According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States. In fact, around 18.1 million Americans have had the disease during their lifetime.

There are over 100 different types of cancer, and some are more common than others.

It is a group of diseases that enable cells to grow and divide uncontrollably. This abnormal growth can cause tumorsthat can spread and attack healthy tissues and organs, and affect the immune system.

 

Cancer treatments can often be extremely expensive — which is why we recommend enrolling in a reliable prescription assistance program for help.

 

Read our guide to understand different types of cancers.

 

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the world. The condition occurs and develops gradually in the upper layers of the skin.Non-melanoma includes all cancers different from melanoma, which can be more serious.

 

Sub-types of non-melanoma skin cancer include:

 

Basal Cell Carcinoma

BCC is the most common form of skin cancer that affects millions of people in the United States. In fact, around 5.4 million cases of basal and squamous cell cancers are diagnosed in America each year. The condition occurs in basal cells in the deepest part of the epidermis. It results in the cancer appearing on the skin’s surface as bumps, growth, red patches, scars, and sores. Fortunately, there are very few chances for the condition to metastasize.

 

a surgery in progress

 

Squamous Cell Cancer

Squamous cell cancer is the second most commonskin cancer that occurs in the cells located at the outermost part of the epidermis. The condition usually affects areas of the body that are exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, such as the neck. Though squamous cell cancer is treatable, it can turn fatal without proper treatment.

 

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in American women after skin cancer. It occurs when the cells in the breast grow and divide rapidly to create a mass of tissue called a tumor. The condition develops more commonly in the lobules and the ducts of the breasts.

 

Breast cancer is divided into various stages listed below.

Stage 0

At this stage, the cancerous cells remain within the ducts and haven’t metastasized to surrounding tissues.

Stage 1

During stage 1, the lump of the tumor measures less than 2 centimeters. It has yet to spread to lymph nodes. Alternatively, it might have affected some of them.

Stage 2:

This stage occurs when the tumor is more than 2 cm in width and can be up to 5 cm wide. If the mass is less than 2 cm in width, cancer has likely not spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage 3

This stage occurs when the tumor is 5 cm in size and has spread up to 9 axillary lymph nodes. The mass can alsoenlarge the mammary lymph nodes. When this stage progresses, it can spread to over ten axillary lymph nodes.

Stage 4

In the fourth and final stage, cancer metastasizes to distant organs, such as the liver, lungs, and brain.

 

two people holding breast cancer awareness ribbons

 

Symptoms of the condition include:

 

  1. A lump in the breast or near the armpit.
  2. Bloody discharge from the nipple
  3. Inverted nipples
  4. Pain in the breast or armpits that doesn’t go away
  5. Pitted skin on the breasts
  6. Red or discolored skin
  7. Scaling or flaking skin
  8. Dimpling on the skin of the breast
  9. Swelling in the breasts

 

Lung Cancer

According to the CDC, lung cancer is the third most common type of cancer and the main cause of cancer-related deaths in Americans. The condition occurs when the cells in the lungs divide too rapidly and cause tumors. As a result, it affects an individual’s ability to breathe. In most cases, the symptoms of lung cancer don’t show until the disease worsens.

 

If signs of the condition do appear, they seem similar to a respiratory infection. These include:

 

  1. Changes in the individual’s voice.
  2. Bloody phlegm
  3. Breathlessness, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
  4. Chest pain
  5. Coughing lingers and worsens over time.
  6. Recurring chest infections like bronchitis.
  7. Swelling lymph nodes in the chest

 

a person with medicines in their hand

 

Getting a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, especially with the costs of the treatment involved. If you or a loved one is diagnosed with any type of cancer and needs help affording meds, contact Advocate My Meds today.

 

Advocate My Meds is a renowned prescription assistance organization that offers financial assistance for prescriptions to those who meet theireligibility criteria.They offer patient assistance programs with over 1500 FDA-approved drugs. These include Janssen,Sanofi, and Abbvie prescription assistance. Contact them now for more information.