Melanoma is known to be the most serious type of skin cancer. It develops in the cells which are responsible for the production of melanin, also known as melanocytes. Melanin is the compound that gives color to the skin. Melanoma can also form in areas like the eyes, but rarely in internal organs such as the intestines. While the exact cause of this type of cancer is unknown, it has been found that exposure to UV radiation can worsen the risk of being affected by it. Understanding the symptoms of the condition can help individuals in the early diagnosis of cancer is crucial to treating it. Melanomas usually occur on the parts of the body which are exposed to the sun continuously and repeatedly for long hours, such as arms, legs, back, and face. They are also capable of affecting parts of the body that don’t receive a significant amount of sunlight such as palms of hands, fingernail beds, and soles of the feet. The earliest signs of melanoma often include either a change in an existing mole or the development of an unusual-looking growth on the skin which is also pigmented. However, it should be noted that the condition doesn’t need to start within a mole.

The American Thyroid Association has reported that greater than 12% of the population in the country is subject to some kind of thyroid disease at least once in their lives. It has also presented an estimate that about 20 million Americans are currently living with a thyroid condition, while about 60% of them are unaware of it. While thyroid diseases can be treated, resulting in a normal thyroid function, the individual still has to be extremely careful about their lifestyle and dietary habits. However, a lot of thyroid diseases have no cure and can only be managed. This makes the ideal situation one wherein thyroid disorders and diseases are prevented from the beginning. To do so, one has to understand the risk factors of the conditions and follow a proper course of action accordingly. Given below are risk factors of thyroid cancer and certain preventive measures one can follow. Radiation exposure: If an individual is exposed to even moderate levels of radiation in the head and neck region, the risk of follicular thyroid cancer and papillary thyroid cancer can increase. These exposures can come from: Radiation therapy used for the treatment of several kinds of lymphoma in the head and the neck or Hodgkin’s lymphoma Exposure to radioactive iodine, particularly in childhood Exposure to ionizing radiation or being a part of some nuclear fallout or event Asking for a thyroid collar at the time of X-rays can protect one from radiation during the screening processes.

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the spirochete bacteria. Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii are the two species of bacteria that cause Lyme disease in the United States, especially in the woods of the northeast and midwestern parts of the country. Elsewhere in the world, other bacteria are the source of this disease. It is caused by ticks found on infected mice, birds or deer. The disease is transmitted to humans living in, or close to the woods by the bite of the infected black-legged tick, also commonly known as the deer tick. It takes anywhere between 36-48 hours for the tick to bite, the bacteria to get into the skin and transmit the disease in the bloodstream. Sometimes, free-ranging domestic or pet animals that roam around wooded areas can transmit this disease to their human companions. This condition affects people differently. While some might not display any symptoms of the infection for many months or even years, others might experience all three stages systematically. This infectious disease affects multi-systems in the body and is known to react uniquely to every individual patient. Symptoms of Lyme disease Flat, circular rash that forms a bull’s-eye pattern over time, sometimes appearing in more than one place in the body Body ache, severe joint pain, and muscle ache Fatigue Swelling in the knees Stiffness in the neck Headache Fever and chills Swollen lymph nodes Disturbances in sleep Cognitive defects like difficulty concentrating, or impaired memory Sometimes many years after being infected the following symptoms may appear:

A potentially dangerous sleep disorder, sleep apnea is capable of affecting children and toddlers too, apart from adults. Individuals affected by this condition have trouble breathing while sleeping as it constantly starts and stops. Therefore it is crucial for parents and caregivers to constantly monitor children suffering from sleep apnea whenever they nap during the day and more so at night. Almost 10% to 20% of children who snore are likely to suffer from sleep apnea, as reported by the John Hopkins hospital. Children with this condition could experience adaptive, learning, and behavioral issues if it is left untreated. Some of the symptoms noticed in children suffering from this condition are similar to that of ADHD. The signs and symptoms of sleep apnea are as follows: Reduced attention span towards various activities Decreased performance at school Difficulty in learning new things The warning signs which elders should look out for in their children are as follows: Children who snore could be affected by sleep apnea. Snoring is one of the most important symptoms that should be observed and taken seriously. As this condition regularly causes an interruption in breathing, one should look for moments where the child feels pauses in breathing during sleep.

Kidney cancer is also known as renal cancer and it is a disease where kidney cells become malignant, cancerous, and eventually grow out of control and form a tumor. Pretty much all kidney cancers are first known to appear in the tubules (lining of tiny tubes) in the kidney. The bean-shaped organ, each nearly the size of the fist, lies in the lower abdomen on both sides of the spine. They perform the crucial role of cleaning blood, removing waste products and making urine. When a person gets cancer in the kidneys, their prognosis entirely depends on the general health as well as the stage of cancer. Here are the various stages of kidney cancer: Stage I The cancer is present only in the kidney and it is about 7 centimeters or even smaller. Stage II The size is more than 7 centimeters now but it is still contained the kidneys. Stage III The tumor is not only in the kidney but has spread to the nearby lymph nodes, or it is in the kidney’s main blood vessel and also spread to the nearby lymph node. Additionally, it can also be in the fatty tissue around the kidney or extend to the major veins.