A new study shows men are three times more likely to develop certain types of skin cancer than women. But it doesn't have as much to do with sun exposure as we might think.

According to researchers at Ohio State University, gender differences put men at greater risk for non-melanoma skin cancers than their female counterparts.

Researchers tested the effects of UVB rays on mice and found male mice developed tumors earlier. The tumors were also larger and more aggressive than those found in female mice.

The study, published in the April 1 issue of Cancer Research, indicates it could be the higher levels of antioxidants females have in their skin that allow them to fight off tumors better.

Melanoma can be deadly once it has spread from its primary site. It is important to catch it in its early stages when the cure rate is high. Light skinned individuals seem to be more susceptible to melanoma and incidence has increased in recent decades, however less is known about the incidence among non-whites.

The Archives of Internal Medicine published a report that said although melanoma is less common in non-white individuals, it tends to be diagnosed at a later stage. They explored the racial and ethnic differences in the frequency, presentation, and outcome of melanoma. They looked at White, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, African American and American Indian races. The study included 50,000 patients. What was found was that the probability of being diagnosed with Stage IV disease was more than two fold higher among Asians than Whites. It was more than three fold higher among Hispanics and American Indians than Whites, and more than four-fold higher among African Americans than Whites.

The researchers noted that "Melanoma is a public health concern for all ethnic populations".

Each month, about 22,000 women log on to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) web site and answer seven questions to determine their risk of developing invasive breast cancer. The Gail Model, named for the NCI's chief biostatistician, Mitchell H. Gail, generates a five-year risk and a lifetime risk for each woman who answers each of these seven questions.

• Does the woman have a medical history of any breast cancer or of any ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)? Note: This assessment tool cannot accurately predict risk for a woman who already has a medical history of breast cancer.
  
• What is the woman's age? Note: This tool only calculates risk for women ages 35 and older.
  
• What was the woman's age at the time of her first menstrual period?
  
• What was the woman's age at the time of her first live birth of a child?
  
• How many of the woman's first-degree relatives -- mother, sisters, daughters -- have had breast cancer?
  
• Has the woman ever had a breast biopsy? How many breast biopsies has the woman had? Has the woman had at least one breast biopsy with atypical hyperplasia?
• What is the woman's race/ethnicity?

A simple drop-down answer menu is provided for each question, and explanations for each question are available. Upon completion of the short survey, the Gail Model spits out a five-year breast cancer risk and a lifetime breast cancer risk with comparisons to the general population of women.

While this is only an assessment -- based on statistics that do not always take into account individual differences -- it is still a helpful tool. Because it's clear that women can minimize breast cancer risk with behavior changes and sometimes medication. And generating a personal rating on risk is a rating worth knowing. It's also worth knowing that this tool was designed for use by health professionals. If you are not a health professional, consider discussing your results with your doctor.

The governments of Canada and the US are both closely involved in the delivery of health care. The main difference between the two is health insurance. In Canada, the federal government is committed to providing funding support. In the US health insurance must be paid for privately or is provided by the person's employer.

There are many uninsured Americans. I was lucky that I had a good insurance plan with my job. After my cancer diagnoses I didn't have to wait very long for appointments and medical procedures.

An article I read states that "American doctors and hospitals are more likely than their Canadian counterparts to purchase new and expensive devices and technologies. An American patient is more likely to be rapidly treated by a specialist with the most up to date equipment. Canadians are more likely to be treated by their GP and cared for over a period of time in the hospital."

Scientists have determined that mouth cancer develops in two different ways which dictates the seriousness of the disease. This finding, revealed on Tuesday, could lead to better prevention and treatment. In laboratory experiments with healthy, early, and advanced cancer cells, researchers were able to pinpoint differences in the cells that determined the aggressiveness of the cancer. They found faults in the p53 gene, which stops damaged cells from dividing, and in the p16 gene, which helps regulate and prevent cancer from developing. Both changes are linked to more aggressive tumors. This is first-time evidence that some mouth cancer tumors are more aggressive than others and are unfortunately linked to poor patient survival.

Oral cancer typically stems from pre-cancerous lesions, changes, or patches in the mouth -- all of which are early signs of cancer. Recognizing which pre-cancerous changes are more likely to develop into aggressive tumors would allow doctors an insight that could help them prescribe the best treatment.

Smoking, use of chewing tobacco, and heavy alcohol consumption are the leading causes of mouth cancer. And smoking and drinking are a very dangerous combination. Like lung cancer, mouth cancer usually develops in people age 50 or older.