Cancers Causing Diarrhea

The following cancers can (rarely) cause diarrhea:

• Spread of any tumor (metastasis) into any abdominal organ
• Hormone-producing tumors causing carcinoid syndrome (read below) or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome(pancreatic or duodenal cancer secreting large amounts of gastrin resulting in peptic ulcers, nausea, GERD and diarrhea)
• Colorectal cancer
• Intestinal lymphoma
• Medullar cancer of the thyroid
• Pancreatic cancer
• Cancer of the gallbladder and bile duct
• Hepatocellular cancer

continue reading Can Cancer Cause Diarrhea? Carcinoid Tumor, Carcinoid Syndrome

A swollen lymph node or gland is a term commonly used to describe lymphadenopathy, a condition associated with enlarged lymph nodes in a specific area of the body (localized) or throughout the entire body (generalized lymphadenopathy). Lymphadenopathy is an indicator of a disorder affecting a certain area of the body or a generalized condition throughout the body.

continue reading Swollen Lymph Nodes, Glands – Lymphedema, Lymphadenopathy

Introduction

Skin cancer prevention includes avoiding the sun and other causes of skin cancer, protection against these causes, regular self-examination, and checking suspicious skin changes by a dermatologist.

Avoiding Causes of Skin Cancer

Avoiding Sun

• Avoid direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., especially in summer, in regions close to equator (± 30 degrees latitude), and in high altitudes.
• Not only long term exposure, but also short non-regular exposures (minutes) to intense sunlight may increase the risk of a skin cancer. A person with fair skin may get burns in 15 minutes, so avoid getting burns.

continue reading Skin Cancer Prevention: Avoiding Sun, Self-Examination

Causes of Skin Cancers

The most common cause of skin cancers are ultraviolet (UV) rays, either from the sun, or from UV-emitting lamps, like those in tanning saloons. Both UV-A and UV-B rays may cause skin cancer.

Other possible causes of skin cancers include:

• A high dose or repeated X-ray exposure (1,2)
• Exposure to arsenic (pesticides, wood preservatives, miners, sheep shearers, farmers) (1), pitch (from distillation of wood or coal tar), creosote, or radium (5)
• Therapy that destroys immune cells – chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunosuppression in organ or bone marrow transplantation (2)
• Smoking – increases risk of squamous cell carcinoma (4)

continue reading Skin Cancer – Causes and Risk Factors

General Rules

Treatment of skin cancer depends on cancer type, stage, location, patient’s age, and his/her general health state. It is a dermatologist – a specialist for skin diseases - who treats cancer. Methods of skin cancer treatment include:

1. Surgery
2. Radiotherapy
3. Chemotherapy
4. Medications and other

continue reading Skin Cancer Treatment: Surgery, Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy