Metastatic malignant melanoma is difficult to treat. Having said that, you still have options. Choosing a treatment depends on the severity of the spread of cancer, and the overall health of the individual. The goals of the treatment then are to shrink or stop the growth of the disease where it has spread thereby stopping it from spreading to new areas.

The most common types of treatment are radiation and chemotherapy. There are newer treatments that are being developed that are actually a combination of two different kinds of treatment. There are also newer drugs being developed that have less painful side effects and are intended to comfort the patient.

Some of the treatment options include
Surgery
Depending on the severity of the malignancy, the doctor might remove the complete organ that is the epicenter of the cancer. This will help the patient live longer with fewer symptoms.

Chemotherapy
One of the oldest methods of treating cancer, chemotherapy uses certain types of drugs that are given to the patient via injections, intravenous, intra-arterial, and tropically (a cream that you can rub on your skin).

What chemotherapy does is, it stops or slows down the growth of the cancer cells that are dividing quickly. The side-effects of chemotherapy are that healthy cells are collateral damage in the treatment. It damages the healthy cells with cancer infected cells. This results in decreased health, other health issues, hair loss, etc. However, the symptoms go away after chemotherapy is over.

Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy uses high intensity X-rays that destroy cancer cells and shrinks the tumor that is cancerous. The radiation damages the genetic material of the cancer by literally burning down the cancerous cells. Normal cells repair themselves while cancerous cells cannot. Side effect of radiotherapy is that it burns the area of the skin where the high intensity beam is incident.

Radiotherapy is given in two ways. External radiation therapy, which is the most common form of radio therapy. Internal radiotherapy, also known as brachytherapy is normally given to those cancer patients who have cancer spread in the genital area. Radioactive materials are placed into the vagina or the prostate of such patients and are usually sealed inside with needles, seeds, wires, or even catheters.

Immunotherapy
One of the recently developed therapies, immunotherapy attacks the cancer by simply boosting the immune system. It is done intravenously or through high shot of doses. Since it boosts immune system through drugs, it can cause some serious side effects but it can also shrink the metastatic malignant melanomas and help people live longer with very fewer symptoms.

The meaning of the word “metastatic” is rapid transition from one point to another. It is usually used with those types of diseases that have a nature of spreading to various parts of body. Metastatic is generally related with malignancy which is nothing but a medical term for cancer. Thus, metastatic malignant melanoma is nothing but an advanced stage of cancer.

The most dreadful aspect of metastatic malignant melanoma is its ability to spread in the later stages. It is also referred to as Stage IV skin cancer. The term is used when melanoma cells (malignant in nature) spread across the body with the help of lymph nodes. Once in lymph nodes, the malignancy can spread to the distant parts of the body. Brain, lungs, liver, and bones are most often affected by these metastases.

When it comes to malignant melanoma, it is very important to understand that the person should be aware of the changes happening in his or her body. With malignant melanoma, it has to do with the pigment or coloration (or discoloration) of a small portion of skin. What makes it difficult to treat malignant melanoma is that in the early stages, the abnormal growth on the skin (such as a mole or a brown discolored spot that itches a lot) may look very normal. Hence, it is very important that the person takes utmost notice of any such changes happening in their body.

In most of the cases, malignant melanoma is caused by exposure of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. What ultraviolet (UV) radiation does is that it damages the DNA of skin cells, and it starts to grow out of control.

Since malignancy or cancer is nothing but mutation of DNA and cells, there have been some cases where people have developed the said condition without being exposed to Ultra violet radiation. Thus, it has also been noticed that a person can also get malignant melanoma if their body does not get enough sunlight. Some of the common occurrences are in palms, inner thighs, chest, back, and sometimes in the genital area.

The person should get a thorough health check-up done if they experience symptoms like,
Hardened lumps under the skin
Frequent urination
For women, light, irregular bleeding even after menopause
A mole or brown discolored spot that has been itching a lot for a long time and bleeds
Headaches, seizures, or weakness or numbness in arms and legs

If tested positive for malignancy, Look for the best treatment options that are available and start taking measures to prevent further spread.

There are a number of common colon issues, colon cancer being the most feared one amongst the extensive list of ailments. But the risk factors that are associated with colon cancer are more the reason to get proper and immediate treatment.

Rick factors that increase the chances include old age, a personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps, inflammatory intestinal conditions, inherited syndromes that increase colon cancer risk, family history of colon cancer, low fiber or high fiber diet, diabetes, obesity, smoking, alcohol amongst others.

In most of the cases the cause for colon cancer is not clear. The technical explanation states that colon cancer is caused when the healthy cells in the colon are courted due to DNA problems. DNA of a cell allows proper and regulated growth in the body, when this complex structure is corrupted, unhealthy cells start to grow even when they ae not needed which leads to cancer.

• Symptoms of colon cancer include a change in your normal bowel habits. Even disorders like diarrhea and constipation changes in consistency of your stool, basically anything that is prolonged and not natural can be the beginning signs of colon cancer.
• Rectal bleeding, more commonly known as blood in your stool is a symptom and potential indicator of colon cancer.
• Abdominal discomfort is another clear indicator that there is something wrong with your digestive system and colon tract for that matter. These minor discomforts may include gas, cramps or just pain which is persistent.
• Weakness or fatigue, which might not be normal others indicates there is something wrong with your normal bodily functions. Unexplained weight loss even if you were not on a diet are clear indicators and there is immediate need for you to go consult a professional.

Many of the symptoms of colon cancer or any colon related issues for that matter may not be easily diagnosed, which is more the reason to check with a medical professional to treat the ailments at the early stages and curb the problem.

Some of the issues can be treated with medication, without the need for extensive surgery or treatment. But prevention is better than cure, this is true in case of sever ailments.

Most of the colon issues are preventable. Everything we eat passes through the digestive intestinal tract. The lining of the large intestine, the rectum, and colon contains the waste, digestive fluids, bile acids, and fiber.

Since the inner lining of the intestine is bathed by chemicals in the food, body’s own hormones and secretions, and healthy and unhealthy bacteria. This impacts the health of the tissue.

Imbalanced and improper diet can cause several colon issues. Most of the colon issues are a direct impact by your diet. Hence incorporating the following home remedies can treat colon issues.

Eat more garlic
Having a clove of garlic first thing in the morning, can help fight many colon issues, colon cancer being one of them. Garlic has antibacterial properties that fights the formation carcinogenic elements in the colon. They help to enhance, repair, and reduce cell proliferation. Garlic is high in minerals such as sulfur, selenium, as well as plant chemicals such as allicilin and flavonoids that can be beneficial for the colon. Other food plants that have similar properties include onions, leeks, scallions, and chives.

Vegetables rich in antioxidants
The deep, bright colors of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices contain a wide variety of antioxidants. Examples of antioxidant rich foods include, kale, cranberries, carrots, apricots, cantaloupe, broccoli, spinach, pomegranates, avocado, tomato, apples, red cabbage, blueberries, sage, oregano, and rosemary.

Cook food in olive oil
Olive oil contains plant chemicals that help in reducing bile acid and increases enzymes that help in regulating cell formation thus improving the inner lining of the intestine and promoting healthy tissue formation. The antioxidant compounds present in olive oil help in fighting several colon issues.

Omega 3 oil
Omega 3 oil has anti-inflammatory properties that helps in decreasing the incidence of colon issues such as colon cancer. Omega 3 oils decrease the levels of pro-inflammatory molecules that promote colon cancer. Omega 3 oils are found in cold water fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and cod. It is also found in flax oil.

Ginseng tea
There are several species of prized longevity herbs such as ginseng root that decreases the growth and proliferation of colon cancer cells. Both, Asian and American ginseng roots have properties that help fighting many colon related issues.

If you have serious colon issues, avoid highly processed food and most of all avoid red meat. Red meat is hard to digest and thus being in the digestive tract for a longer time can create toxins that can be harmful in many ways.

Metastatic breast cancer is a kind of breast cancer that has spread to other organs or lymph nodes surrounding the breast. Although incurable, there is treatment which can delay its progression and relieve its symptoms. Metastatic breast cancer patients usually survive for 18 to 24 months.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Symptoms
Metastatic breast cancer signs depend on the organs or parts of the body to which the cancer has progressed. In some cases, there are no prior signs of metastatic breast cancer. Here are some common signs of metastatic breast cancer: A lump in the breast or the underarm is the most common symptom. It denotes that the breast or chest wall might be affected. Other symptoms include discharge from the nipple and pain.

Metastatic breast cancer might also affect the bones. In such a case, symptoms include pain, fracture, and constipation. High calcium levels may cause decreased alertness which is a metastatic breast cancer sign. If the cancer affects the brain or the spinal cord, the individual may experience pain; headache; loss of memory; difficulty with speech, vision, and movement; or seizures. If it progresses to the lungs, metastatic breast cancer signs may include breathing difficulties or shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue. When symptoms include nausea, swelling of hands and feet due to accumulation of fluid, itchy skin, yellowing skin, or increased fatigue, it usually denotes that the cancer has progressed to the liver.

Treatment
Research is ongoing for better treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The treatment available today seeks to prolong survival and relieve cancer-related symptoms. Systematic therapy is the most common treatment for metastatic breast cancer. However, in some circumstances, surgery or radiation may also be required. You should talk to your doctor regarding the appropriate treatment.

Systematic Therapy
This treatment includes chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and/or biologic agents depending on the nature and size of the tumor and specific symptoms. The kind of therapy to be implemented also depends on the status of hormone-receptors, i.e., estrogen and/or progesterone receptors. Metastatic breast cancer patients who are hormone-receptor positive may be treated with anti-estrogen therapy. It is also known as endocrine therapy. Hormone-receptor negative patients aren’t candidates for this therapy. Hormone-receptor positive patients may also undergo the tamoxifen therapy. Tamoxifen is a pill which is commonly prescribed for pre-menopausal women and patients with breast cancer at an advanced stage. It is a first-line endocrine therapy.

Surgery And Radiation Therapy
In case of certain symptoms or complications such as spinal cord fracture or herniation risk, a specific lesion may require treatment. It may require surgery or radiation therapy to treat or decrease the progression of the cancer from the affected area. This approach of treatment is tailored to be patient-specific.

You should consult your doctor without delay if you notice signs of metastatic breast cancer. Your doctor might require you to participate in clinical trials and consultation sessions to determine the best treatment approach.

The abnormal or malignant cell growth in the thyroid gland is referred to as thyroid cancer. The thyroid gland is located in the neck. The main function of this gland is to make hormones that help to manage body’s metabolism.

Thyroid cancer occurs more commonly in women than men. It rarely occurs in people younger than 25. However, it itself is a rare type of cancer with good treatment outcomes. But as is the case with all cancer types, thyroid cancer can recur even after its successful treatment.

Types of Thyroid Cancer: Thyroid cancer has been categorized into four main types.
• Papillary It is a type of thyroid cancer with the most incidences. Up to 80% of all cancer of the thyroid is papillary or a mix of papillary and follicular types.
• Follicular Up to 15% of all thyroid cancer falls into this category.
• Medullary Approximately 3% of all cases of thyroid cancer are of this type.
• Anaplastic It is the least common type of thyroid cancer.

Causes : Cancer of the thyroid can occur when cells in thyroid tissues experience any change in their DNA due to hereditary or age-related factors. And like other cancers, thyroid cancer can also occur due to radiation exposure.

Symptoms : There are many symptoms of thyroid cancer.
• Appearance of thyroid nodules is the most common sign of thyroid cancer. These nodules are lumpy structures that develop in the thyroid gland. Chances are that most nodules are benign. Very rarely these nodules become cancerous. A person may be first able to identify the presence of a thyroid gland nodule because of some swelling in the neck area.
• Trouble in swallowing can indicate a problem in the thyroid gland.
• Hoarseness in the voice and persistent cough may be due to thyroid cancer.
• Some breathing troubles can also develop due to cancerous growth in the thyroid gland.
• Neck pain can also occur.

Treatment: If a person has lumps or nodules in the thyroid gland, the doctor may suggest a biopsy to confirm the presence of malignant cells. If thyroid cancer is confirmed, the doctor may devise a treatment plan according to the type and stage of thyroid cancer and the age of the patient.
• Surgery is the first treatment option for thyroid cancer.
– It may consist of lobectomy that removes the part of the thyroid gland that has cancer.
– Total thyroidectomy involves removing the entire thyroid gland.
– Near-total thyroidectomy involves cutting away of the entire gland except for a small part.
– Lymph node dissection involves removal of cancerous nodes in the thyroid gland.
• Thyroid cancer treatment is also possible using hormone therapy to halt the growth of cancerous cells. The hormones for treatment are usually administered to the patient as pills.
• Radiation therapy is also used to treat thyroid cancer. The radiation can shrink or kill malignant cells.
• Chemotherapy is also used to treat thyroid cancer but rarely.

Skin cancer is the abnormal or malignant growth of skin cells. The disease has been categorized into three major types. These are named after the affected skin cells. The most common form of skin cancer is called basal cell carcinoma. The next common type is squamous cell carcinoma. The least common but the most dangerous type of major skin cancer is melanoma.

Other forms of less common skin cancer are atypical fibroxanthoma, merkel cell carcinoma, kaposi sarcoma (in blood vessels), skin adnexal tumors, cutaneous lymphoma and different types of sarcomas.

Causes: The cause of skin cancer is the mutations in the DNA structure of the cells. The damage or the alteration in the skin cell DNA can occur due to ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. The harmful UV exposure can also occur from the use of tanning beds. However, the disease can also occur on skin surface not exposed to UV radiation.
Another possible cause is a weakened immune system.

Risk Factors: Other than UV exposure, there are several risk factors that can increase a person’s chances of getting skin cancer.
• Repeated severe cases of sunburns in people of all ages can cause skin cancer.
• Fair skin contains less melanin, so it is more susceptible to harm from the UV light.
• Red or blond hair; blue eyes or freckles are also risk factors for skin cancer.
• People living in high-altitude or warm climate regions are more at risk of sun exposure and thus skin cancer.
• Hereditary factors or family history of the disease can significantly raise a person’s risk of skin cancer.
• Exposure to arsenic or radiation.
• Moles that are abnormal in sizes and look irregular.
• Someone who has had skin cancer can develop the disease again in the future.
• Actinic keratoses are a type of skin lesions that indicate sun-damaged skin.
• Some sexually-transmitted viral infections can also increase skin cancer risks.

Symptoms: Different types of skin cancer develop symptoms specific to the disease.
• Basal cell carcinoma can appear as bumps with wax-like shine or as flat brown-colored lesions. Squamous cell carcinoma causes flat and scaly lesions or red nodules that are quite firm. Melanoma can appear as a big brown spot, a tiny lesion with different colors, dark lesions or a mole that changes in appearance and size.

• Kaposi sarcoma can appear as purple or red spots on the mucous membranes or the skin. Merkel cell carcinoma appears as shiny bumps on or under the hair or skin. Sebaceous gland carcinoma appears in the skin’s oil glands as firm bumps. It most commonly occurs on the eyelids.

• Basically, any abnormal-looking skin growth can indicate skin cancer.

Treatment: There are different treatment options for skin cancer such as surgery, radiation therapy and use of topical medications. Depending on the cancer, the doctor may employ other ways to remove cancerous cells such as cryosurgery, use of lasers and other medicines. However, it is possible to prevent most types of skin cancer.