Skin Cancer Stages

Question: What oral medication is available for melanoma skin cancer? I just found out I have melanoma skin cancer, stage 2. Does anyone know of any oral medication for it? I am just curious. Thanks!

Answer: More than likely you will receive immunology treatments i.e. Interferon shots.After the surgery and all the scans your oncologist will come up with a game plan. quibijor, Actually during the induction period, the Interferon is feed by an IV. The induction period is 5 times a week for one month. Afterwards 3 shots per week.

Question: what should I do if I learn my friend has basal skin cancer stage 3? I can't think straight since I've known, what should I do to comfort her whats her chances of surviving?

Answer: I'm so sorry for you and your friend. Be there to listen, and to help out with chores. Don't say, "If there's anything I can do, let me know." Because he or she might not take you up on your offer. Show up at the house, and say, "what can I do." Or if he doesn't like drop-ins, call, and ask, "What can I do to help right now?"

Question: In regards to skin cancer, melanoma, to be exact.. how long does it take to progress to advanced stages? Now obviously I realize this will differ depending on the person and their immune system.. the exact question I was looking to ask couldn't fit in the subject heading with the number of 'characters' permitted.. What I am asking is this: If one suspects he/ she has skin cancer and has all the underlying symptoms yet the first appointment he/she is able to get is not for several weeks due to the shortage of dermatologists and increase in patients.. how likely is it to advance and if it does, what are the symptoms for a more aggressive and advanced stage of skin cancer? Melanoma, from what I gather, is relatively painless.. and I know there's the ABCD's to look out for.. but what would one experience say, if they've never been to a dermatologist before in their life and quite possibly have had melanoma for years and it has mestastasized and spread to other organs.. what other symptoms would one experience besides the initial change in a mole/skin? Has anyone out there been diagnosed or have a friend or family member that has been diagnosed and already in stage 3 of malignant melanoma and the only symptom ever experienced was changes in moles and a sore that doesn't heal?

Answer: Try not to get ahead of yourself. A few weeks wait to get to the doctor is not going to change the outcome. Melanoma does not move that fast. If you have a suspicious mole or growth, get it removed and wait to hear the pathology report. If the mole or sore has gone a long time before found (such as in your hair) there is a chance that it might be stage 2 or 3. These stages are treatable but the chance of reoccurance significantly increases for stage 3. But before you go worrying about possible outcomes, get the biopsy.

Question: My mother has skin cancer and shes goin through treatment, my friend has fake legs and now she has depression. my mother has skin cancer stage three. and she is starting her treatment she is really sick and i dont know what to do to help. About two weeks ago my friend was diagnosed with depression and she also has fake legs and i have to be there for her and my other friend whose dad was recently diagnosed with leukemia. I am fourteen and i dont know what to do. If anyone that reads thins and you know how to help me please do anything you say will be appreciated everything is happing so fast and i am loosing control.

Answer: Don't lose control just yet, I may beable to give you some hope.For the skin cancer your mother can try emu oil, this product got rid of my skin cancer. For the person with leukaemia ,he can try emu oil gel caps, know a nurse that got rid of her leukaemia that way, and for all other cancers internal go and check out this site www.rain-tree.com/graviola.htm now you have something to tell them, good luck and don,t forget to pray.

Question: what are 1,2,3 stages of lung and skin cancer.? Basically what are the stages of both cancer.

Answer: Cancer Stages Stage 1: Local (one organ) tumor Stage 2: Local Expanding to other organs and cavities. Stage 3: Regional tumor growth. Metastacizing. Stage 4: Cancer throughout the body. Total Metastasis. Blood, tissue and lymphatic spread.

Question: Has anyone had to deal with stage 3 skin cancer? Could you give me any advice on how I should proceed. My youngest 15 is having it removed. It's on his spine in the tissue. Doctors say they are hoping to go into the fatty tissue, not the muscle. Not much meat on his spine let alone fat. They are going to stitch him inside and out. They want him down 2 weeks and would like him not to move his shoulders & arms.I believe this is due to the spot and how big incision they have to make. Should I take him to his own doctor for any other test to make sure this is the only spot. Cancer on both sides. Any information will be helpful. Thank You. Kelly we are both on 1000mgs of garlic and an immune booster all natural of course. Also high protien and B-12 liquid and a few others. Is it a must to have it on the skin instead of in the body? Panda Thank You. It's just now sinking in on how bad it really is. With research I have been doing. I had a friend who had skin cancer and had it removed and all is well but I never realized the different kinds and cell types. I do have a call into another doctor out of our area just waiting for them to get back to me. Thanks again.

Answer: Your son should be treated by a pediatric oncologist who has a speciality in melanoma in children. Childhood skin cancer is not the same as adult skin cancer as it can grow faster. If you cannot locate a pediatric oncologist with a speciality in melanoma you should seek a second opinion at a designated comprehensive cancer center: Cancer Centers Program. http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/ Pediatric Melanoma http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/t… St Judes: Pediatric melanoma http://www.stjude.org/disease-summaries/… A regular pediatrician does not have the expertise that a pediatric oncologist would have in this situation. Much luck and best wishes to you.

Question: Can stage 3 skin cancer be terminal? My bestfriend has stage three skin cancer, he's been in remission twice, can it get better or could it eventually kill him? =(

Answer: Stage 3 does not mean terminal. She can be cured. My sister have stage 4 ovarian cancer and we all thought that her Dr gave her a death sentence. Thanks to wonderful surgeons in Boston, she is alive today and cancer free. Be blessed. My dad had stage 2 skin cancer and he did great. Any cancer can kill you no matter what stage. Your general health and the state of your immune system determines that.

Question: My dad has stage 4 melanoma skin cancer spread to the lungs how long will he have to live? My dad has been struggling with cancer for about 4 yrs now. The first time the cancer was found in the bladder, kidneys. He now has only one kidney. Later he was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer at stage 3. Back in Nov 2007 he had a surgery removing some lymph nodes and then he began chemo shortly after which made him to sick and he quit taking it after about 3 wks. That was December07-Jan08 about 3wks ago in May 08 they found that the cancer has spread to the lungs and I believe there are 2nodes in each lung and now I was told my dad has stage 4 melanoma skin cancer. I just want some information I have a 10yr old son and his papaw is his world. My dad is only 54 yrs old I want to know what the lifspan is. All honesty be blunt I need to know and prepare myself and my son.

Answer: As you already know your father's situation is very grave. I'd look into the clinical trials currently being done for stage 4 malignant melanoma. This site will let you search for hospitals located nearby that are involved with ongoing melanoma clinical trials. Select malignant melanoma then enter the state or states where you could possibly go. http://www.clinicaltrialssearch.org/clin… good luck to your father & all the best to you and your family

Question: Can we cure skin cancer at early stage yet?

Answer: It depends on what kind of cancer and what you mean by cure. I had a basal cell carcinoma removed and the cancer has not recurred, so I consider myself "cured". Likewise my husband had a mole removed that was melanoma and they caught it early enough and nothing has grown back or spread. Most skin cancers are simply surgically removed in the early stages and if they're thorough, that particular lesion won't grow back. Both my husband and I are at increased risk of skin cancer and expect to have more moles removed but I consider each instance "cured" when its removed.

Question: How does sun baking increase risk of cancer? Can someone please tell me the stages of skin Cancer from sunbathing?

Answer: Cancer is caused by damage of cells and exposure to radiation. Damaged cells are supposed to die. Sometimes they do not, however. Typically a healthy immune system will destroy these cells. However, large amounts can overwhelm it. When this happens, they continue to replicate. This can result in tumors or cancer. Sun bathing exposes yourself to UV light - a form of radiation. Sun baking burns the skin - resulting in damage of cells. Skin cancer is very visible. Abnormal spots, moles, moles that grow or move, and new birth marks can be a sign of skin cancer.

Question: can melanoma (skin cancer) in stage 4 can be cured by ayurvedic treatment? if yes, which ayurvedic institute?

Answer: There is no proof of the effectiveness of ayurvedic therapy for any cancer.

Question: Serious skin cancer question?!? I have been reading about skin cancer and how if you have moles that change shape that it could possibly be skin cancer but what if you develop a spot out of nowhere,I had been living over seas for the past two years in Guam where the Uv rays are much higher, I noticed not too long after returning to the states a dark brown spot on my right arm that is darker brown in the middle and does have irregular edges,I am worried after seeing an article in a magazine that showed different stages of skin cancer and mine closely resembled the one that was listed under possibly precancerous,Any advice,info.Thanks

Answer: well the obvious answer would be to go to a doctor, but i had a spot appear on my skin it changed color and shape until it looked like a paw print, it turns out that it was from another condition and not cancerous at all, but still serious. another tip to look for would be if the mole or spot is raised from the skin the higher it is possibly the more serious it is. please get it checked out. i hope things work out well!

Question: can u get a brain tumor from skin cancer? my friend has skin cancer its spreading and in around stage 3 or 4 and now she has a brain tumor and if she gets the surgery to remove it like the doctors want. she supposed to not remember around the last 5 years of her life. can this all be true and happen?

Answer: Yes, that is why cancer is such a concern. The earlier it is caught the greater the life expectancy can be. Since you mention your friend is in stage 3/4, that means the cancer has metastasized (moved) to other parts of the body. Cancer travels through the lymphatic system (lymph nodes) to other organs. Yes if they operate on an area that affects long term memory than she could very well forget the last few years of her life. I wish your friend the best.

Question: Skin cancer? I had a stage 3 melonoma removed from my neck last fall and have an appt w/my oncologist on the 24. The last week or so I have had a lot of pain inthat area and am afraid it spread has any one else had this experience?

Answer: Possibly nerves. Just make sure that you go to your appointment and tell your doctor about your symptoms!!!!!

Question: What are the signs of skin cancer and how can it be treated? I have what appears to be lesions or ringworm around my neck area not sure if it's from too much sun or what. tried sunscreen but it just seems to make it worst sometimes.I feel that these lesions are the early stages .

Answer: Squamous cell carcinoma/ Bowen's disease can sometimes look like a ringworm. I wouldn't worry about it yet but do get to a dermatologist ASAP. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-cancer/DS00190/DSECTION=2

Question: How long before SCC Skin Cancer Metasticizes? I was told I have SCC Skin Cancer today, but given no other details (like what stage, etc). My dermatologist just said to come in in about 4 weeks to have the area removed. I am now wondering--could it have metasticized? Of course, the Doctor's Office is closed. Try as I may, I can't seem to find a timeline online. So I am wondering--how long does SCC generally grow before it metasticizes to the lymph nodes or elsewhere?

Answer: It depends on how large and how deep the SCC is plus genetics and luck figure into this. If you have an in situ (localized) SCC then the chances of metastasis are very small in your immediate future. 1% or less for a small localized SCC. If you have a SCC that is a half inch big or very deep and you have ignored it for a year then you have something to be concerned about. There is no specific time line. I recently read an article in a major medical journal with lots of photos of a man who had a huge SCC on his hand that was cured using the drug Aldara. He's had this huge open sore - tumor for 9 years without metastasis. This cancer looked terrible but had not spread beyond three fingers on his hand and had not gone into his lymph nodes. I was shocked that the cancer had not metastasized. This illustration is not to say that you should not have the SCC removed as soon as you can get into the Dr but just to illustrate that there is no definite time line where that having a SCC for 3 or 6 months means you are at extreme risk. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000829.htm