Stomach cancer affects the lining cells of the stomach, causing uncontrolled growth. We'll tell you how this cancer develops, its risk factors and treatment.

Stomach Cancer and Its Treatment

Stomach cancer affects the innermost stomach lining, and it causes the cells to grow and divide uncontrolled, leading to tumour growth within the stomach and surrounding tissue.

Cancer's main treatment is

• Surgery

• Chemotherapy

• Radiation therapy

• Targeted drug therapy

Surgery is the major treatment method and is used to remove the tumor. Other methods apply per the tumour's size, location, and spread.

What Causes Stomach Cancer?

Stomach cancer has various risk factors, but the exact cause is unknown. The risk factors include

• Smoking

• H. pylori infection

• Diet high in salty or smoked foods.

• Advanced age

• Family history of the disease.

• Certain genetic conditions, such as familial adenomatous polyposis.

• Excessive alcohol consumption

• A history of stomach ulcers or other gastrointestinal conditions

What Are the Symptoms of Stomach Cancer?

The symptoms of stomach cancer depend on its location in the stomach and how far it has spread. The common stomach cancer experiences include:

• Abdominal pain or discomfort.

• Heartburn or indigestion.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Difficulty swallowing or feeling full quickly when eating.

• Unexplained weight loss.

• Anemia

• Fatigue and weakness.

• Loss of appetite.

Less common symptoms may include:

• Bloody stools or vomit.

• Watery discharge from the rectum.

• Swelling or fluid in the abdomen.

• Unexplained fever.

• Jaundice

How to Prevent Stomach Cancer?

Stomach cancer is life-threatening hence the need to take preventive measures to contain it at the onset. Here are some cautions you can take to reduce your risks.

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle by taking a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

• Limit processed foods consumption as they are high in fats and preservatives.

• Reduce your alcohol intake.

• Quit smoking.

• Undertake regular check-ups and screenings.

How to Treat Stomach Cancer

The type, stage of development, and overall health determine how to treat stomach cancer. Common treatment methods are

1. Surgery

2. Chemotherapy

3. Radiation therapy

4. Immunotherapy

1. Surgery

Surgery is the first treatment option for stomach cancer and removes the affected part of the stomach and surrounding tissue. Further, surgery may remove any lymph nodes affected by cancer.

2. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells, and it comes before or after surgery and may be used in combination with radiation therapy. Chemotherapy can be administered orally or through an IV.

3. Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy destroys cancer cells using high-energy x-rays. It is usually used with chemotherapy to target areas that have not been surgically removed.

4. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. It may be combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy if other treatments have not been successful. Further, targeted drug therapy may treat stomach cancer by targeting specific molecules in the cancer cells.

Stomach Cancer Is Not a Death Sentence

Stomach cancer is one of the cancer types with the highest treatment success rate. Although it may not be curable in some cases, many remedies can help manage the symptoms and extend life expectancy.

As noted, treatment options for stomach cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Depending on the cancer stage, your medical attendant may take different courses of treatment.

In some instances, treatment methods work in combination. Surgery is usually the primary treatment for stomach cancer. Techniques such as laparoscopy and endoscopy remove tumors and nearby lymph nodes. The extent of the tumor determines if partial or total stomach removal is necessary.

 Learn about skin cancer and related complications. We'll also give you tips on managing skin cancer risks and preventing or successfully recovering from it.

Skin Cancer and Its Treatment

The causes of skin cancer are overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation and tanning beds. But the good thing about skin cancer is that chances of recovery are high if detected early. The stage and type of cancer determine the treatment method.

The main skin cancer treatment methods include:

• Surgery

• Radiation therapy

• Chemotherapy

• Immunotherapy

• A combination of these therapies

Surgery is the most common skin cancer treatment. Surgery aims to remove all cancerous tissue while protecting the healthy tissue as much as possible.

What Causes Skin Cancer

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or tanning beds is the main cause of skin cancer. UV radiation is the invisible part of sunlight that causes sunburns and damage to skin cells, leading to genetic mutations that can cause cancerous cells to grow and spread.

Some skin cancer risk factors include

• A fair skin

• A family history of the disease

• Spending long periods in the sun

• Using tanning beds.

• A past record of skin cancer infection.

What Are the Symptoms of Skin Cancer?

The main identity for skin cancer is a new spot or growth on the skin that appears suddenly and persists. Other symptoms of skin cancer that depend on the cancer type include:

• A persistent sore that doesn’t heal.

• A change in properties such as shape, size, color and texture of existing moles.

• An itching, burning, or tender spot

• A red patch of skin that may bleed or develop into a sore

• Small lumps that may be itchy and can have black, brown, or tan color

You should develop concerns if you notice the above changes on your skin lasting more than two weeks.

How to Prevent Skin Cancer

If you closely follow medical advice, you can successfully prevent skin cancer. The following deliberate measures can help reduce skin cancer risks.

• Minimize exposure to the sun during peak hours (usually 10 AM to 4 PM).

• Wear protective clothing like long sleeves and wide-brimmed hats when exposed to the sun.

• Make use of sunscreen. Apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30 to the exposed skin and often reapply throughout the day.

• UV radiation reflects off surfaces like water, sand, snow, and concrete; hence, take precautions in these environments.

• Rest under a shade whenever possible.

It may be impossible to avoid the sun completely, but you can reduce your risk of developing skin cancer by taking the above measures.

How to Treat Skin Cancer

The type of treatment depends on the type and severity of your cancer. The following treatment methods are commonly used.

1. Surgery: Surgery comes as the first treatment option, and it involves removing the affected tissue to prevent the spread of cancer cells. During surgery, the doctor may also remove lymph nodes to test for any further spread of cancer.

2. Radiation therapy: This treatment method uses high-energy radiation beams to target and kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

3. Chemotherapy: This treatment involves administering certain drugs to kill cancer cells. It is often used in combination with radiation therapy as it can help to target more difficult-to-reach cancer cells.

4. Immunotherapy: This treatment method boosts the body's ability to fight cancer cells and can work in combination with other treatments. It stimulates the body's natural immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

5. Topical treatments: These methods use creams or ointments to treat skin cancer. They directly target and destroy the cancer cells, and you can use them with other treatments for maximum effect.

Consulting your doctor is necessary for advice on the appropriate treatment method. Note that early diagnosis and treatment determine the success rate in managing skin cancer.

Skin Cancer Is Not a Death Sentence

Skin cancer may be a frightening diagnosis, but it’s not a death sentence. Early detection and proper treatment are critical to successfully treating skin cancer. In fact, skin cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer.

 Learn about prostate cancer, its causes, and treatment options. Also, we'll give you tips on how to prevent or manage cancer if tests are positive.

Prostate Cancer and Its Treatment

Prostate cancer is a form of malignant tumor that affects the prostate gland. It’s a common cancer in men and often develops without obvious symptoms. The cancer is most common in men over the age of 50  and is usually treatable if detected early.

Treatment options for prostate cancer vary depending on the stage and severity of cancer. The options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.

Surgery is often used to remove the cancerous cells and surrounding tissue, while radiation therapy destroys cancer cells. Chemotherapy may also be used in some cases to shrink the tumor.

What Causes Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer occurs when cells within the prostate gland mutate and begin to divide uncontrollably. That can happen due to several factors, such as

• Age: Age has the highest risk for prostate cancer, with most cases occurring in men over the age of 50

• Lifestyle habits: Lifestyle-related factors that may increase one's risk of prostate cancer include;

• Smoking

• Diet high in fat

• Lack of physical activity.

• Certain gene mutations: Some genetic mutations increase the susceptibility to developing prostate cancer.

• BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations increase one's risk of prostate cancer.

• Certain ethnicities are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, such as African American men and Caribbean men of African descent.

• A family's past traces of prostate cancer increase the disease risk.

What Are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer symptoms may not present themselves until the disease has advanced. Common signs and symptoms include:

• Difficulty or pain while urinating.

• Frequent urination.

• Blood in urine or semen.

• Pain in the hips, back, or other areas from cancer that has spread to bones.

• Impotence.

How to Prevent Prostate Cancer

You can take certain precautions to reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. These precautions include:

• Regular exercise, such as walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

• Eating a healthy diet, such as limiting fat and red meat intake and increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables.

• Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking.

• Regular screening for prostate cancer.

Early detection of prostate cancer can lead to better outcomes and improved prognosis. Men over the age of 50 need to speak with their doctor about their risk factors for prostate cancer and the screening options that are right for them.

How to Treat Prostate Cancer

Treatment method depends on factors such as the stage of cancer, a person's age, and overall health. Treatment options include:

• Active Surveillance: The surveillance involves monitoring cancer with regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and biopsies. Treatment is only needed if cancer progresses.

• Surgery: This is used to treat early-stage prostate cancer and involves removing the entire prostate gland and nearby tissues.

• Radiation Therapy: This involves using high-energy rays to destroy prostate cancer cells. It can be used alone or with surgery and can be external (outside your body) or internal (implanting radioactive material in the prostate).

• Hormone Therapy: This is used to stop cancer cells from growing by blocking hormones that support them. It can function alone or together with radiation therapy.

• Chemotherapy: This is used to treat advanced cases of prostate cancer and involves using drugs to kill cancer cells.

No single treatment is right for everyone. Consult your doctor about the most suitable option.

Prostate Cancer Is Not a Death Sentence

Prostate cancer isn’t a life-ending diagnosis. With early detection and treatment, many men can live long and healthy lives, free of the disease. Prostate cancer has a variety of treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. Each treatment option has its benefits and risks, but you can achieve a positive outcome with careful monitoring and timely intervention.

Further, many new treatments and clinical trials are available for prostate cancer. Many of these are designed to target the particular needs of each patient and their cancer type. That helps to ensure the treatment is tailored specifically for each person’s unique situation and needs.

On the bottom line, men can take many other steps to reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer. These include regular exercise, taking a balanced diet, and shunning tobacco and alcohol. These steps can help ensure that men can live long, healthy lives with the assurance of a successful prostate cancer prognosis.