Skin cancer is the abnormal or malignant growth of skin cells. The disease has been categorized into three major types. These are named after the affected skin cells. The most common form of skin cancer is called basal cell carcinoma. The next common type is squamous cell carcinoma. The least common but the most dangerous type of major skin cancer is melanoma.
Other forms of less common skin cancer are atypical fibroxanthoma, merkel cell carcinoma, kaposi sarcoma (in blood vessels), skin adnexal tumors, cutaneous lymphoma and different types of sarcomas.
Causes: The cause of skin cancer is the mutations in the DNA structure of the cells. The damage or the alteration in the skin cell DNA can occur due to ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. The harmful UV exposure can also occur from the use of tanning beds. However, the disease can also occur on skin surface not exposed to UV radiation.
Another possible cause is a weakened immune system.
Risk Factors: Other than UV exposure, there are several risk factors that can increase a person’s chances of getting skin cancer.
• Repeated severe cases of sunburns in people of all ages can cause skin cancer.
• Fair skin contains less melanin, so it is more susceptible to harm from the UV light.
• Red or blond hair; blue eyes or freckles are also risk factors for skin cancer.
• People living in high-altitude or warm climate regions are more at risk of sun exposure and thus skin cancer.
• Hereditary factors or family history of the disease can significantly raise a person’s risk of skin cancer.
• Exposure to arsenic or radiation.
• Moles that are abnormal in sizes and look irregular.
• Someone who has had skin cancer can develop the disease again in the future.
• Actinic keratoses are a type of skin lesions that indicate sun-damaged skin.
• Some sexually-transmitted viral infections can also increase skin cancer risks.
Symptoms: Different types of skin cancer develop symptoms specific to the disease.
• Basal cell carcinoma can appear as bumps with wax-like shine or as flat brown-colored lesions. Squamous cell carcinoma causes flat and scaly lesions or red nodules that are quite firm. Melanoma can appear as a big brown spot, a tiny lesion with different colors, dark lesions or a mole that changes in appearance and size.
• Kaposi sarcoma can appear as purple or red spots on the mucous membranes or the skin. Merkel cell carcinoma appears as shiny bumps on or under the hair or skin. Sebaceous gland carcinoma appears in the skin’s oil glands as firm bumps. It most commonly occurs on the eyelids.
• Basically, any abnormal-looking skin growth can indicate skin cancer.
Treatment: There are different treatment options for skin cancer such as surgery, radiation therapy and use of topical medications. Depending on the cancer, the doctor may employ other ways to remove cancerous cells such as cryosurgery, use of lasers and other medicines. However, it is possible to prevent most types of skin cancer.
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5 border edging ideas with stones and bricks
Read moreSome people are incredibly proud of the homes they have built. Most home builders concentrate on the indoor and outdoor look of their house. The outdoor landscaping enhances the overall look of the house. Border edging is a significant part of landscaping and completely changes the look of the space. Here are five unique and beautiful border edging ideas that you can consider for your house.
- River rock edging
You must be familiar with river rocks. They are small and large pebbles that look great as edges for your ponds, patio spaces, and pathways. Since these river rocks have smooth edges, they do not hurt the feet, and you can happily walk over them barefoot. These pebbles are cold to touch and therapeutic too. - Layered stones
If you want to create a raised bed outside your house or in your garden, opt for layered stones as they are perfect for border edging. These are simple rectangular stones placed on top of each other to create a border for a raised bed. Such edges look neat and precise. Another advantage is that these borders prevent soil erosion. - Flagstone edging
A lot of families personally love flagstones. These are flat rectangular or square stones used along bedding planes. These stones are rusty and are low maintenance. You can add a single layer of the stone as a border or stack one on top of another to create a tall border structure. If you want your outdoor landscape to look pretty, consider flagstones. - Red brick edging
These redbrick edgings are one of the most used border edging ideas in traditional houses. Red bricks are strong and easy to fix; they are weather-resistant and low maintenance too. Redbrick borders look great in large houses. - Faux stones
These stones are manmade, and they come in a variety of materials. These affordable, lightweight stones give a look and feel of real, natural stones; and they are also easy to maintain. You can buy these faux stones in a variety of shapes and colors. All these stones come with wire anchors to help them get fixed to the ground. Give these a try.
If your outdoor space is not as perfect as you want it to be, the lack of edging could be the reason. Have a look at the above -mentioned border edging ideas and implement them when you renovate your outdoor area. You will love the difference they bring to your house.
- River rock edging
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Buying your first bike, here’s what you need to know
Read morePlanning to buy your first motorcycle? Motorcycles offer a sense of freedom while you cruise them along curved roads., revving up the bike’s engine as you cruise along the road that go miles and miles. It’s a nirvana in its own sense. Sounds romantic for any bike fanatic. Keeping the romanticism aside, you need to consider some factors so that the love between you and your bike does not prove to be a costly affair.
The first and the very obvious yet important factor is that, before even considering buying a new motorcycle, you need to be sure that you have the skills and abilities to ride any bike. If you are a novice, or even its been a while that you rode a motorcycle, you need to take a refresher course. Get a motorcycle license first if you don’t have one, to ride legally. The best way to go about all this is, enroll in a riding school.
Once you have learned or brushed your skills on changing gears on a motorcycle without stalling it, you need to decide which kind of motorbike you intend to buy. Before considering the mechanical attributes and performance, decide on the need. Do you need to buy it to zip around the city streets and reach swiftly to your workplace or college, join a motorcycle club, or cruise along the road to take it on road trips?
Once you have decided on the need and plan to go ahead and buy one, consider these points like; your body type. No matter how badly you want the bike, if your feet don’t touch the ground when the bike is upright, then the bike is too tall for you. You might as well should not consider high-performance bikes.
Look for a bike that you feel comfortable sitting on. Take it for a small spin. How does the saddle feel? Are you able to maneuver the bike on difficult curves? How well does it respond to throttle and braking? Once you have done these with a couple of bikes, you will get a clear picture of which bike suits you best. And once you have decided on what type of bike you wish to buy, consider the technical aspects such as, type of engine, braking aspects, suspension, tires etc.
After you have put a finger on your choice, it’s time to consider the financial aspects. Get a competitive insurance quote for your bike. There several insurance agencies on the internet that can help you provide the best quotes. Get in touch with a local insurance agency for the same. Decide on the finance. That is, the mode of payment (cash or other financing options).
Don’t forget to buy the biking gear that best suits you and your bike. Helmet, jacket, gloves, boots and dedicated eyewear.