Skin Cancer
Skin cancer occurs when mutations occur in the DNA of skin cells that cause the cells to grow out of control and form a mass of cancer cells. The Primary cause of skin cancer is too much exposure to ultraviolet radiation under the sun. Other rarer causes include exposure to radiation or other harmful substances such as arsenic may increase chances of skin cancer.
Symptoms
Basal Cell Carcinoma
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pearly or waxy bump
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a flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion
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a bleeding or scabbing sore that heals and returns
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma
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a firm, red nodule
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a flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface
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Melanoma
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a large brownish spot with darker speckles
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a mole that changes in color, size or feel or that bleeds
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a small lesion with an irregular border and portions that appear red, pink, white, blue or blue-black
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a painful lesion that itches or burns
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a dark lesions on your skin
Treatments
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Freezing - destroying actinic keratoses and small, early skin cancers by liquid nitrogen cryosurgery.
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Excisional surgery - can be used for any type of skin cancer.
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Mohs surgery - removal of skin growth layer by layer, examining each layer under the microscope, until no abnormal cells remain. This procedure allows cancerous cells to be removed without taking an excessive amount of surrounding healthy skin.
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Curettage and electrodesiccation or cryotherapy - after removing most of a growth, your doctor scrapes away layers of cancer cells using a device with a circular blade (curet). An electric needle destroys any remaining cancer cells.
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Radiation therapy with high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays.
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Chemotherapy - drug treatement used to kill cancer cells. For cancers limited to the top layer of skin, creams or lotions containing anti-cancer agents may be applied directly to the skin. Systemic chemotherapy can be used to treat skin cancers that have spread to other parts of the body.
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Photodynamic therapy. This treatment destroys skin cancer cells with a combination of laser light and drugs that makes cancer cells sensitive to light.
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Biological therapy. Biological therapy uses your body's immune system to kill cancer cells.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. This is damaging to the health of your eye and your vision. The reason you might have glaucoma is due to high pressure in your eye. Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs, meaning diagnosis and check up is key, as it is hard to tell until the last stages. It is important to have regular eye exams since the damage from glaucoma cannot be reversed. However, if it is discovered early, it can be slowed and prevented. You will need lifelong treatment however.
Treatments
Symptoms
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seeing patchy blind spots in your peripheral vision
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severe headaches
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eye pain
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nausea
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blurred vision
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eye redness
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Prostaglandins - These increase the outflow of the fluid in your eye (aqueous humor), thereby reducing your eye pressure. Medicines in this category include latanoprost (Xalatan), travoprost (Travatan Z), tafluprost (Zioptan), bimatoprost (Lumigan) and latanoprostene bunod (Vyzulta). Possible side effects include mild reddening and stinging of the eyes, darkening of the iris, darkening of the pigment of the eyelashes or eyelid skin, and blurred vision. This class of drug is prescribed for once-a-day use.
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Beta blockers - These reduce the production of fluid in your eye, thereby lowering the pressure in your eye (intraocular pressure). Examples include timolol (Betimol, Istalol, Timoptic) and betaxolol (Betoptic). Possible side effects include difficulty breathing, slowed heart rate, lower blood pressure, impotence and fatigue. This class of drug can be prescribed for once- or twice-daily use depending on your condition.
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Alpha-adrenergic agonists - These reduce the production of aqueous humor and increase outflow of the fluid in your eye. Examples include apraclonidine (Iopidine) and brimonidine (Alphagan P, Qoliana).