Introduction to Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most diagnosed type of cancer and more than one million people get victimized only in the United States. The common reason of developing skin cancer is uncontrolled transformation and multiplication of normal cells. The multiplication of such abnormal cells transforms into a mass known as Tumor, referred as Lesions. Adjacent tissues get affected by the uncontrolled growth of malignant tumors and results in cancer that may travel to other far body parts via blood stream or lymphatic system. The process is known as Metastasis. In this process the tumor attacks the neighboring tissues and consumes their oxygen and nutrients for its survival.
Skin cancer may be divided into three types:
- Basal cell Carcinoma (BCC)
- Squamous cell Carcinoma (SCC)
- Melanoma
BCCs and SCCs are more frequently found. They affect the local tissues and do not travel to remote organs.
- Basal cell Carcinoma (BCC)
In people who are above 40, lesions are generally observed. Basal cell carcinoma emerges as a small pearl-colored bump which will enlarge and may bleed easily. Basal cell carcinoma does not result in death, death occurs in rare cases.
- Squamous cell Carcinoma (SCC)
It is diagnosed in people who are older than 50 years, and on sun-damaged skin. It may produced by an actinic keratosis that appears as a red, scaly, raised patch and its growth looks like a flat and red, becoming scaly-raised masses. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most typical type of non-melanoma cancer that extends and shoots from tumors on areas like lip, ear or in setting of impervious suppression such as renal transplant patients. Surgery is usually suggested while radiation therapy is also considered in different cases.
- Melanoma
It is the most rare and the most dangerous type of skin cancer that is often found at the back of men and legs of women. The risk factor moves proportionally with age that means increases with age and vice versa. It is discovered in people who have an average age of 45 to 50 years. It can either emerge as a dark flat patch or as a swelled patch on the skin. It can be found in a variety of colors with shades of black, brown and white. Its shape is mostly irregular with well defined borders. It can be taken to other parts of the body by the virtue of blood or lymph system. If the cancer is not treated in time then it can aggressively result and prove fatal.
Lesions are the changes that skin has undergone and may develop into precancerous lesions and such transformations are medically termed as Dysplastic which ouucr in skin as under.
Actinic Keratosis
The red, brown, scaly rough skin that can transform into SCC is actinic keratosis. Uncontrolled nevi or mole can develop into melanoma. A mole looks different in the body should be examined carefully. Dyplastic nevi are not cancer but they can develop into cancer. People having many Dyplastic nevi may develop into melanoma either within existing nervus or any normal skin. Dyplastic nerves are not regular in shape, may be flat or heaped and often surrounds over one quarter (ΒΌ) inches across or even longer and are commonly of multiple colors.
Causes of skin cancer
Everyone is at risk of developing skin cancer. However, certain characteristics make people more at risk for developing skin cancer: There are different causes of skin cancer. The most common risk factor is the exposure to ultraviolet radiation, or exposure to the artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation like sunlamps and tanning booths etc. Moreover, overexposure to sunlight is also a cause. Those who have had at least once sunburn in their childhood or pre-teenage are more vulnerable to develop the disease. Here we have listed few other factors responsible for the skin cancer:
- People with fair skinned and/or red, blond hair
- Excessive moles or freckles on the skin
- Family history of skin cancer
- Infection by certain types of human papilloma virus
- Those people who are sensitive enough to burn easily and frequently
- People with light colored eyes, such as green and blue eyes
- Weak immune system can cause skin cancer. Immune system in human beings protects their bodies from foreign entities such as germs or substances that cause an allergic reaction. It is the defense system of the body.
Treatment of Skin cancer
The treatment of BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma) and SCC (Squamous Cell Carcinoma) is uncomplicated. Lesion can be removed by the virtue of surgery. Melanoma can be tackled with surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
The self treatment of skin cancer is not encouraged. One should regulary consult the skin doctor. However watching and examining skin at home can be helpful in pre-diagnosing the disease.
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Related external links
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National Cancer Institute, Cancer Information Service (CIS)
Toll-free: 1-800-4-CANCER; 1-800-422-6237
TTY (for deaf and hard of hearing callers): 1-800-332-8615
Skin Cancer Foundation
245 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1403
New York, NY 10016
1-800-SKIN490
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