About Skin Cancer

Skin cancer includes basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Melanoma is the most common skin cancer and if detected early, has a high success rate in treatment. Early detection and immediate treatment is important for all kinds of cancer. Educate yourself on how to prevent skin cancer by learning how to protect your skin and what the warning symptoms are.

The Facts

• Skin cancer is the abnormal growth of skin cells. Exposure to the sun is the most common risk factor for the disease, but it can develop on areas of skin that are not normally subjected to sunlight. Skin cancer is best prevented by avoiding exposure to the sun. When sun exposure is not avoidable, you can help protect yourself from skin cancer by wearing sunscreen, even if it is not sunny outside. The cancer is caused by damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. You are exposed to UV rays on cloudy days, so wearing sunscreen daily is your best protection.

Type

• There are three main types of skin cancer. The most common form of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma, which typically resembles a mole. This type of skin cancer does not usually spread into the body and can be removed surgically in most cases. Squamous cell carcinoma is a less common type of skin cancer that occurs more frequently in men than in women. This cancer looks like rough, red bumps that show up on sun-exposed areas of the skin. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, leading to death when not treated early enough. This type of skin cancer also resembles a mole.

Identification

• Skin cancer that is identified early is usually treatable. You should seek medical advice if you have a skin lesion, such as a mole, that is asymmetrical in shape with irregular borders. Color variations on the growth are also a sign that it could be cancerous. Normal moles have very little change in color, whereas skin cancer can have many colors, including white, blue, and red. Skin cancer can also be identified by size, as most cancerous lesions have a diameter that is larger than a pencil eraser. If the growth is growing or changing in any way, talk to your doctor. Also, if you have rough, red bumps on sun-exposed areas that are painful, contact your doctor, as this could be the less common squamous cell carcinoma.

Risk Factors

• Those who are exposed to the sun on a regular basis are at higher risk for the condition. Other risk factors include fair skin, regular sunburn, living in a high altitude, or having many moles on your body. A family history of skin cancer also puts you at increased risk of the condition. People with fragile skin or a weakened immune system are more likely to develop melanoma or carcinoma than others. Age is a final risk factor, as the condition is more common in the elderly.

Effects

• Skin cancer can cause unsightly lesions, pain, discomfort and premature death. Like all cancers, skin cancer will spread, first to the skin and then into the body. Cancer that is localized to the skin does not kill. Skin cancer becomes deadly when it spreads into the body and begins attacking other organs. Melanoma is the most deadly form of cancer, as it usually spreads quickly to other areas of the body. When the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, it is almost always deadly.

Time Frame

• When it comes to skin cancer, early diagnosis is essential. Treating the cancer before it can spread into the body is the only way to beat the disease. For instance, people who treat melanoma when it is still localized have a 99% chance of surviving for five years after treatment. However, the five-year survival rate drops to 91% when the melanoma has begun to spread. Those who are in later stages of the disease have only a 65% chance of survival over five years. For this reason, you need to see your doctor as soon as you notice a growth that does not look normal.