back...

Skin Cancer

Cancer is a class of approximately 100 diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division and the ability of these cells to invade Skin Cancer basically takes three different forms. They are:

• basal cell carcinoma (or basal cell carcinoma epithelioma) The least dangerous of the three.
  
• squamous cell carcinoma . Dangerous, but fully treatable.
  
• Melanoma. This is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, and if left untreated, can lead to death.
  

Basel cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the two most common forms of skin cancer. Both are commonly known as non-melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma however, is a serious and dangerous form of skin cancer as it can easily spread (metastasize) throughout the body quickly, thus invading and affecting other organs.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Accounting for about 90% of all diagnosed cases, Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It is notable that basal cell carcinoma usually remain localized, and do not metastasize to other parts of the body. They do, if left untreated, invade nearby tissue and cause serious damage.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous are thin, flat cells that look like fish scales under the microscope. These cells, as the basal cells, can become cancerous.
Squamous cells are not only found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, but also in the lining of the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts. Squamous cell carcinomas can begin in any of these locations.

Statistically squamous cell carcinoma of the skin occurs only 25% as often as basal cell carcinoma. Pale colored skin and long exposures to the sun are crucial factor to developing this variety of cancer than to basal cell carcinoma. Males are affected more often than females. Squamous cell carcinomas can metastasize, and spread to and invade other parts of the body Malignant Melanoma

The third type of skin cancer is malignant melanoma. Malignant melanoma is a type of cancer arising from the melanocyte cells of the skin. The melanocytes are cells in the skin that produce the pigment melanin. These cells often grow in a cluster, and are called moles. This cancer develops when the melanocytes no longer respond to normal control mechanisms of cellular growth and easily metastasize and are aggressive in their invasion of other organs in the body.

As in the other two forms of skin cancer excessive and unprotected exposure to the sun surely increases risk of developing melanoma. As the melanocytes are part of the body's photo-protective mechanism; in response to sunlight, they produce melanin that has a protective role from the sun's ultraviolet rays. For light skinned people (white European), the amount of melanin present in the skin is directly related to sun exposure. Risk of contracting a malignant melanoma it is not so much the total sun exposure but the history of sunburn.

In all three forms of skin cancer weakening of the immune system, whether by disease or medication, can also increase the risk.
The symptoms of the three are different but the most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change in the appearance of the skin, such as a new growth or a sore that will not heal. Unexplained changes in the appearance of the skin lasting longer than 2 weeks should be immediately shown to a doctor.

The treatment will usually involve surgery of one form or another. Sometimes cryosurgery is used, and other special surgical procedures. Radiation therapy is also frequently employed. In the case of a malignant melanoma that has metastasized, a combination of chemotherapy. Radio and radiation therapy and surgery are applied.

The cure rates for any of the three forms of skin cancers are very good if diagnosed early and before any metastasis has begun. Even in some cases where the cancer is progressed, the cure rate is still impressive. Where the cancer has progressed and metastasized, the cure rate falls, and in the case of a metastasized melanoma, the cure rate is low and pessimistic.

Not all skin cancers are environmentally based, but there are some ways to prevent those that are. They include the following preventive measures.

1. Limiting recreational sun exposure to minimal times without protective clothing.
2. Avoiding completely unprotected exposure to the sun during peak radiation times (the hours surrounding noon)
3. The routine wearing broad-brimmed hats and tightly-woven protective clothing while outdoors in the sun
4. Regularly using a waterproof or water resistant sunscreen with UVA protection and SPF number of 30 or higher
5. Having a regular check-up and watching for any indications of a change in existing moles, or the appearance of new ones, or any growth on the skin.