Skin Cancer Expert HealthGal shares Skin Cancer management news and commentary at SkinCancerConnection.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003 http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003 http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/48372/understanding Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:22:00 -0500 HealthGal It's a word none of us want to hear.  It's one thing to hear the diagnosis cancer, it's another to hear that the cancer has spread to other locations, or metastized.  Clearly in order to treat and cure cancer, and especially in an effort to prevent metastasis of the cancer - experts need to understand what happens or what allows metastatic disease to occur.   Scientists have discovered the two key processes that allow cancer... http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/48372/understanding http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/48883/tools-cancer Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:50:00 -0500 HealthGal If you look at current statistics, about 8400 people will die of melanoma skin cancer this year.  Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer and can metastize quickly to other areas in the body.  So any tools that help to detect this cancer quickly - by patients or by health professionals - can be a step forward in reducing the mortality from this disease.   Recently at an American Academy of Dermatology symposium, new and innovative... http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/48883/tools-cancer http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/47761/alternative Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:08:00 -0500 HealthGal I talk about alternative options to eating when it comes to stress, and I talk about alternative proteins when it comes to reducing saturated fat in one's diet, so I think this new study which gives indoor tanning enthusiasts the ugly truth about the impact of those dangerous and disfiguring UV rays and then offers them alternative ways to get the bronze look is brilliant.   Researchers at East Tennessee State University in Johnson... http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/47761/alternative http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/46487/inflammation Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:18:00 -0400 HealthGal Most of us know that signs of inflammation can be a good thing. It means that your body is responding to "an attack" and using the best frontline defense it has against infection or disease. Inflammation is very often the sign that we need to seek medical attention because if the inflammation progresses, it can signal that the disease or infection is progressing and overwehlming the body's defenses. What about chronic... http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/46487/inflammation http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/45874/treatments-sun Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:26:26 -0400 HealthGal Sun or photo-damaged skin is a surefire way to put you at risk of skin cancers and premature aging.  We do an awful lot of "preaching" when it comes to protecting your skin from sun's damaging rays, recommending that you use a broad spectrum sunblock daily (even in winter months), stay out of the sun during the times of the day when the rays are really strong (10 am -2 pm), using reflective, light colored clothing as an additional barrier,... http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/45874/treatments-sun http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/44320/tanning-moment Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:35:45 -0400 HealthGal I've written about tanning beds and their danger ad nauseum - seriously folks - if you don't get it by now - I'll say it again - regular tanning bed use = skin cancer danger. Period, finito!! That being said, people will still want that winter golden glow and not heed my dire warnings.  Well, one woman got more than a tan glow in this story.   A woman who purchased and owned a home tanning bed set the timer, got in and promptly... http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/44320/tanning-moment http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/43318/confused-skin Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:43:00 -0400 HealthGal Whenever I write or talk about skin cancer, I always use the Australians as an example of a nation that had a high rate of skin cancer and through a series of very smart marketing and targeted messaging, managed to literally heal a nation.  Their skin cancer rates plummeted over a several year period, and children as young as two and three know to slather on the sunblock.   We here in the US, are certainly becoming aware of... http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/43318/confused-skin http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/41983/governor-house Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:50:00 -0400 HealthGal Yes, I want to keep the political arena talking about political topics and issues - really important issues BUT please tell me that this story floating around out there involving Sarah Palin and her purchase of a used tanning bed (with her own money) for the Governor's mansion is false - a fable - an urban myth - please, please don't tell me it's true.  Because whether we like it or not - she is now in a bigger arena and some of what... http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/41983/governor-house http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/40583/winter-arrive Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:13:00 -0400 HealthGal We talk you to death - pun very much intended - when it comes to summertime and sun protection -  but what about during the winter months?  You cannot have a cavalier attitude, even though we do tend to cover up much more.  Think about it, though.  Your face, sometimes ears and hands are still exposed AND when you're sitting in traffic or in an office with windows - you are getting sun exposure.  and unprotected sun... http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/40583/winter-arrive http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/39670/smell-cancer Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:29:09 -0400 HealthGal Physicians have long since used "smell" to make diagnoses - you can smell necrotic, dying tissue; you can smell an infectious, pus filled exudate; you can smell the by-products of certain drugs in your urine; you can smell someone who has been on the Atkin's diet long term (their breath has ketones in it because of the high protein intake).  Well....you can also smell certain skin cancers!!   Basal cell carcinomas apparently give off... http://www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer/c/41003/39670/smell-cancer