People that have skin that burns easily in the sun should be screened for skin cancer by a professional at least once a year. The screening will identify any abnormal changes in the skin and diagnose any problems. However, even if you are screened once a year you should also monitor the condition and changes in your skin from time to time. You can identify potential problems if you know a bit about the disease. This article will detail the three types of skin cancer including the signs and treatment for each type.
There are three types of skin cancer. The first two mentioned are considered to be benign most of the time so they are easy to treat. However it is still important to identify and treat them as soon as possible as they may spread and lead to a more serious problem.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It will normally manifest as a waxy bump on the skin. It may also appear as a flesh or brown colored mark. It is typically found on the face, neck, chest and back but can occur anywhere on the body.
It is simple to treat basal cell carcinoma because it is generally benign, meaning that it will not spread to other parts of the body. This means it is safe to remove the bump or mark without it leading to other skin cancers. Removal can be done in a doctor’s surgery. It involves administering a local anesthetic and cutting the carcinoma away.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is treated in the same way as basal cell carcinoma although it is more common for it to spread. Normally it only spread to surrounding skin cells so it can still be treated successfully.
A red nodule or bump that is hard or firm to touch is a typical manifestation of squamous cell carcinoma. It will develop from this to have scaly or flaky skin at the surface that may peel. Eventually it will become a lesion that may bleed. It can occur anywhere on the body but the common areas are the face, neck, arms and hands. It can also appear on the lips and ears sometimes. Treatment involves cutting away the carcinoma or freezing it.
Melanoma
Melanoma is the least common of the 3 types of skin cancer however it is the most serious of the three, especially if it goes undiagnosed or untreated. Of the three it is most likely to spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes and vital organs of the body. If this occurs (known as metastasizes) then it becomes difficult to treat and may involve chemotherapy and other aggressive treatments. Early detection is crucial for a melanoma but they are often very hard to identify. This is why it is important to get a screen once a year by a professional in the diagnose of skin cancer.
Being aware of the three types of skin cancer is important during self examination and can help alert you to any potential problems. However, when it comes to any disease, prevention is much better outcome than needing to treat it. Prevention of skin cancer involves covering up in the sun and avoiding exposure to other forms of ultra-violet radiation.