Cancer - General

Melanoma is a life-threatening form of skin cancer. This cancer starts in the color-producing (pigment-producing) cells of the skin. Melanoma may develop from a previously existing mole (nevus) or may occur as a new lesion. Early diagnosis and treatment can lead to complete cure and survival, while advanced forms are likely to have a poor outcome (prognosis). Advanced melanoma can spread (metastasize) to the lymph nodes and other areas in the body, usually the lungs, liver, and brain.

The majority of people acknowledge and sympathize with Elizabeth Edwards, wife of the presidential candidate, John Edwards. Hers is the story of successful recovery from the primary breast cancer, only to wake up a few years later to find out the cancer had metastasized to her bone and to her liver. We have additionally learned that although the metastasized cancer can be treated, there no longer is any hope of cure.

Should House Republicans be pushing new legislation that could wipe out the ability of states to ban or strictly limit the use of pesticides and toxic industrial chemicals that can jeopardize human health?

In an effort to reduce emissions of pollutants and increase the control pesticide use, Health Canada plans to monitor 5000 people to determine the extent of their body burden of harmful chemicals.

As in the US, many people in Canada believe that the federal government should get serious about reducing emissions and controlling pesticide use.

Brussels has announced stricter and streamlined rules for the approval of pesticides for use in EU agriculture.

The European commission, on Wednesday, July 12, 2006, set out plans to ensure safer use of pesticides and to reduce red tape in authorisation procedures of plant protection products.

Here are two important health-related articles protecting the public from the toxic dry cleaning chemical, perchloroethylene.

In May, 2006, news circulated that California would become the first state to phase out the main chemical used by dry cleaners, perchloroethylene — or "perc," giving nearly 2,100 cleaners in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange counties until 2020 to phase out the chemical.

At last a study funded by the state of Massachusetts shows that manufacturers can use safer alternatives for some toxic chemicals in products we all use, and that the safer chemicals would be a cheaper alternative, refuting the position of industry that a change would not be economically feasible.

Can you trust your local hospital and should you?

US News and World Report online's list of the best hospitals in the US according to their medical specialties includes:
* Digestive Disorders

According to a new report due to appear in the July issue of the journal Cancer, adult survivors of childhood cancer are twice as likely to be jobless as those who don't have that health history.