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In Cancer Awareness, Health Screenings

3 Common Types of Skin Cancer

Each year, there are 3.5 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the United States. As the most common cancer type, it is important to perform regular self-checks to catch any suspicious spots early. If caught soon enough, the treatment success increases significantly.

There are many types of skin cancer which can be more common in different areas of the body and may show up in a variety of forms. The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is typically found on the head or neck and may first appear as a pale patch of skin or a waxy translucent bump. A telling sign is a blood vessel or indentation in the center of the bump. If the cancer spots develop on the chest, it appears similar to a brown colored scar or flesh-colored lesion. Watch for bleeding or oozing, this is a sign it is more developed.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma can also take the form of a lump on the skin. These are firm lumps and are rough on the surface, unlike basal cells which have a smooth and pearly appearance. This cancer type usually develops on the head, neck, hands or arms, but also may develop in other areas such as genital region or in scars or skin sores.

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma appear as raised, flesh-colored moles that grow quickly. These are small tumors and typically appear on areas of the skin that are most exposed to the sun such as the face, neck or scalp.

What are the Signs of Skin Cancer?

Typically, skin cancer develop on exposed areas of the skin, making early detection more possible. It’s important to regularly examine your skin to catch any unusual changes to an existing mole or a suspicious growth.

Although skin cancer can develop in a variety of locations, and appear in different forms, there are common symptoms to look for when checking your skin for suspicious spots no matter the location. Here are some common signs of skin cancer to keep in mind:

  • An unusual skin growth or sore that has not gone away
  • Spots that are raised and/or bleed easily
  • The size and shape of the spot changes over time

When performing a self-screen, remember to check less exposed areas of the body, as these can still develop skin cancer although less likely: underneath nails, on the palms of hands, soles of feet, genitals and the eyes.

If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to your primary care provider or dermatologist about your concerns.

Expert Skin Cancer Care

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In Cancer Awareness

July is Bone Cancer Awareness Month – Know the Types, Causes and Symptoms

What is Bone Cancer?

Bone cancer can be found in any bone of the body and has the potential to spread. Typically, bone cancer develops in the pelvis or the long bones, such as the legs and arms. Although it is less common than other cancer types, it’s good to be proactive and understand the different kinds of bone cancer, who’s at risk and the symptoms associated.

Primary Bone Cancer VS Bone Metastasis

Primary bone cancer can begin in any part of the bone structure including the bone itself, the muscle, tissues and blood vessels.

There are many types of primary bone cancer. Some are rarer than others, the most common types are as follows:

  • Chondrosarcoma starts in the early stages of cartilage cells. Chondrosarcoma can develop anywhere there is cartilage. Most often it starts in the pelvic bones, legs or arms. The risk of chondrosarcoma increases with age.
  • Ewing sarcoma is a group of tumors that start in the bone or nearby soft tissues. Although these tumors can develop at any age, they are most common in older children and teens.
  • Osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary cancer. It is found in the early forms of bone cells and often occurs in young people between the ages of 10 and 30.

Bone metastasis differs from primary bone cancer because it spreads into the bone from an advanced cancer such as prostate cancer or breast cancer. This is more common than primary bone cancer. When bone metastasis occurs, the cancer cells will need the same treatment as the advanced cancer the metastasis stems from.

Signs and Symptoms of Bone Cancer

Because there are many different types of primary bone cancers, the symptoms can differ depending on the type, location and the extent of the cancer. Common symptoms associated with most types of bone cancer are pain, a lump or swelling, and fractures.

Similar to other cancer types, bone cancer can cause weight loss or fatigue. If the cancer has spread beyond the bone, you might experience symptoms specific to the infected part of the body. For example, if bone cancer spreads to the lungs, you might experience difficulty breathing.

Symptoms are typically associated with other conditions, such as injuries or arthritis. If you notice persistent symptoms related to bone cancer or metastasis, see a doctor to catch tumors early.

Expert Care

No two situations are the same. That’s why our caring team of experts are here to provide you with a custom-tailored treatment plan that is unique to your diagnosis, tumor size, location and involvement. Click on the button below to learn more.

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In Awards

Voted 2022 Gold Medallion Winner for Best of Southern Utah Cancer Treatment Center

Gamma West Cancer Services was voted the 2022 Gold Medallion recipient for Best of Southern Utah Cancer Treatment Center. Thank you to everyone who voted and for choosing our team as we seek to continually innovate better ways to care for our patients and provide ground breaking cancer care solutions.

At Gamma West, Your Care is Personal

When it comes to deciding where to trust your care, we know it’s a big and important decision. We are thankful to our patients and their families who have allowed us to join them in their journey by providing compassionate and personalized cancer care.

Our team of highly skilled physicians incorporates the most advanced therapies available into your care plan. Your quality of life is especially important to us, meaning we have your physical and emotional well-being at the forefront of every decision we make.

Specialized Cancer Care

The team at Gamma West customizes your treatment plan specific to your cancer diagnosis, tumor size, location, and involvement.

Your radiation oncologist will review all available treatment options and recommend a personalized plan for you based on national guidelines, which guide all cancer treatments. Radiation therapy is used either alone or in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery. Read below to learn more about our approach to radiation therapy and our specialized cancer care.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy treats cancer by delivering high doses of energy to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. By breaking down cancer cells, radiation therapy prevents cancer from growing and spreading. This treatment approach also aids in reducing symptoms and helps prevent cancer from returning to the area.

Radiation can be delivered either from outside the body with a machine called a linear accelerator (external beam radiation) or from a radiation source implanted permanently or temporarily in the body (brachytherapy).

Breast Cancer Treatment

Using a type of radiation therapy called TomoTherapy treatment, we can treat breast cancer directly. This advanced treatment allows our team precision in aiming the radiation at the tumor while avoiding damage to the surrounding normal, healthy cells.

Prostate Cancer Treatment

The type and delivery of your treatment can vary. Every aspect of treatment is carefully considered- our goal is to provide you with the most effective prostate cancer treatment available.

Our team uses radiation therapy, which is targeted high-powered energy to kill cancer cells. During external beam radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around your body, directing high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, to your prostate.

Depending on the tumor size and location, radiation therapy might also be used after surgery to kill any cancer cells remaining if there’s a risk of cancer spreading or returning.

If prostate cancer has already spread to other areas of the body, such as the bones, radiation therapy can help slow cancer growth and relieve symptoms, event alleviate pain.

See How We Are Customizing Cancer Care

No two situations are the same. That’s why our caring team of experts are here to provide you with a custom-tailored treatment plan that is unique to your diagnosis, tumor size, location and involvement. Click on the button below to learn more.

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In Healthy Lifestyle

Cancer Care and the Benefits of Exercise

Exercise is known to have a number of health benefits and helps sustain a higher quality of life. The amount of physical activity an individual participates in might change with age; at any stage of life, regularly engaging in a form of exercise can significantly impact your health.

Exercise can be anything from light physical activity to intense workouts. Activities like walking, running, dancing, biking, swimming, performing household chores and playing sports are great ways to be physically active.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there is strong evidence linking higher physical activity to lower cancer risk in several types of cancer including the following:

  • Bladder cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Endometrial cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Stomach cancer

How Does Physical Activity Reduce the Risk of Cancer?

An over-sedentary lifestyle such as sitting, reclining, or lying down for extended periods of time (other than sleeping) increases the risk of developing chronic conditions and can lead to premature death. According to the National Cancer Institute, physical activity reduces the risk of cancer in these ways:

  • Prevents high blood levels of insulin
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Improves the immune system’s function
  • Alters the metabolism and bile acids which decrease exposure to the gastrointestinal tract to theses suspected carcinogens
  • Reduces the time it takes for food to travel through the digestive system which decreases gastrointestinal tract exposure to possible carcinogens
  • Helps prevent obesity which is a risk factor to many cancer types
  • Lowers the level of sex hormones such as estrogen and other growth factors that can be associated with cancer development and progression, more common in breast and colon cancers

What is an Appropriate Amount of Physical Activity?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, released in 2018, recommends the following to reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic disease in adults.

  • 150 to 300 minutes of light to moderate-intensity exercise or 75 to 100 minutes of vigorous exercise a week. Your weekly exercise routine can be broken into separate episodes of any length, just try to hit the weekly amount appropriate for the level of the aerobic intensity
  • Along with your aerobic exercise, add in at least 2 days of muscle-strengthening activities a week
  • Incorporate balance training to your workout routines

EXPERT CARE

No two situations are the same. That’s why our caring team of experts are here to provide you with a custom-tailored treatment plan that is unique to your diagnosis, tumor size, location and involvement. Click on the button below to learn more.

LEARN MORE