or diarrhea).

In fact, the most common symptom is no symptoms at all, says Emina Huang, MD. But once these symptoms begin to develop, it may be a sign of more advanced disease. Half of people diagnosed after symptoms develop will die. Finding colorectal cancer before symptoms develop dramatically improves the chance of survival.

CONCLUSION: There is no question that the earlier the cancer is found, the more likely the patient can be cured with surgery. Although the cause is yet unknown, there is evidence that the majority of these cancers arise from polyps (benign intestinal tumors).

It has been well demonstrated that if colon cancer is found in the earliest stages, the cure rate could be improved to 90 percent.

INTRODUCTION: Breast Cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. It is the leading cause of death among women between 40 and 55 years of age, the second overall cause of death among women (exceeded only by lung cancer) and is on the rise worldwide. Breast cancer is more easily treated and often curable if it is found early.

LUMPS: Most breast tumors (abnormal lumps or masses of tissue) are benign (not cancerous). Using the fingertips, a lump may be detected within the breast. If a lump in the breast is found, the doctor may need to cut out a small piece of the lump (biopsy).

There are four types of biopsies: Excisional Biopsy (The removal of an entire lump or suspicious tissue); Incisional Biopsy (The removal of part of a lump or suspicious tissue); Needle Biopsy (The removal of part of a lump, suspicious tissue, or fluid, using a thin needle); Core Biopsy (The removal of part of a lump or suspicious tissue using a wide needle).

A group of rapidly dividing cells may form a lump of extra tissue. For example, fibrocystic change is a non-cancerous condition in which a female develops cysts (accumulated packets of fluid), fibrosis (formation of scar-like connective tissue), lumpiness, areas of thickening, tenderness, or breast pain.

RISKS: Women who have an altered gene related to breast cancer and who have had cancer in one breast are at great risk of developing cancer in the other breast. These women also have a high risk of developing ovarian cancer, and may have an increased risk of developing various other cancers.

Age and history of health can affect the risk of developing breast cancer. Each woman’s risk may be higher or lower, depending upon a number of factors, including family history, genetics, age of menstruation, and other factors that have yet to be identified. Breast feeding for several months also seems to reduce the risk.

TREATMENT: Treatment for breast cancer usually depends on the type of cancer and whether it has spread outside of the breast to the rest of the body. Treatment includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and endocrine/anti-hormone therapy. Treatment for male breast cancer is usually a mastectomy, which is surgery to remove the breast.

CONCLUSION: Previously a malady that mostly afflicted white, affluent women in the industrial hubs of North America and Western Europe, breast cancer is now everywhere. But in China, as in most other emerging economies, it is a relatively new concern, something that both patients and doctors are only haltingly learning how to treat.

The newest age-specific data in Denmark show that the incidence of breast cancer is maximal for a woman born between 1945 and 1950, and is on the decline for women born since that time. Greater than 90 out of 100 women whose cancer is found early will be cured. The leading cause of this form of cancer is said to be the use of anti-perspirants. The good news is that it is a highly curable disease when it is found and treated early.

Worldwide there are several medical problems that are peculiar to women and peculiar to women. If your considering cancer let’s say, then for women it is breast cancer. However, although it is rare, men can also contract breast cancer.

When we consider cancer in men it invariably brings up prostrate cancer. Unfortunately it has also become a central topic when groups of men get together as more and more men are contracting it.

If we are honest, it’s the cure we are interested in and preferably how to prevent it but this requires a good deal of research.

If the truth be known, cancer does worry me. I don’t doubt that like me, most men haven’t got it on their minds all day long. However, it does enter my mind every time I see something addressing the illness. When you watch the television, you can’t escape from it with a number of adverts relating to prostrate and breast cancer every hour.

Both will require far more investigation and examination before a cure can be found. As health problems go, cancer is probably the most pervasive in the world and a cure to this dreadful disease cannot come too soon.

It’s fair to say that even if you live healthily you cannot say for certain that at some point you won’t get it. HIV although an awful disease, is, if precautions are taken, preventable unlike cancer and it is worrying when people compare the two.

Most other illnesses can be prevented and I am always annoyed when people bring up HIV. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want HIV but at least I know exactly how to avoid contracting it.

It’s interesting to read current articles concerning cancer and other health afflictions. What other way is there to keep up to date on possible treatments for prostrate and breast cancer?

I’m sure all this prostrate cancer research will finally find a cure and will all have been worth it.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer is cancer of the small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces seminal fluid, the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. It is also the second most common type of cancer among men in this country and is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages.

Prostate cancer typically occurs in older men and is seldom found in men under the age of 40. It occurs in 1 out of 6 men and when confined to the gland is usually treated successfully.

RISK: Every man is at risk for developing prostate cancer. Along with being male, there are other risk factors, such as age, race, and family history that may contribute to the overall risk. Men at greater risk include African-America men over 60,farmers, tire plant workers, painters, and men exposed to cadmium. The risk for developing it rises significantly with age, and 60 percent of recently diagnosed cases occur in men over the age of 70.

The greatest risk factor is age. This risk increases significantly after the age of 50 in white males who have no known family history of the disease and after the age of 40 in african american men as well as those who have a close relative with the disease. Having a brother with prostate cancer seems to increase your risk more than an affected father does. That risk becomes higher when there are multiple family members affected.

SYMPTOMS: May include Problems passing urine, such as pain, difficulty starting or stopping the stream, or dribbling, Low back pain, Pain with ejaculation. Many men experience no symptoms; the first indication that they may have the disease is often an abnormal finding on a routine screening exam. Symptoms are more likely to appear as the cancer grows.

TREATMENT: May include surgery, radiation therapy, drugs or control of hormones that affect the cancer. It often depends on the stage of the cancer and appropriate treatment is often very controversial.

Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of available treatment options. Chemotherapy is often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. A radical prostatectomy is often recommended for treatment of stages A and B.

CONCLUSION: Prostate cancer is the 3rd most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men past 75 years of age. Frequently there are no symptoms in its early stages. If it has spread, it may be treated with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the gland, or chemotherapy.

The U.S. has the highest rate of breast cancer in the world. One woman out of eight will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in her life.

Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer in the leading cause of death by cancer in women. In the United States alone, more than 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year.

Every woman should perform monthly breast examinations on herself. Doing so makes her more familiar with her body and when changes are happening, she is much more apt to notice. Any lumps or hardening of the breast tissue should be noted along with a misshapen nipple or discharge. Soreness may accompany these changes but not every one feels pain in the earliest stages of cancer.

When a woman is 40 , she should begin scheduling regular mammograms. A mammogram is capable of catching cancer in its early stages. Because of self-exams and mammograms, cancer is being caught earlier and more women are surviving.

Diagnosing breast cancer in its earliest stages often makes it possible for a woman to have other treatments besides mastectomy. Not only will she be more likely to survive breast cancer, but she will also be more likely to come through without the loss of a breast.

When breast cancer is diagnosed, a woman will be presented with several courses of treatment. Depending on the stage of her cancer, one or all of the treatments may be required to cure her. Treatments include: hormone therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, lumpectomy, mastectomy and lymph node removal. Some women who are diagnosed early on will choose to have both of her breasts removed as a preventative against a reoccurrence of cancer.

Some of the side effects caused by breast cancer treatments may include fatigue, nausea, lymphedema, compromised immune system, pain and depression. Sometimes breast cancer does come back. Depression is caused by losing one or both breasts and/or a fear for one’s life even after the cancer has been declared “cured”.

Women are not the only people who get breast cancer. Though it is not common, men can and do develop breast cancer, too. When this happens, their course of treatment is the same as those of women.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cellular growth in tissues of the lungs. It is one of the most commonly occuring cancers in the United States, accounting for approximately 15 percent of all cases, or 170,000 new cases every year. It is also the leading cancer killer in America, taking more lives each year than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined, according to the American Cancer Society. In the US it is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women and is responsible for as many deaths as breast and all gynecological cancers combined.

SMOKING: Smoking, radon, and second hand smoking are the main causes. Smoking causes an estimated 160,000* deaths in the United States and leads to 85 percent to 90 percent of all lung cancers.

Smoking affects non-smokers by exposing them to second hand smoke. If a smoker stops smoking, the chance of lung cancer decreases steadily as damage to the lungs is repaired and contaminant particles are slowly removed.

RADON GAS: A colorless and odorless gas produced by the breakdown of radioactive radium, which is the decomposition product of uranium, found in the earth’s crust.

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. It causes between 15,000 and 22,000 deaths each year in the United States — 12 percent of all lung cancer deaths are linked to radon.

RISK FACTORS: Include smoking cigarettes or cigars, today or in the past. Not all cases are cause by smoking, but the role of passive smoking is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor, leading to policy interventions to reduce undesired exposure of non-smokers to others’ tobacco smoke.

A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much higher risk of lung cancer. The more cigarettes you smoke a day and the earlier you started, the greater your risk of developing lung cancer. High levels of pollution, radiation and asbestos exposure may also increase your risk.

SYMPTOMS: Can include Chronic coughing, Hoarseness, Coughing up blood, Weight loss & lack of appetite, Shortness of breath, Fever for unknown reasons,Wheezing, Repeated episodes of bronchitis or pneumonia and Chest pain.

About 10 percent of people have no symptoms at diagnosis; these cancers are incidentally found on routine chest x-rays. In fact, lung cancer can spread outside the lungs without producing any symptoms.

TREATMENT: Treatment depends on the cancer’s specific cell type, how far it has metastasize (spread), and the patient’s performance status. It also depends on the stage, or how far along it is.

Treatment options should be discussed with Your doctor. It may include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. In the past few years, various molecular targeted therapies have been developed as treatments.

CONCLUSION: Lung cancer is the second most commonly occurring form of cancer in most western countries, and it is the leading cancer-related cause of death. It is the most common cause of cancer deaths in both men and women, accounting for nearly a third of cancer deaths annually in the United States.

It has become the subject of a great amount of research. Although the rate of men dying from it is declining in western countries, it is actually increasing for women due to the increased takeup of smoking by this group. We already know that the best way to prevent it is to quit (or never start) smoking. Three to five years after quitting, the risk of getting the disease is reduced by half.

INTRODUCTION: Leukemia means white blood (Greek leukos, white; aima, blood). It is a cancer of the bone marrow or blood and is characterized by an abnormal growth of blood cells, usually white blood cells (leukocytes)and is divided into acute and chronic forms.

It affects the digestive tract, lungs, Kidneys or other parts of the body and can also collect in the testicles causing edema and swelling. It is one of the most common cancers of children, although it isn’t just a children’s disease, as many people think.

It is newly diagnosed in about 29,000 adults and 2000 children each year in the United States and has four main types and many sub-types of which only some of them are common among children.

Leukemia that has metastasize (spread) to the brain may produce central nervous system effects, including headaches, seizures, weakness, blurred or distorted vision, balance difficulties, or vomiting and the chemotherapy used to treat it, can cause anemia.

ACUTE LEUKEMIA: Leukemia in it’s acute form is characterized by the rapid increase of immature blood cells, and is potentially curable; However only a small number of patients are cured with todays therapy. It begins with one or a few white blood cells that have a lost or damaged DNA sequence and becomes worse quickly and may make you feel sick right away.

It tends to develop suddenly, whereas some chronic varieties may exist for years before they are even diagnosed. Immediate treatment is required due to the rapid progression and accumulation of the malignant cells, which then spill over into the bloodstream and spread to other organs of the body.

Whereas acute leukemia must be treated immediately, chronic forms are sometimes monitored for some time before treatment to ensure maximum effectiveness of therapy.

CHRONIC LEUKEMIA: Chronic leukemia is distinguished by the excessive build up of relatively mature, but still abnormal, blood cells and often goes undetected for many years until it is identified in a routine blood test. It is more common between ages 40 and 70 and is rare among young people.

It tends to worsen slowly and may not produce symptoms for many years. Like many cancers, it is a disease that usually occurs in the old. Doctors often find chronic leukemia during a regular or routine checkup, before there are any noticeable symptoms. The acute forms occur in those of all ages, whereas the chronic forms tend to occur in people over 40 years of age. Although slow-growing chronic leukemia can also be seen in children, but it is very rare, accounting for less than 50 cases in children each year in the USA.

TREATMENT: Treatment for leukemia is complex and it depends largely on your age and health, the type and how far it has metastasize or spread. Treatment is generally considered necessary when the patient shows signs and symptoms such as low blood cell numbers. Generally speaking, all treatment is divided into several different phases. In children, an intensive 6-month treatment program is needed after induction, followed by 2 years of chemotherapy.

For low risk children, standard treatment usually consists of 3 drugs (prednisone, L-asparaginase, and vincristine) for the first month of treatment. Higher risk patients receive higher drug doses plus treatment with extra chemotherapy drugs. Follow up treatment for all patients usually consists of supportive care, such as intravenous nutrition and treatment with antibiotics taken orally.

In general, the indications for treatment are: dropping hemoglobin or platelet count, progression to advance or later stages of disease, painful,disease related over growth of lymph nodes or spleen, lymphocyte doubling time (an indicator of lymphocyte reproduction) of less than a year. Overall, the strategy is to control bone marrow and systemic or total body disease while offering specific treatment for the central nervous system (CNS), if necessary. Maintenance treatments may be given to prevent disease re-ocurrence once remission has been accomplished. Whatever the plan or strategy, it is important for the patient to understand the treatment that is being given and the reasons behind the selection.

CONCLUSION: Leukemia is a cancer of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. These cells crowd out other types of blood cells produced by the bone marrow, including red blood cells, which carry oxygen to tissues throughout your body, and platelets, which help form blood clots.

Leukemia cells can spread to the lymph nodes and various other organs causing swelling and or pain and can also accumulate in the kidney, liver and spleen, causing enlargement of these organs. These cells also can affect the lungs and other parts of the body. Acute forms can occur in both children and young adults. Chronic forms usually occurs in older people, but can theoretically occur in any age group.

To date there is no single known cause for all of the different types of leukemia. Studies have linked exposure to chemicals, such as benzene, and hair dyes to the development of some forms of the disease. Viruses have been linked to other forms. Until the cause or causes are discovered, there is no known way to prevent the occurrence of Leukemia. As of 1998, it is estimated that each year, approximately 30,800 individuals will be diagnosed with Leukemia in the United States and 21,700 persons will die of the disease.

The exact cause for prostate cancer is unknown but there are several risk factors which can be observed. Some of these factors are a high fat diet or heritage of example.

Having a screening examination at fixed intervals is important to detect prostate cancer early. Looking for symptoms yourself is not enough because you can not detect the cancer early enough. Once you have prostate cancer symptoms already, it is (too) late already.

After the cancer has broken out already, you could have symptoms like weak or interrupted urine flow, blood in the urine or a pain in the back, thighs or hips. There could also be a burning sensation.

It could be a matter of life or dead to detect the cancer as early as possible. The earlier the treatment starts the greater the chances of survival. Prostate cancer can be cured but only when it hasn’t spread too much already.

Part of the diagnosis is a rectal examination by your doctor. He puts his finger in your rectum to find anything strange with your prostate gland. If he finds something then a blood test will be the next step. The doctor will want to check for PSA, a prostate specific antigen in the blood stream. If the concentration of PSA is very high, it is a strong sign of cancer.

Another test is the transrectal ultrasound which shows a pretty accurate picture of the prostate gland. This painless procedure can detect tumors within twenty minutes.

If the tests above are positive in any form, a prostate biopsy is necessary to confirm the results. A small piece of the tissue is removed by using a needle. If there are any cancer cells then they will show up under the microscope. The biopsy is still the most accurate way to diagnose prostate cancer. It goes quickly and doesn’t hurt too much.

If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body can be checked by x-ray, computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. It would be a bad sign if the cancer has reached the lungs already.

Once prostate cancer is diagnosed the treatment must start immediately. There are several different treatment options but still the surgery is the most effective way to totally remove the cancer. The treatment will need a team of doctors, an urologist, a surgeon and an oncologist. The surgery is not without risks and side effects so that some prefer alternative ways.

If treatment has started early enough then the prognosis is good. It is possible that the cancer could be completely removed. Statistics say that after five years more than 95% of men are still alive. The prognosis goes down significantly below 30% survival rate if the cancer was detected late.

When searching for the best anti aging skin care product you should look for a natural product because anti aging natural skin care products are the best for your skin and body. Most manufactures of skin care products know that naturally occurring compounds are always the best, but they choose synthetics because they are cheaper.

Most consumers are interested in anti aging natural skin care products, but the cosmetic companies have enticed and brainwashed us with their commercials, clever advertising, attractive labeling and pretty bottles that contain synthetic products that are not the best for us.

As far back as the fourth century BC, people knew about the best anti aging skin care. Traders from other areas brought around different roots, spices and medicinal remedies. The market place was a place to learn. Of course, it was also a place for snake oil salesmen that disappeared swiftly in the middle of the night.

The anti aging natural skin care products with the most striking effects on the skin are derived from plants, seeds, fruits, vegetables, oils and waxes that have been known for centuries. Certainly, you can’t count on the cosmetic companies to give you good advice.

Most cosmetic companies are no better than the snake oil salesmen, although they are still in business because they use marketing techniques that entice and captivate their customers, like the worn- out phrase “new and improved anti aging skin care”. By exploiting this advertising trick that has been used for years, they still lure in unsuspecting customers.

Instead of something new and improved, the consumers should be made aware that the companies are introducing only “tried and true” methods for attracting customers, but they are not selling the best or the safest anti aging natural skin care products. The Food and Drug Administration is the organization that regulates the cosmetic industry in the US, but it uses different methods than the ones used for the food and drugs.

Cosmetics are not to be ingested so they don’t have to be safe. Only a few ingredients are not allowed. Also, the term “natural” is a much unspecified term since you can use it as long as the substances are naturally occurring. Still, some naturally occurring substances are bad for your skin’s health and should not be included. Others substances are presumed to be carcinogenic, and a few are “known” to cause cancer and birth defects, but the companies willingly include them in their cosmetics.

The best anti aging skin care systems do not contain any ingredients that could be unsafe to your skin’s health. You want to improve your skin’s health with products that help create new cells, new collagen and elastin fibers.

If it is not a healthy product, it won’t improve your skin. Production of new cells, collagen and elastin fibers will continue to decline unless you find superior anti aging natural skin care products.

You should make it a habit to read labels and check the ingredients. Definitely there are ingredients you need to avoid when buying anti aging natural skin care products. The list of ingredients to avoid is considerable lengthily and includes a number of difficult to understand or identify chemical names. Nevertheless, some of these less than desirable ingredients are not that difficult to spot, once you know what to look for, and they are commonly used in cosmetics and skincare products of all kinds.

Paraffin, liquid paraffin, paraffin wax, mineral oils, and petrolatum should be avoided for many reasons, but also because when it comes to the best anti aging skin care they inhibit the skin’s ability to regenerate. Fragrances and preservatives are very familiar allergens, and parabens are the most frequently used preservatives, but they have been linked to cancer in numerous studies.

Anti aging natural skin care products should contain natural vitamin E, because it moisturizes and provides other benefits, but also because it is a natural preservative. There is much more to learn, but those are subjects for other articles.