Skin Cancer Survival

Question: If skin cancer is found early is it very easy to cure? My mother had a freckle on her leg change colors/shapes (I'm not sure) but she got into the dermatologist and I believe she found it very early... does anyone know the odds of skin cancer survival if the malignant area is found early?

Answer: The survival rate, for early detection of skin cancer , is very good,,,, if found early enough, the lesion can be removed very easily, without complications, or deep incisions,. but if it has progresses to melanoma, that is a different story. So early detection is a life saver. Hope this helps/

Question: Which kind of common cancer has the best survival rate? Other than basal cell skin cancer, what kind of common cancer has the best five year survival rate? Obviously no cancer is good, but who has better odds of survival, say someone diagnosed with early stage breast cancer or someone with early stage Hodgkin lymphoma? How about early stage melanoma or colon cancer? What percentage of people with say Hodgkin lymphoma die as opposed to percentage with say breast cancer or colon cancer or kidney cancer? I'm asking for a friend who is tired of being told Hodgkin lymphoma is "a good cancer to get." He thinks it's really insulting.

Answer: I don't know about the comment being insulting, but I'd think the person who said ANY kind of cancer is a good kind to get is a moron who has never been diagnosed with cancer. Just sayin.

Question: does anyone hae any ovariun cancer survival stories? My wonderful mother - in - law has just been diagnosed, it appears to have been caught early although she has to have more tests done. She is so full of fluid she looks as if she is heavilly pregnant, its just heart breaking to see. She spent the last few years caring for her partner of 20 years who died of skin cancer in November. As you can imagine this diagnoses is just devastating to us all but im so worried about my partner. Does anyone have any possitive stories about people suving this aggressive cancer? Thanks in advance x

Answer: so sorry to hear about your situation. when my mom was in her late 30's she had ovarian cancer, i was 4 years old then and i remember going to the hospital and waving to her as she stood in the window and i was outside and not allowed to go in, not sure why. she had a hysterectomy and fully recovered and thankfully she is still here with us. i am now 43 years old and she is 77. i spend a lot of my time taking care of her as she did for me growing up, i'm very lucky to have her. hopefully, in your mother-in-laws case, it was detected early enough to be successfully treated, all you can do is be there for her and your partner, best of luck to you.

Question: HOw do people survive skin cancer? What is the probability of survival of skin cancer?

Answer: It depends on the type of skin cancer and the stage. All have to be surgical removed, but this does not necessarily mean they are cured and they are not all survivable. Basal cell carcinoma is the easiest to cure, but I have also seen patients who died from this disease. You need to give specific information if you want a better answer.

Question: What does a skin cancer or melanoma mole look like? what does a melanoma or skin cancer mole look like? Is there a good chance of survival if you get it treated soon enough. How much time do you have to act? Just because the mole might be irregular does it necessarily mean melanoma? How big are they? Thanks.

Answer: Non melanoma skin cancers (basal and squamous cell) are much more common than melanomas. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skinc… That is not to say that melanomas are not also rather common. Here are some melanoma photos and info to check out. A melanoma doesn't have to be nearly as large as those in these photos since they usually use large examples for online photos. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types… http://www.dermatology.org/molemelanoma/… http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ruth.livingsto… With melanomas there are three things that determine cure rate - how big, how deep and how soon you get a proper diagnosis and correct treatment. If you have any thoughts that a mole might not look right then you need to see a dermatologist immediately for a check up.

Question: what are the survival rates for an early 20's female with skin cancer found in lymph nodes?

Answer: Hi. This can't be answered without more specifics, because it varies widely depending upon what percentage of the nodes are positive for melanoma cells. A good indicator is the Stage at which the diagnosis was made (this would be III or IV). However, survival stats are nothing more than a general guideline. There are other factors impacting survival such as site of melanoma, whether the mets are local or distant, etc. The onc is really the best source of info. People do survive this, however, especially earlier if it's found in only one node, where a general guess is somewhere around 50-60 percent.

Question: Why are some cancer so deadly and others so easy to treat ? Why is liver cancer , stomach cancer ,kidney cancer ,skin cancer so much easer to treat than pancratic cancer ,lung cancer and brain cancer that is very deadly and little survival rate.

Answer: It all depends on how much tissue from organs you can sacrifice. In the brain for example, you can sacrifice very little.

Question: Why isn't the media talking about McCain's skin cancer? Reputable dermatologists are discussing the fact that in simply actuarial terms, John McCain has a virulent and life-threatening form of skin cancer. It is the elephant in the room, but we must discuss the health of the candidates: doctors put survival rates for someone his age at two to four years. source: Naomi Wolf, Huffington Post

Answer: If Obama says it itll make him look like he's grabbing straws. News media can do it if they want. It'll make all the Faux NEws lovers think its liberal bias and not just common sense

Question: I am a fraid I might have skin cancer and can't get seen by my doctor for almost 2 weeks.? Seriously, I don't have health insurance right now and I have this weird new mole on my left cheek, near my ear lobe that came since May. It is scaring the crap out of me, cuz I read that from driving, that is the number one area skin cancer starts. I'm very pale too, a natural blonde. I know survival rates are pretty good for skin cancer so I'm not really scared of death, just that I've got no insurance and don't know what the treatments are for skin cancer. Anyone else go thru this with skin cancer. Please give me any info or experiences to relieve my worries until I get seen by a doctor and get my tests back.

Answer: Girl, you need to call a different doctor TOMORROW. For real, someone will see you sooner.

Question: Breat Cancer Survival Rate? I know absolutley nothing about the type, the size, the stage, if its matasticized, etc. etc. etc. All I know is my mother is 44, stressed all the time, in otherwise good health other than being VERY SLIGHTLY overweight [she's got a big bum and thighs, thats it], works in retail, and half of her brothers and sisters have had cancer [9 siblings], both her parents had cancer, all different types as well> Cervical, lung, throat, breast, liver, skin. She doesn't drink other than at christmas with her sisters, she smokes regularly, she only has one kid [me], she is divorced and not dating, at all, she sleeps a lot, has chronic bronchitis [I cannot spell at the moment for some reason], barely eats, has small breasts, uhm.... I have no clue what is relevant so I'm just including anything that could POSSIBLY help. Has trouble sleeping and takes sleeping pills regularly, hasn't gone to a gynecologist or had a mamogram since I was born [18 years ago], and she didn't notice the lump until our cat jumped on it and it started hurting a lot. So yea... If you guys could please give me some information on survival rates. I already know that because she is over 40, her chances are a lot better. I don't want to know any specifics about the Tumour sizes and palpable nodes and etc. etc. etc. If you could just tell me what her chances are, and how anything that I've told you could affect her chances. Thank you all so much in advance, this means a lot to me.

Answer: I’m sorry DIS.AR.RAY I know you are worried about your mom and I am not trying to give you a hard time, but this is like asking if a car you are interested in is a good car and all you tell us is that it has four tires, two doors and it is blue. It is impossible to give you a meaningful answer. None of the things you mentioned, other than her age, is relevant to answering you. However, the things you do not want to know are. To give you a meaningful answer we need to know the stage, grade and her hormone receptor status. These things determine her treatment and her prognosis. About the only thing I can tell you is that you are correct that it is good she is over 40 rather than under 40, but it would be better if she were over 50. We have come a very long way in being able to manage breast cancer, so even if she has a later stage cancer the chances are very good that she will be around for quite awhile.

Question: Have you heard these scary facts about cancer ? Facts and figures: ·One in 330 boys and one in 420 girls get cancer before they’re 20 – that’s between two and four cases for every secondary school in the UK. ·By the age of 15, you have a 1 in 600 chance of developing cancer. By the age of 24, you will have had a 1 in 285 chance. ·Teenage cancer rates have increased by 50% in the last 30 years. ·Cancer is the number one cause of non-accidental death in teenagers and young adults in the UK. ·70% of young people with cancer still don’t have access to a TCT unit. ·Young people contract some of the most aggressive forms of cancer. Survival rates for teens with cancer fall far behind survival rates for other age groups. Skin cancer stats: ·From 1979-2000, melanoma (skin cancer) rates linked to sun exposure almost doubled in 20-24 year olds and now account for one in 10 of all cancers in that age group. ·We get over 50% of our total exposure to the sun by the age of 21 and it is the damage done to the skin in early years that can lead to skin cancer later in life. ·The main cause of malignant melanoma is ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. As people take sunshine holidays abroad more often, the number of people developing malignant melanoma and other skin cancers is rising. It is also increasing among people who take part in outdoor sports. ·Across all age groups, just under 3 out of every 100 cancers diagnosed (3%) are melanomas. ·Research has shown that the use of sun beds (which give off artificial UV radiation) increases the risk of developing malignant melanoma, even if they are only used occasionally throughout the year to maintain a tan.

Answer: These stats are very uninteresting to me. Everyone has cancer cells, it's just matter if they decide to mutate or not. Tanning beds are avoidable. If people know the risks and still do it, that's their problem. Sun exposure is simple too, it's called sunscreen. BUT even people who are safe with harmful rays still have the same risk of getting melanoma. Caffiene Junkie-- Congrats on the beating the beast! Here's to a long life of survival! <3 And here's hoping for my next PET to come out clean so I can join ya!

Question: about skin cancer melonoma? what is 2% of living in melonoma and they are any chances of survival in treatment?

Answer: melanoma in general has a very good survival rate BUT it depends on various factors i ve given below: The stage of melanoma (whether cancer is found in the outer layer of skin only, or has spread to the lymph nodes, or to other places in the body. Whether there was bleeding or ulceration at the primary site. The location and size of the tumor. The patient’s general health. Although many people are successfully treated, melanoma can recur (come back). You have to go to a dr. It's not something which can cure by itself,and even after treatment ,it can come back,so you ve to keep a check. I have given the link ,so visit that site for more details.

Question: Cancer. What can you tell me about Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)? My friend has been diagnosed with this type of rare skin cancer . . . Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) What is the survival rate? How aggressive is this type of cancer? Is there anything else you can tell me about it?

Answer: Hi sorry to hear about your friend, I think it has around about 90% chance survival rate with a 30-40% chance of it coming back after standard excision.

Question: What is the survival rate from Grade 3 breast cancer after 3 years? No markers and lumpy skin lesions

Answer: You can read the stories of those who had cancer at: www.viabenefits.com If you feel like it you can also check out: www.12weeks.info

Question: Is the future of the human race in ethnic mixing? Skin cancer rates in Scotland and Scandinavia have been rising for the last 50 years. The pale skin of Scots and Norse cannot handle the UV rays bombarding them in the wake of dramatic ozone depletion. How long will it take before Northern Europeans are forced, for survival, to inter-marry with darker-skinned people, whose skin produces more melanin and thus have more of a natural defense against harmful UV radiation? Tendency to sickle cell and high blood preassure has nothing to do with having dark skin and to suggest such a thing is just ignorant. Sickle cell is a trait that is common among AFRICANS because the sickle cell is a natural defense against malaria and malaria is common in Africa. People in India, south-east Asia, Polynesia, and Australia's First Nation all have dark skin and none of those populations are prone to sickle cell OR high blod preasure.

Answer: As the world shrinks and the population increases, the incidence of ethnic mixing will increase as well; and there is nothing that can stop it. Maybe in about 500 years we won't see as much racial hatred, and everyone will look better when they dance and they will be able to run the 100 yard dash in under 10 seconds!

Question: Anyone have an experience with cancer at all? Ok so a few weeks ago we all (me and my family) went to the opticians, and the optician found a dark spot in my dad's eye. He was told to go to the hospital about this, and went last Friday. I asked my dad abotu it when I got home from school, and asked the obvious question- was it cancer? He said they weren't sure but it was definitely a possibility, and he's been referred to this eye cancer specialist doctor in London, in the hopefully not-too-distant future. I'm really worried, and have been worrying all week. There is obviously a high chance this is going to turn out to be cancer. Especially because a few years ago my dad had melanoma on his arm removed (a type of skin cancer). I've been researching into eye cancer on the internet, and have found out it is much more common as a secondary cancer, having spread from somewhere else. I'm convinced now that this is secondary cancer, and I know that when a cancer returns, the chances of full recovery are slimmer. Apparently, if the cancer is small, there is as 85% five year survival rate. The fact that 15% will not survive 5 years terrifies me. The fact that 85% will means nothing, if every single one of them will eventually die of it. Please can someone tell me if it's posible to be cured if it's caught early enough, even if it's secondary cancer? My uncle (on my mum's side) died of a brain tumour about 5 years ago, and my mum's dad died of bowl cancer when she was 17. My dad's father had cancer when he died, though he didn't die of cancer, and so I am well aware of the possible consequences. I'm just not ready to have to accept that by the time I'm 21, my dad may be extremely ill with cancer, or worse. Am I being a pessimist? I love my dad to bits and can't imagine living without him. This sounds childish and stupid but I keep crying every night with worry, and it's every second thing I think about. This is getting in the way of school work because I can't concentrate, and making me resent my friends when they get annoyed at me because I keep thinking 'you don't have a clue what's on my mind right now'. I feel like I cn't talk to anyone because I don't want people to know I'm worrying. I really don't know what to do. You don't know how much all your support means to me, thank you so, so much! If I could come thank you all in person, and give you all hugs I really would. I'll take all your advice and try to stop worrying about it as much, and instead just show him how much I love him =] .

Answer: Of course you will be worried, and whatever we say isn't going to do much - but you sound a really nice person to be so concerned. Firstly, can you talk to your Dad, say you are getting anxious and it is affecting your school work, and can he organise for an earlier appointment. These things can be hurried along - but you need to push - and probably your Dad is worried too, so if he can shift the anxiety on to one of the family being concerned - he will probably feel better about asking. Strange, but it happends. Secondly things are getting better and better all the time when it comes to cancer treatment. I had cancer four years ago, and already the treatment I had has changed incredibly fast. We are alll surviving longer and longer, so even IF the worst happens, and your Dad has cancer, what you are reading and worrying about now will have moved on and survival rates will be better - Fact. I expect everyone reading this column will be rooting for you and your Dad - and whatever happens realise there are a lot of people out there who will also be rooting for him. So best of luck. Verite R cancer survivor www.after-cancer.com