Archive for category: Skin Cancer LandingPage Featured

Sunburns are dangerous ailments. They aren't just painful, peeling, itchy, unsightly blemishes—they also increase your risk of developing skin cancer, particularly in children, who may be twice as likely to develop melanoma if they get even a single blistering sunburn. When sunburns do occur, however, take the steps necessary to reduce the pain and alleviate the damage. Sunburns are sneaky—they start with a tell-tale tingling or feeling of tightness in the skin during the initial exposure, followed by a slow reddening, but may take 4–6 hours to fully develop.

Harmful UV rays pose a significant threat to the health of our skin. Sunburns, premature aging, and skin cancer are all common side effects of frequent exposure to the sun. It's simple to protect yourself from these dangers—apply sunscreen, don't use tanning beds, wear protective clothing, and stay out of the sun when possible, especially during the middle of the day. By making these activities a part of your daily routine, you can maintain healthy skin and avoid skin cancer. Download and print the infographic below, put it on the refrigerator, and keep yourself safe from the sun!

A cancer diagnosis does not just affect the patient. Spouses, children, parents, siblings, friends, and other loved ones may all be called upon to help. A cancer caregiver is someone who helps a person…

Healthy cells turn cancerous when they experience a genetic change that causes the cell to become immortal. Instead of undergoing regular cellular death, the immortal cell continues to live, but no…

Step-by-step guide to performing a skin cancer self-exam. Protecting yourself against harmful UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds is the most important step to preventing skin cancer. The second most important step is monitoring your body to detect signs and symptoms of skin cancer early—when it is least dangerous and easiest to treat and cure.

The genetics of skin cancer is an extremely broad topic. There are more than 100 types of tumors that are clinically apparent on the skin; many of these are known to have familial components, either in isolation or as part of a syndrome with other features. This is, in part, because the skin itself is a complex organ made up of multiple cell types. Furthermore, many of these cell types can undergo malignant transformation at various points in their differentiation, leading to tumors with distinct histology and dramatically different biological behaviors, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell cancer (BCC). These have been called nonmelanoma skin cancers or keratinocytic cancers.

In many cases, radiation therapy provides an excellent alternative to invasive surgery. While surgery provides a handful of effective and safe treatments techniques for non-melanoma skin cancer, radiation therapy may be the best option for many people, either independently, or in conjunction with surgery.