Things you should know about stage four melanoma

Stage four melanoma refers to the advanced stage of skin cancer. In this condition, the disease spreads from the skin and affects other organs like the lungs.
Diagnosis for skin melanoma

The diagnosis for this kind of skin cancer includes the following tests:
1. Blood tests to determine the blood count and functioning of the liver
2. Ultrasound and imaging scans to determine the spread of cancer
3. A biopsy would be needed for examination
4. Various cancer specialists would conduct meetings to further understand the severity of the disease

Symptoms of stage four skin cancer

The first sign of skin cancer is a change in color of the skin or a mole. However, this sign is not universal for all the patients. Many cancer specialists first look at the primary tumor and observe whether it has spread to other organs as well. When skin cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, these may become matted or clumped. These lymph nodes appear hard when they are pressed by your doctor.

Size of the tumor
Typically, the size of the stage four melanoma is thicker; its size is approximately 4 millimeters. The size of the tumor may, however, vary from person to person. Research has revealed that the size of the tumor may shrink upon treatment but it may still metastasize.
Tumor ulceration

Stage four skin cancers may accompany skin ulceration as well. This means that portions of the skin may be broken. This rupture in the skin may begin from Stage 1 onwards. If you have a stage four melanoma, then the skin may or may not display ulcerations. Patients that have stage 4 melanoma along with having tumor ulcerations do not have high chances of survival, according to the American Cancer Society.

Self-examination
You can check yourself if you have skin cancer or not. The most obvious symptoms are;
• Change in the colour of the mole (s)
• When the shape of the mole is asymmetric
• When the colour of the mole changes its shape over a period
• Melanomas are usually the size of an eraser
• They also have uneven borders

Spreading of melanoma
In stage 3, the cancer spreads to lymph nodes or the skin around the primary tumor lymph nodes. In stage 4 melanoma, the tumor spreads to areas beyond the lymph nodes like the internal organs. In this stage, the melanoma may spread to the following organs;
• Liver
• brain
• bones
• Stomach or abdomen

The symptoms may vary depending upon the area where the cancer has spread. If the area where it has spread is the brain, then the patient may experience long-term headache. In case the area is the lungs then the symptoms may include cough and breathlessness. If you have been treated for stage 3 melanoma and are experiencing new pains, aches etc then you must consult a cancer specialist.

Treatment of this stage of cancer includes radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy or targeted therapy.

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    If yours is a home with regular home-cooked meals, then the kitchen is perhaps one of those high-traffic zones, with lots of storage requirements, and easily prone to clutter. Not surprisingly, therefore, kitchen often pose the biggest challenge to decor and design.

    Today’s modular kitchens do provide you with wall-to-wall, ceiling-high cabinets with tons of storage, but this might still not suit everyone’s taste. For example, you might want more light and movement in your kitchen. You might find the cabinets too opaque or boxy, making your kitchen look boring and bland.

    The stiff challenge is when you want all the storage space, but without the boring look of most modular kitchens. Consider some of these ideas, and see what might work in your kitchen.

    Open shelves We are not suggesting that you do away with cabinets altogether, but you would do well to consider a nice balance between covered cabinets and open shelves. Perhaps just a few, to display some pretty cookware, or to place frequently used ones for easy reach. Open shelves also make the kitchen look more open and bright.

    Glass panes for cabinets Replace opaque doors with glass doors on your cabinets. The interior could be painted a bright, contrasting color to make it interesting. A few cabinets could even have pot lights installed inside, making them both practical and pretty. Very small kitchens will also do well to have mirror-finish doors on the cabinets for a roomier appearance.

    Sideboards If space allows it, sideboards are great addition to your dining area, even if this is only a corner in your kitchen. Get a classic, retro sideboard for your crockery, add a touch of class to your kitchen while finding more storage space. Sideboards change the entire look of your kitchen and can change the boring kitchen into a

    While planning the cabinets below the counter-top, ensure corners don’t go waste corner cabinets are a must if you want to do justice to the space afforded by your kitchen. Also, some of your pots and pans don’t really need to be hidden in shelves. Consider creating a hanging-display over the island or the counter-top. Especially if you have old-style copper cookware, this arrangement can lend a charming look to your kitchen, while opening up tons of shelf space for other items.

    Whatever you do, remember that the countertop is not storage space. However constrained you are for space in the kitchen, you will do well to remember that classy, well-kept kitchen have clean, bare countertops. Nothing screams clutter like appliances lined up on the countertop.

  • 4 common sexual conditions and their symptoms

    Sexual conditions or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) generally affect a person through sexual contact. STDs are caused by bacteria, parasites, or viruses, which mainly enter the body through semen, blood, or other bodily fluids. They can enter the body non-sexually too; for instance, an affected person’s blood is used during a transfusion or if they share a needle with a person who has any form of STD. Herein, we discuss the various symptoms of a few sexual conditions.

    Symptoms
    STDs may have a range of symptoms or no signs at all. It mainly depends on the type of STD one may have. Here is a list of some common forms of sexual conditions and their symptoms.

    • Chlamydia
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    • Gonorrhea
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    • Trichomoniasis
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    Causes

    Sexual conditions have different causes. They can be a result of certain viruses like human papillomavirus, HIV, and genital herpes. Sexual diseases may also be caused by parasites like trichomoniasis and bacteria like gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis. These spread during sexual activities. There are a few STDs that may occur without any sexual contact, including hepatitis A, B, and C; viruses; Giardia intestinalis; and shigella.

    Risk factors

    The risk factors for STDs include unprotected sex, having multiple partners, a history of STI, sharing needles, and blood transfusion.

    The best way to avoid sexual conditions is to go for regular STD/STI screenings. As many of these diseases do not show any early signs, only the screening can diagnose them early.

  • Here’s what you need to know about Symbicort inhalers 

    In many patients, chronic asthma reaches a stage when the normal medicines used, cease to have any perceptive effect. It has become obstinate or refractory. Symbicort Inhalers are recommended for use in such patients. It is a combination of two drugs, a corticosteroid – Budesonide and long acting beta2 adrenergic agonist – Formoterol.

    Symbicort is basically a controller medication and it cannot be discontinued just because the symptoms are somewhat diminishing. This medication has to be continued as long as the doctor determines that the asthma is under control and the medicine can be withdrawn. Symbicort Inhalers are neither rescue medication that can be used in an exacerbation. The patient should clearly understand the role the medicine plays in the asthma treatment regime.

    The recommended dose is two puffs in the morning and two in the night as directed by the physician. It is imperative that neither the medication is missed nor over done. The corticosteroid- budesonide reduces the inflammation while the beta2 adrenergic agonist – Formoterol relaxes the smooth muscles of the bronchi. Long acting beta agonist, LABA as a group has a side kick that can set up sudden flare ups and if not attended to properly in time can be fatal. It is not known if budesonide can counter the highly unwanted side reaction of Formoterol at all.

    Astra Zeneca, the manufacturer of symbicort has supplied a detailed medication guide that comes with the prescription. Users should understand the guide and clarify all their doubts before starting to use the inhaler. This inhaler can set up a sudden flare up of symptoms. One should get emergency medical help if the breathing problem suddenly worsens and the rescue inhalers do not give relief. Medication guide gives the details about how to use the inhaler, its cleaning, and storage method and other such useful information. What is worthy of note is the actuation counter which gives the count of the number of application remaining. It has a colored area which intimates the user that it is time to order new canister.

    Symbicort inhalers Spiriva are two different products having different medication. Their usage is also somewhat different.Tag: Symbicort Inhalers, Symbicort Inhalers Spiriva