The epidermis is the outer layer of skin consisting of three types of cells. Melanocytes are one of these cell types, and they are located at the deepest part of the epidermis, according to the National Cancer Institute. Melanocytes make the skin...
Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, says the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the leading cause of death from skin disease. It is cancer arising from melanocytes, cells that produce melanin in the skin. Melanin is...
According to the National Cancer Institute, almost all stomach cancers, also called gastric cancers, are adenocarcinomas, arising from the glandular inner lining of the stomach. NCI estimates put the total number of new cases of stomach cancer in...
As defined by MayoClinic.com, a laryngectomy is the surgical removal of either a part or the entire larynx, or voice box. A laryngectomy is usually done to treat cancer of the larynx, or rarely done to treat damage of the larynx due to trauma....
Arimidex is an anticancer drug used for breast cancer in post menopausal women. Certain breast cancers are called estrogen receptor cancers. That means the cancer needs estrogen to grow. Arimidex blocks estrogen production in the body so cancer...
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) there will be more than 192,000 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 2009, and 40,000 people (mostly women) will die from the disease. The American Cancer Society (ACS) says about one in five breast...
Prostate-specific antigen is a protein produced by your prostate cells. Medical professionals commonly use this protein to screen for prostate cancer, to follow patients after prostate cancer treatment and to evaluate a prostate gland that does...
Encephalitis is a brain inflammation caused by a virus. You may experience mild flulike symptoms, including headache, fever, muscle aches and fatigue, or serious symptoms like double vision, hallucinations and seizures. Herbs may work together...
Inositol is a water-soluble carbohydrate that is classified as a tangential member of the B-vitamin family. It is structurally similar to sugar; however, it is only slightly sweet and has a different physiological role. It is widely found in your...
Complementary and alternative medicine is slowly moving westward, and modern medicine is finally taking notice. Touted for its immune-boosting properties for thousands of years, the medicinal root of the astragalus plant shows promise for the...
Astragalus is a large genus of plants in the legume family. Schisandra, also known as magnolia vine, is a common garden ornamental plant. Both astragalus and schisandra have a long history of use in Chinese traditional medicine. Recent scientific...
According to the National Cancer Institute, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. This estimate is based on breast cancer statistics for the years 2001 through 2003, and the rate of new breast cancer cases...
Tamoxifen, often sold as Nolvadex, affects the body's estrogenic system. It blocks estrogen binding in the breast and promotes binding elsewhere. Doctors prescribe tamoxifen to treat breast malignancies because cancer cells need estrogen to...
Colon cancer is the result of cells that line the colon developing genetic mutations that cause them to grow uncontrollably. There are a variety of medical treatments that can be used to treat colon cancer. With a combination of surgery,...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among women in the U.S. after lung cancer. Improvements in screening and adequate treatment continue to improve the survival...
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the Western hemisphere and the second leading cause of death of both sexes combined, according to the American Cancer Society. Older patients who develop colon or rectal cancer are not...
Polyunsaturated fatty acids are a healthy type of fat because they are made of unsaturated fats. Polyunsaturated fatty acids include omega-3 fatty acids, which have been proven to promote health. The American Heart Association recommends omega-3...
AC cancer therapy is a combination chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer which involves the drugs doxorubicin, formerly known as adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide, according to Macmillan Cancer Support. This treatment is usually administered on...
Adjuvant chemotherapy is treatment for cancer that is given in addition to primary treatment, usually surgery. Many kinds of chemotherapeutic drugs abound, and side effects vary according to the type of drug, the dosage, the combination of drugs...
Inositol hexaphosphate, more commonly known as phytic acid, is a natural substance found in many legumes, sesame seeds, bran wheat and many high fiber foods. The American Cancer Society notes that there have been some studies suggesting that...
Chemotherapy (also known as chemo) is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells or stop cancer cells from growing and dividing. According to the book "Clinical Oncology," the first clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of chemotherapy in...
Chemotherapy--using toxic drugs to kill fast-dividing cells--is a common cancer treatment. Upon entering a cancer cell, chemotherapy drugs can damage essential molecules such as DNA, inhibit cellular metabolism, and directly induce cancer cell...
The American Cancer Society, ACS, reports that the number of deaths from breast cancer has been declining in the U.S. since 1990. This decline is said to be due to improved screening methods and awareness, as well as advances in treatment...
Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is a fat-soluble antioxidant that is made in your body. It can be found in certain foods, especially beef and pork heart, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, mackerel and sardines. It is also available in supplement form. CoQ10 is...
Keloid acne is a form of chronic folliculitis that develops along the follicles of your scalp. Often referred to as acne keloidalis nuchae, this skin condition typically manifests at the nape of the neck, causing small papules to form around the...
Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid the body cannot produce. Common food sources of omega-3 include cold-water fish such as salmon, halibut, tuna, mackerel and sardines, as well as pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds and walnuts. Omega-3 is an essential fatty...
Tuberculosis is a systemic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The infection can affect any of your organs, but lungs are the most common primary site of infection. Your immune system mounts a response against inhaled...
Nandrolone decanoate is a man-made steroid hormone with a physical structure similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. The drug is administered as a deep intramuscular injection. After absorption into the bloodstream, the drug travels to the...
The name "onion seed" is somewhat of a misnomer, as the seed is not in the onion family. It is scientifically recognized as Nigella sativa, Latin for "black plant." There are many names for this spice, including: black onion seed, black seed,...
