vessels and spread to lymph nodes and other tissues , which makes melanoma one of the deadliest cancers .
Early signs
“ ABCDE ” rule . When looking at moles , notice
● Asymmetry ─ moles that are not round with smooth borders .
● Border ─ the edges are ragged , notched , uneven , or blurred .
● Color ─ shades of black , brown , tan , and areas of white , gray , red , or blue .
● Diameter ─ the diameter is usually larger than 6 mm ( ¼ inch ) or has grown in size .
● Evolving ─ changes in size , shape , color , appearance , or it ’ s a new mole . The texture of the moles may be hard or lumpy . The skin may itch or ooze liquids or blood but usually not painful .
Non-Melanoma skin cancer
Basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas are the two main types .
Early Signs
● An open sore that is difficult to heal , which bleeds , oozes , or crusts and remains open for several weeks .
● A reddish , raised patch or irritated area that may crust or itch but rarely hurts
● A shiny pink , red , pearly white , or translucent bump
● A pink growth with an elevated border and crusted central indentation
● A scar-like , white , yellow , or waxy area , often with a poorly defined border
● A wart-like growth
● A persistent , scaly red patch with irregular borders that may bleed easily
● A raised growth with a rough surface and a central depression
● Painless , firm , shiny lumps on the skin . These lumps can be red , pink , or blue
There are four stages of cancer progression :
Stage 1 ─ small , localized cancer that has not spread . Stage 2 ─ cancer has grown but has not spread . Stage 3 ─ cancer has grown and has possibly spread to lymph nodes , blood , and other tissues . Stage 4 ─ cancer has spread to other organs in the body .
Even though there are only four stages of cancer , being in stage four does not make a patient terminal . I personally know of two “ miracle ” survival stories , and I plan to be the third . So , even with a detrimental cancer diagnosis , don ’ t despair . Do your research , talk to doctors , seek alternative practitioners , and stay informed about your decisions . Lastly , medical cannabis has helped me . You can read about the cannabis products that helped me in the January 2023 issue of this magazine found at www . TheEvolutionMag . com .
References : 1 . Cancer Terms | Understand Cancer Together https :// www . understandcancertogether . com / cancer-terms / 2 . ( www . Cancer . net )
Lana Sterling lives in Lee ’ s Summit , MO , with her husband , two daughters , and two dogs . She is 49 years old and currently a cancer patient going through stage four colon cancer . Lana is helpful and willing to share her cancer journey but also appreciates her privacy during her challenging journey .
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