In the United States there are approximately 800,000 reproductive-aged men and women who have cancer, many of whom have concerns about their fertility. Life- saving cancer treatments may reduce fertility by destroy- ing eggs and sperm. The likelihood of reproductive dam- age depends on the age and sex of the patient and the type and duration of treatment. The most severe damage comes from radiation to the ovaries or testicles and cancer drugs in the “alkylating agent” category such as cyclophos- phamide, mechlorethamine, chlorambucil, and melphalan.

Following are the Most Commonly Used Medical Terms: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y <a hr

The poor misunderstood skin. Many people don't think of it as a living thing. They just think of it as an external "wrapping layer" for the body that keeps the inner organs from falling out. :) Well, in fact, the skin is very much alive and it's also the largest organ of the body...accounting for a full 12% of your weight. The skin performs several essential functions. "...the three that are by far the most important are the following: Protection of deeper tissues against drying and against invasion by pathogenic organisms or their toxins through a mechanical barrier

Leukemia is a malignancy or cancer of the bone marrow. All of the cells in the bloodstream are normally produced in the bone marrow. In leukemia, there is an unrestrained proliferation of a "clone" of immature white blood cells. These abnormal white blood cells gradually crowd out the normal blood cells. This can lead to anemia, an increased risk of infection, and bleeding.

Medical experts continue to track the rise of malignant melanoma -- a type of deadly skin cancer that was once rare but is now increasing faster than any other type of cancer in the United States. Last year alone, more than 600,000 cases of skin cancer were reported. The good news is that death rates from skin cancer, including melanoma, are small -- 9 out of 10 cases are cured.

How much do you know about breast cancer? The answer is probably, "not enough." Because 182,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States, it's a subject worth learning about. Your health, your life, or the life of a woman close to you may depend on knowing a few simple facts:

Life span is decreased without surgery for high-grade prostate cancer patients. Men aged 65-75, treated conservatively for low-grade localized prostate cancer, probably will not die any sooner than similar members of the general population; however, men diagnosed with high-grade tumors often have a 6-8 year loss of life expectancy when treated with conservative therapy, according to an article in a recent issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Many people know that the leading causes of death in the United States are heart disease, cancer, and stroke.When it comes to prevention, however, it is more important to know why people suffer from these conditions. In other words, what are the actual causes of disease or reasons people die? A landmark study titled "Actual causes of death in the United States," published in 2004, shed a lot of light on this subject [1].

Keep up with a healthy diet rational! A recent study of Japanese researchers say a diet that contains mushrooms and will help to have a strong immune system and keep the cancer away. Mushrooms contain certain substances capable to fight against cancer occurrence after the age of 50 years. Mushrooms Vs meat

Recent studies show that hormonal replacement therapy, which was abandoned by the women in the age finding that could lead to breast cancer, reduces substantially the risk of a colo-rectal cancer. The most remarkable reduction in the risk-48 percent-was observed in women who received hormonal therapy with combined estrogen and progestin for a period of 2 to 5 years, researchers reported in the latest edition of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, published by the American Association for Cancer Research.

Women who eat crisps, chips or other fried foods like roast every day may double their chances of ovarian or womb cancer, say scientists. Dutch researchers made a survey of 120,000 people on their eating habits, and found that women who ate more burned appeared more at risk. Analysis of these findings suggested that those who ate 40 micrograms of acrylamide a day - equivalent to half a pack of biscuits, a portion of chips or a single packet of crisps - were twice as likely to fall prey to these cancers compared with those who ate much less acrylamide.

The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is leading a national research study of a drug that may aid in the repair of sun-damaged skin and in turn prevent the development of skin cancer among organ transplant patients. Cancer Center Senior ''Scientist and Dermatology Chair Craig Elmets, M.D., is the principal investigator. The drug dimericine, commonly referred to as "morning-after ' cream," is being tested in people who have had kidney transplants. Like most transplant patients, kidney transplant patients take immunosuppressant medication to prevent the transplant from being rejected.

Certain cases of skin cancer pose difficulties because they are recurrent or located in cosmetically sensitive areas with little surrounding skin, such as the upper lip, nose, eyelids or ears. These cases lend themselves to the special type of surgery known as Moh's micrographic surgery. This outpatient procedure involves the removal of a thin horizontal disc of tissue that is deemed to be the smallest amount that could possibly remove the tumor. The piece of tissue is then examined under the microscope to look for the evidence of tumor cells on the edges of the sample.

Make Your Skin Look Young Again Without Surgery It used to be that a face-lift was the only way to deal with skin that was wrinkled, sun-damaged, sagging or scarred. However, this is no longer true. Today, while surgery is still required for serious problems, there are numerous safe, inexpensive nonsurgical techniques for rejuvenating your skin. Here's a look at your options... Alpha Hydroxy Acids

The incidence of malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has -soared in recent years-probably-because of the thinning of the ozone layer and our more active, outdoor lifestyles. As you may know, your chance of surviving melanoma hinges almost entirely on how early it is detected. Found early, melanoma has a cure rate approaching 100%. Once the cancer has burrowed deep into the skin, however, the odds of long-term survival are slim. Unfortunately, recent trends in the way doctors practice medicine may be making early detection of melanoma less likely.

Melanoma is a cancer that originates in the pigment producing cells of the skin (melanocytes). Melanocytes are the pigmented cells in the skin that give skin its distinctive colour. Sun-light stimulates melanocytes to produce more melanin (the pigment that darkens the skin) and increases the risk of melonoma. Warning signs of melanoma : Enlarging pigmented (especially black or deep blue) spot or mole, Changes in colour of an existing mole, especially the spread of red, white, brown, or blue pigmentation to surrounding skin

Benign Breast Disorders

The prostate is a gland found only in men that produces the liquid component of semen. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men mainly affects alder men. Diagnosed at an early stage, there is a good chance it can be cured. Prostate Gland The male reproductive system consists of the testes, scrotum, and penis that produce, store and transport sperms; and the prostate that produces a milky semen fluid that protects and nourishes the sperm.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, below the Adam's apple. The thyroid makes and stores hormones that help regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate at which food is converted into energy. Thyroid hormones also help children grow and develop. The thyroid uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods and in iodized salt, to make several of its hormones.

Renal cell cancer, also called renal adenocarcinoma, or hypernephroma, can often be cured if it is diagnosed and treated when still localized to the kidney and to immediately surrounding tissue. The probability of cure is directly related to the stage or degree of tumor dissemination. Even when regional lymphatics or blood vessels are involved with tumor, a significant number of patients can achieve prolonged survival and probable cure.