Skin Cancer and Melanomas – What You Need to Know
Having a doctor tell you, “It’s cancer,” can be life-changing. There are numerous treatments for a wide variety of cancers, but as with many conditions, the best cure is prevention. Experts tell us that skin cancer is greatly preventable, by astute management of solar exposure.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer by far, and melanoma is less common than other varieties. It is the third most commonly diagnosed skin cancer.
However, melanoma skin cancer is also much more likely to spread than those other more common cancers of the skin. Is also the most dangerous form of skin cancer, because the DNA damage is irreversible. This often triggers mutations that lead to malignant tumors. What you may think is a simple mole could be a melanoma tumor, caused in the vast majority of cases by intense UV exposure. This is why wearing sunscreen is so important if you are outdoors and exposed to the sun for more than 10 or 20 minutes at a time.
A single, significant and prolonged exposure can cause melanoma, or it may develop over time from continued UV exposure.
There is good news though. Identified and treated early, melanoma can almost always be cured. The problem is when it begins to spread and advance throughout the body, multiplying and hiding in places that are very hard to treat.
Melanoma deaths in the United States number more than 10,000 annually. The death toll globally is thought to be somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 every year. If you notice a mole or growth on your skin, don’t take any chances. Get it checked out immediately.
Melanoma can appear as a black or brown spot, but may alternately be red, purple, blue, pink or even white. If you are concerned about a small growth or discoloration somewhere on your skin, have a dermatologist or your general practitioner take a look, just to be on the safe side.
2 Most Common Forms of Skin Cancer
It is believed that somewhere between 10% and 20% of all people will develop some type of skin cancer in their lifetime. In the United States, roughly 1 in every 7 people can pencil in a date with skin cancer, and it is found in young and old alike. Research shows a single serious sunburn can elevate your risk of developing skin cancer by as much as 50%. The following are the 2 most common forms of cancer of the skin.
” Basal Cell Carcinoma
This skin cancer affects roughly 800,000 Americans annually. This is far and away the most common form of skin cancer, and the roughly 3% occurrence rate in the US is also found in other modern countries. Chronic exposure to sunlight is the leading cause of basal cell carcinomas, most often found in those of middle age or over. If you have fair skin, blonde or red hair and blue, gray or green eyes, your risk is elevated. Basal cell carcinoma will not spread.
” Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This is the second most common skin cancer, occurring in the outer layer of the skin. Again, middle-aged and elderly people, those with fair complexions and anyone who undergoes frequent sun exposure are at the highest risk. You may notice a bump or red, scaly patches on the lips, the face, the ears or the mouth, which is a telltale sign of Squamous Cell Carcinoma. If not treated in a timely manner, this type of skin cancer can spread to other areas of the body.