Cancer
Cancer is the catchall term applied to diseases caused by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Cancer isn't one disease. It is many different diseases, more than 100 and counting.
Each kind of cancer is usually named for the cell type in which it begins — cancer that starts in a lung is called lung cancer; cancer that starts in pigment cells in the skin, which are known as melanocytes, is called melanoma.
When detected and treated early, cancer can often be stopped. That said, cancer is a leading cause of death and disability around the world.
Cancer Articles
Harvard researchers have developed a new way to detect signs of cancer in the blood. They’ve invented a hand-held device that quickly determines the number of microvesicles in a drop of blood. Microvesicles shed by tumors have been ignored by the medical community for decades because it was not known until recently that they contain imprints of originating cells and also DNA and other molecules. The detection device may help find a person’s cancer before it has spread too far to be cured. It may also help determine how well a cancer treatment is working.
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Aerobic exercise reduces fatigue in people being treated for or recovering from treatment for cancer. Consult with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.
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Dermatologists now have official guidelines for Mohs surgery, a procedure that removes skin cancer while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The new Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Mohs surgery, approved by a number of dermatologic associations, will help doctors better select patients for the procedure. Mohs surgery is warranted in 200 out of 270 scenarios named in the AUC. Smaller, more superficial skin growths may not be right for Mohs surgery.
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After a negative colonoscopy at age 50, less invasive screening tests may be just as accurate, but carry less expense and risk for complications, than repeating the colonoscopy every 10 years.
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My dermatologist is recommending Mohs surgery to remove a basal cell cancer on my nose. What does this involve?
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It appears that colon cancer patients whose tumors have a mutated form of the PIK3CA gene may live longer if they take aspirin. Aspirin may also help fight other kinds of cancers and protect heart health.
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Multivitamins may reduce the risk of cancer in men by 8%. The benefits of multivitamin supplements may mirror those found in vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables, which also have been associated with lower cancer rates in previous studies.
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Aspirin is one of the most widely used medications in the world.
In addition to its applications for pain relief and prevention of
heart attacks and strokes, research is now finding aspirin may be
valuable for cancer prevention. Studies have highlighted
aspirin’s ability to prevent several types of cancer, including
esophageal, pancreatic, lung, colorectal, prostate, skin, and
breast cancers. Although it’s too early to recommend aspirin
specifically for cancer prevention, this may provide an
additional benefit for people who are already on daily aspirin
therapy.
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Skin cancer checks need to be a year-round maintenance effort. About 50% of melanomas are identified by patients, and even more are discovered if the skin is examined with the help of a partner. Using a computer-based tutorial to learn how to check for skin cancers can help you catch the problems early. Pay particular attention to spots that have grown or display a variety of hues, such as tan, black, brown, pearly, or translucent; moles or pigmented spots that have changed in color, mass, or contour; or sores that continually crust, bleed, itch, hurt, or don’t heal.
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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has reaffirmed its 2004 recommendation that women at low risk not be routinely screened for ovarian cancer, because routine screening does not reduce ovarian cancer deaths.
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