Why Choose Cancer?

As many of you already know, this past June of 2009, my Uncle had been diagnosed with Lung Cancer. All through out the year he had been suffering with a severe cough and doctors had been mix diagnosing him. It wasn't until May when a doctor said it was pneumonia. By the time June came around, the pneumonia, well at least what we thought was pneumonia wasn't getting any better. Therefore my Aunt Jana, and Uncle Brad scheduled a chest X-Ray for my uncle to see what was going on inside. When they got the results back, they were devastated as to what had been occurring in his lungs. For nearly six months doctors had been miss diagnosing him and telling him everything except for the last doctors they saw. The morning my mom got the call from my aunt, she sat my older sister, Sarah, and I down. She proceeded to tell us what was going on with my uncle. But she intentionally left out details as to the fact I was leaving for the whole summer to camp. It was June 27th, and it was the last I got to see him. I hugged him goodbye that day and walked out waiting for August to come along to see him again. It had been over a month since I saw my uncle and camp was about to end, 5 days till I got to see my uncle again. Well thats what I thought. It was almost midnight as I returned to camp from the baseball game, when my director had to speak to me. He sat me down and proceeded to tell me that I had to call my mom. Right there I knew someone had passed away but in my mind I never considered that it was my uncle. She cried to me saying he had left us and wasn't in pain anymore. I would be picked up from camp the next day, Weds the 12th of August. I never felt the pain of loosing someone like I did that night. When I got home that wednesday she told me what had truly been going on all summer long. He had been diagnosed with cancer that was in stage 4, by then it was so bad that the only cure was to take chemo but even then he had only been expected to live a year at the most. I will never forget what had happened over the summer. I lost my hero, my bestfriend, my uncle. This has played a large role in my life since then, I chose this due to the fact to educate people that deny it will happen to them one day because anything can happen.

Non-Melanoma

Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are classified as nonmelanoma skin cancers, account for approximately 96% of all diagnosed skin cancers. Usually these cancers can be cured with minor surgery that is safely performed in a medical office or outpatient setting under local anesthesia.

According to Researchers the following features characterize non-melanoma skin cancer:

Asymmetry:

• One half of the mole doesn’t match the other.

Border Irregularity:

• The edged of the mole are jagged or notched.

Color:

• There’s no overall color. Certain parts may be different shades of black, brown, or tan, with a red, white, or maybe even blue blotches.

Diameter:

• Most non-melanoma’s are wider the 6mm. Some can range from 3-6 mm.

Symptoms that correspond with the features of non-melanoma include:

- firm, red lump.

- small, pale, smooth, shiny, or “waxy” lump.

- sore that begins oozing or bleeding.

- sore or rough red spot that becomes scaly or crusty.

- spot that becomes itchy, tender or painful.

- spot that becomes red and/or swollen.

- mole that grows or otherwise changes its appearance.

Treatments include:

- Curettage and electrodesiccation

- Cryosurgery

- Excision

- Laser Surgery

- Mohs micrographic Surgery

- Chemotherapy

- Immunotherapy

- Radiation therapy

- Palliative Care

- Investigational Methods

- Photodynamic Therapy

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in your bladder — a balloon-shaped organ in your pelvic area that stores urine. Bladder cancer begins most often in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. Bladder cancer typically affects older adults, though it can occur at any age. Majority of bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage — when bladder cancer is highly treatable. Early-stage bladder cancer is likely to recur. Bladder cancer survivors often undergo follow-up screening tests for years after treatment.

Common Symptoms Include:

1. Blood in the urine (hematuria)
2. Pain or burning during urination without evidence of UTI ( Urinary Tract Infection )
3. Change in bladder habits, such as having to urinate more often or feeling the strong urge to urinate without producing much urine

Causes:

1. Smoking
2. Chemical exposures at work
3. Diet(People whose diets include large amounts of fried meats and animal fats are thought to be at higher risk of bladder cancer.)
4. Dietary Supplements ( mainly Aristolochia Fangchi)

Treatment:

1. Depends on the type of cancer and its stage.
2. Factors such as your age, your overall health, and whether you have already been treated for the cancer before are included in the treatment decision-making process.
3. The most widely used therapies are surgery radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, either alone or in combination.
4. Immunotherapy, or biological therapy which takes advantage of the body's innate cancer-fighting ability, is used in some cases, especially for patients with stages Ta, T1, and CIS.