Latest news with #early detection
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Wigan: 'My brother was diagnosed with cancer, then I was too'
"When my brother told me he had prostate cancer, it absolutely floored me. So then to be told I had the same thing was a shock."Russell Wood, 66, had only gone to get tested for cancer because his brother Glenn had encouraged him to do so after his own diagnosis. A month apart the family now faced cancer treatment for two siblings. Glenn, 61, says he had been to the GP after starting to wake up in the night up to six times to urinate. But Russell had no symptoms at all."I really wasn't expecting it," he says. "I'm so glad Glenn encouraged me to get tested, because otherwise I'd have had cancer and not known."After successful treatment at The Christie in Manchester, both men are urging others to get checked, with Glenn saying: "If I had put off going to the doctor any longer, my cancer might not have been as treatable as it was – and that doesn't bear thinking about." The brothers, from Wigan, supported each other through the treatment after the initial diagnosis in September last cancer was found to be aggressive and he immediately underwent hormone therapy and Russell's cancer was caught earlier, meaning he could be treated with radiotherapy a retired air systems engineer and grandfather-of-five, who had his last radiotherapy session in May, told BBC Radio Manchester: "We wouldn't be having this conversation now if it wasn't for my brother."He said he was glad they were both diagnosed so close together "as we've known what each other was going through and could support one another". "Russ came to watch me ring the bell at the end of treatment, and I went to watch him – it was emotional for both of us," says Glenn, a vehicle engineer from Tyldesley. Their consultant at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Maria Serra says it is the first time she has treated two siblings at the same urged men to be aware of symptoms "including peeing more frequently, especially at night, needing to rush to the toilet, and difficulty starting to pee" and to speak to their GP if they are says he had gone to see a doctor as he "knew something wasn't right".He has since been raising awareness about prostate cancer and nearly two thirds of his colleagues are going to get checked as a result."Men are rubbish at speaking up when something's wrong, and that needs to change," he says. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Telegraph
14-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Cancer treatment ‘on brink of golden age'
Cancer treatment is on the brink of a golden age, the most senior doctor in the NHS has said. Sir Stephen Powis said treatments are 'developing at such a pace' that a diagnosis should no longer be seen as a death sentence. In recent years, advances in immunotherapy, medication and early detection have improved survival rates, with thousands of patients now living longer and with better quality of life. He compared recent progress in fighting cancer to the way treatment for Aids has been revolutionised over the past four decades. 'As a young doctor, I saw the terrible pain and the death HIV/Aids caused to patients. Then, as you roll the clock forward, you see treatments coming in, successful therapies. 'We are now at the point where it is a condition that can be managed, and people can live a normal life that just couldn't have been imagined back in those dark days of the 1980s. When you look at that wider time frame, then goodness me — doesn't medicine advance?' Drugs which train the immune system to kill cancer cells and genetic tests which personalise treatment will all form part of a 'treatment revolution' in the coming years, he told The Times. 'Cancer treatment will get much more individualised. That's being driven by genetics.' In his last interview before stepping down as the medical director of NHS England, he said: 'We are at the cusp of a golden era in terms of the way we treat a range of cancers. People are living longer with cancers and surviving cancers, and we are curing some cancers, and that trend will continue over time. 'For many cancers now, people should be confident that it's not a death sentence and that more treatments will become available. 'Our understanding of the genetics of cancer, of the way we can target cancers with particular drugs, and how we can use the body's own immune system to target cancers itself, is being revolutionised. Half of the population will get cancer in their lifetime and 385,000 people are diagnosed with it every year in Britain. Better treatment means half now survive for 10 years after a diagnosis, compared with one in four in the 1970s. For breast cancer, three in four women now survive at least ten years after diagnosis. Lung cancers will become 'a lot rarer' because of vaccines which have shown promise in clinical trials and tests that identify the genetic profile of lung and breast cancer tumours so patients can quickly be given personalised treatment plans, he said. A revolutionary blood test that allows personalised cancer treatment is already being be rolled out on the NHS in a world first. He also claimed the smoking ban for younger generations will lead to the elimination of some types of cancer. 'Some of the diseases I've seen over my 40 years will be rare diseases for doctors in the next 40 years. The lung cancers that I've seen hopefully will be a lot rarer because of the interventions that we made. 'We can't prevent all cancers, but there are cancers that we can certainly prevent,' he said.
Health Line
11-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Skin Cancer Symptoms And Images
Key takeaways Skin cancer often appears on sun-exposed areas such as the face, chest, arms, and hands. However, it can also develop in other areas. Different types of skin cancer – such as actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma – have distinct appearances. Some symptoms include scaly patches, sores that don't heal, shiny bumps, and moles with irregular features. Regular self-exams and annual check-ups with a doctor, along with sun protection measures, are important for early detection and reducing the risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer most often develops on areas of your body that get the greatest exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. It's commonly found on your face, chest, arms, and hands. It can affect anyone. Even if you've never had a sunburn, you're at risk of developing skin cancer. In People of Color, it's often diagnosed at an advanced stage. This could be due to different factors like access to healthcare, delay in detection, or presentation. Because of lack of research, there are limited resources for recognizing darkly pigmented lesions in People of Color. Skin cancer can also develop on less exposed areas of your body, like: scalp ears lips neck under your fingernails bottoms of your feet genitals Skin cancers often appear as a suspicious mole, freckle, or spot. But accompanying symptoms depend on the type of skin cancer. Actinic keratosis An actinic keratosis, known as a precancer, is a scaly or crusty lesion. It most commonly appears on various areas of your body: scalp face ears lips back of your hands forearms shoulders neck These areas are most frequently exposed to the sun. These lesions are sometimes so small that they're found by touch instead of sight. They're often raised and may feel like a small patch of sandpaper on your skin. Depending on your skin tone, the lesions may be red, light or dark tan, white, pink, flesh tones, or a combination of colors. It's important to treat actinic keratosis early. Untreated lesions have up to a 10 percent chance of becoming squamous cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma Basal cell carcinoma develops in your basal skin cells. These cells are at the bottom of your epidermis, the outer layer of your skin. Basal cell carcinoma has several different appearances. It can look like a: sore that doesn't heal after seven to 10 days red patch that may itch, hurt, crust, or bleed easily shiny bump that can be pink, red, or white or brown on lighter skin. If you have darker skin, it can look tan, black, or brown. pink growth with an elevated border and an indented center This type of skin cancer also usually appears on the areas of your body most exposed to the sun. Basal cell carcinomas tend to be easy to treat. These growths develop very slowly, making it less likely they'll spread to other organs or invade muscle, bone, or nerves. But you should talk with your doctor if you notice anything new or changes to your skin or if a wound or sore isn't healing. Squamous cell carcinoma Squamous cell carcinomas commonly occur on more sun-exposed body parts. They can also appear on the inside of your mouth or on your genitals. It's the most common skin cancer in Black people. The tumors caused by squamous cell carcinoma can take a variety of forms, including: scaly, red to burgundy, or flesh-toned patches that bleed open sores that bleed, crust, and don't heal tender, raised growths with a center indent that bleeds a growth that resembles a wart, but crusts and bleeds Squamous cell carcinoma is also known to may feel tender and cause intense itching, which further irritates and inflames your skin. Scratching these areas of your skin can lead to infections that need to be treated with antibiotics. Left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma can grow larger. In rare cases, these lesions can spread to lymph nodes and other organs. Melanoma While melanoma isn't the most common type of skin cancer, it's the most serious. This type of skin cancer can be found anywhere on your body, even in your eye. In People of Color, it often occurs in areas that get little sun exposure, usually on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and nails. For individuals who have light or fair skin, it can be often found on the trunk or lower legs. Use the 'ABCDE' method to help determine if a mole or freckle may be melanoma. You'll want to see your doctor if any of these symptoms apply. A: asymmetrical If you drew a line down the middle of a healthy mole, both sides would look very similar. Cancerous moles are asymmetrical. This means that one half of a cancerous mole looks very different from the other. B: border The edges of a healthy freckle or mole should look smooth and fairly even. Ragged, raised, or notched borders can be a sign of cancer. C: change in color A healthy freckle or mole should be a uniform color. Color variation may be caused by cancer. Keep an eye out for different shades of: tan brown black red white blue D: diameter A mole or freckle that's larger than 6 millimeters (about the diameter of a pencil eraser) may be a sign of skin cancer. E: evolving Take note of any new moles or freckles. You should also look for changes in the color or size of your existing moles. Treating skin cancer Most types of skin cancer that are diagnosed in the early stages are treated by removing the lesion. This can be done in several ways: Cryosurgery. Liquid nitrogen is applied to your growth to freeze it. The growth then falls off or shrinks without any incisions. This method is often used to treat actinic keratosis. Curettage and electrodesiccation. Your growth is scraped off with an instrument known as a curette. The area is then burned with an electrocautery needle to destroy any remaining skin cancer cells. Creams. Your doctor may prescribe topical preparations like imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara) and 5-fluorouracil (Carac, Efudex). You use these creams for several weeks to remove actinic keratosis and superficial basal cell carcinomas. Excisional surgery. Your growth and the surrounding skin that appears healthy are removed with a scalpel. The healthy skin is then tested for evidence of skin cancer cells. If cancer cells are found, the procedure is repeated. Cancer that's spread to your lymph nodes or other organs will require more invasive treatments. This may include chemotherapy or surgery. Talk with your doctor about the treatment option that's best for you. Preventing skin cancer You can lower your risk of developing skin cancer with these prevention tips: Use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF every day. Apply it 30 minutes before going outside. If you're sweating a lot or swimming, reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours. Avoid the sun between peak sun hours, which are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you must be outside, wear sunglasses, hats, and light clothing that will cover your skin. Do a self-examination of your skin at least once a month.
