Cancer
What is cancer?
Cancer is a group of more than 100 different diseases that begin when abnormal cells in the body grow out of control. Normally, cells grow and divide to create new cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy. Sometimes this process of growing new cells does not work properly and cancer forms.
How does cancer start?
Normal cells become cancer cells because of damage to DNA. DNA is in every cell and directs all its actions. In a normal cell, when DNA gets damaged, the cell either repairs the damage or it dies. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not fixed, but the cell does not die like it should. Instead, this cell goes on making new cells that the body does not need.
How does cancer grow?
Abnormal cells can grow into a mass, or tumor. Not all tumors are cancerous. Tumors can be either malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous). A malignant tumor, or cancer, can spread to other parts of the body and form other tumors.
Some cancers, like leukemia, rarely form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells are in the blood and blood-forming organs and flow through other tissues, where they grow.
Some cancers grow quickly; others may grow slowly over many years.
How common is cancer?
Cancer is a very common disease. One of every two men and one of every three women will be diagnosed with cancer at some time in their life. In New York State, nearly one in four deaths is due to cancer.
Cancer can occur at any age, but it is most often found in those people middle-aged and older. The number of people diagnosed with cancer has increased over the past 40 years. Most of this is due to an increase in the population and because people are living longer.
The most common cancers found in men, besides skin cancer, are prostate, lung and colon cancer. Breast, lung and colon cancers are the most common cancers found in women.
What causes cancer?
Different cancers have different causes and there are many factors that affect a person's chances of getting different types of cancer. Sometimes there is a family history of cancer. Scientists agree that people can get cancer through repeated long-term contact with carcinogens. These include tobacco, sunlight and indoor tanning devices (beds, booths, sunlamps) x-rays, and certain chemicals that may be found in the air, water, food, drugs and workplace. Our personal habits and lifestyle may also contribute to cancers. Scientists believe that about 30% of cancer deaths are due to tobacco use and between 25-30% of cancer deaths may be due to inadequate physical activity, obesity and an unhealthy diet.
How soon after exposure to a carcinogen does cancer appear?
Most cancers develop slowly in people. They usually appear between five to 40 years after exposure to a carcinogen. For example, lung cancer may not occur until 30 years after a person starts smoking. This longlatency period is one of the reasons it is difficult to determine what causes cancer in humans.
What does it mean when something "is associated with" cancer?
It means that there is a link between the two, but there is no proof of cause and effect. More research needs to be done before we know for certain.
Special thanks to the Department of Health in New York for writing this awesome article on cancer. Share your thoughts and idea's on this topic below! All are welcomed.
Cancer...such an awful, heartbreaking, and truly heartwrenching disease. So hard to watch someone you love go through the different stages of cancer...and ultimately lose the fight. 
Thanks @Dillion for sharing this article and helping bring awareness with this information.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cells of the skin. Skin cancer most often develops on skin exposed to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation (rays), but skin cancer can occur anywhere on the body. There are three kinds of skin cancer: basal, squamous and melanoma.
Basal cell skin cancer generally grows slowly and is not very likely to spread to other parts of the body.
Squamous cell skin cancer tends to be somewhat more aggressive than basal cell skin cancer, but is less dangerous than melanoma.
Melanomas of the skin are considered the most dangerous because they are more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
Many skin cancers can be prevented by reducing exposure to UV rays. Up to 90% of melanomas are estimated to be caused by UV exposure.
Skin Cancer Statistics
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Because melanoma tends to spread quickly to other organs, it causes most skin cancer deaths, even though it accounts for the least amount of cancer cases.
New York State
Melanoma is the eighth most common type of cancer among both men and women in NYS.
More than 3,700 NYS residents are diagnosed with melanoma annually.
Each year about 500 New Yorkers die from melanoma.
For adults age 20 to 34 years, melanoma ranks among the top five cancers.
United States
Skin cancer (all types combined) is the most commonly occurring cancer with over two million cases a year.
The number of new cases of melanoma in the US is on the rise.
An estimated 9,000 people die annually of melanoma in the U.S.
Melanoma is the most common cancer in young women aged 25-29.
What Causes Skin Cancer?
Most cases of melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV rays). UV rays can come from natural sunlight as well as from indoor tanning devices such as tanning beds, tanning booths and sunlamps.
Some people are more likely than others to develop skin cancer. Risk factors vary for different types of skin cancer, but some general risks include:
Having a lighter natural skin color.
Having a family history of skin cancer.
Having a personal history of skin cancer.
Exposure to the sun through work and play.
Having a history of sunburns, especially early in life.
Having a history of indoor tanning.
Having skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily, or becomes painful in the sun.
Blue or green eyes.
Blond or red hair.
Certain types and a large number of moles.
Am I Still at Risk for Skin Cancer Once My Sunburn or Tan Fades?
Sunburned or tanned skin is damaged skin. Skin damage adds up with each sunburn or tan and may one day result in skin cancer. Even if a sunburn or tan fades, the damage caused by that tan or burn does not, and the effects cannot be reversed.
How Can I Prevent Skin Cancer?
The best way to reduce the risk for skin cancer is by avoiding exposure to UV radiation, whether it be from an indoor tanning device or natural light. Ultraviolet radiation is a concern all year round, no matter what the weather. Clouds do not offer protection from UV rays and UV rays reflect off sand, water and snow. There are many ways to reduce exposure to UV radiation. Follow these simple steps:
Never use a tanning bed, booth or sun lamp.
Wear a wide brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever possible.
Wear sunglasses that block both type of UV rays (UVA and UVB). Sunglasses will protect the tender skin around the eyes and reduce the risk of cataracts.
Use a sunscreen labeled "broad-spectrum" with a sun protection factor (SPF) rating of 15 or higher. SPF 15 blocks out 93% of UV rays, while an SPF 30 blocks out 97% of UV rays.
Apply the sunscreen to dry skin 15-30 minutes before going outdoors and again after swimming or perspiring.
One ounce of sunscreen, enough to fill a shot glass, is considered the amount needed to completely cover the exposed areas of the body.
Avoid direct sun at midday, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.
Follow these tips on cloudy days too! Clouds do not block most UV rays.
Special thanks to the Department of Health in New York for writing this article on skin cancer.
