Prevention, Detection and Treatment of Individual Types of Skin Cancer
Posted on April 6, 2008
Types of skin cancer are named for the specific types of skin cells which mutate, due to UV exposure or natural decay, and begin to reproduce improperly and form cancerous tumors.
Different types of skin cells make up different layers of the skin. The most common cancers are formed in squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes, forming squamous or basal cell carcinoma, or melanoma. Squamous cells are the top layer of the epidermis, the round, flat cells which make up the surface of the skin. Underneath are basal cells which make up the rest of the epidermis, and between the dermis and epidermis are melanocytes, which are the cells which pigment the skin.
For purposes of treatment, skin cancer is separated into two main groups. These are melanoma and nonmelanoma. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, and the most common forms of nonmelanoma skin cancers are squamous and basal cell carcinoma. There are other, rarer forms of skin cancer as well, which fall under the nonmelanoma category.
For the most part, methods of prevention are the same for both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer. Overexposure to UV radiation is a major risk factor, and the sun should be avoided during its midday peak. Protective clothing, or failing that, sunscreen should be worn when out in the sun even under light cloud cover. Getting even one blistering sunburn is a risk factor for skin cancer. Tanning beds are a risk factor specifically for melanoma, even with minimal usage, so you should strictly abstain from their use. If you insist on getting a light tan, doing so under the sun is healthier because melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
Nonmelanoma skin cancer can be slightly more difficult to detect, because it may present itself as a rash, wound, or lump that doesn’t properly heal. These irregularities should be looked at by a doctor when detected, and you should regularly check your skin, including your scalp and hard to reach places, as skin cancer is usually painless. Most of the time, it appears on the face or in body parts exposed to sunlight.
Melanoma often appears as a mole-like growth, and existing moles can turn into melanoma. Moles, or nevi, are common benign growths which stem from melanocytes. If you have an unusually high number of nevi or multiple dysplastic nevi, or irregularly-shaped moles, you should take special care to check them for changes. A change in the size, color, shape, or surrounding skin of a mole can signify melanoma.
Both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer should be treated as soon as possible to avoid metastasis. Even in earlier stages of development, especially with melanoma, your doctor may need to remove nearby lymph nodes, as skin cancer tends to spread through the lymphatic system. In early stages, surgery can eliminate a skin tumor, although with melanoma sometimes enough surrounding tissue must be taken that a skin graft is necessary. If additional tumors form in other parts of the body due to metastasis, chemotherapy and additional surgeries may be necessary. This is a particularly serious situation if melanoma spreads.
Different types of skin cancer have a different appearance and slightly different treatments, but early detection is the key to effectively curing any skin cancer.
To learn much more about the different types of skin cancer, visit http://www.SkinCancer-101.com where you’ll find this and much more, including nose skin cancer.
Article Author :Adam_Hefner
Last 6 posts in Skin Cancer
- Does Sun Exposure Cause Skin Cancer? - December 6th, 2008
- What is a Precancerous Mole? - December 6th, 2008
- Symptoms of a Cancerous Mole - December 6th, 2008
- Mole Cancer Signs - December 6th, 2008
- Skin Cancer Prevention Made Easy - September 17th, 2008
- Preventing Skin Cancer - September 3rd, 2008
- How to Treat Melanoma - September 3rd, 2008
- Skin Cancer Prevention Food - September 3rd, 2008
- Preventing and Controlling Skin Cancer - September 3rd, 2008
- Leading Cause of Skin Cancer - September 3rd, 2008
Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the lining of the lungs. Its main cause is thought to be contact with asbestos. About 3000 new cases are reported every year in the United States, with about 8 million people having been exposed to asbestos in the last 50 years. Safety measures have been put into place in the last couple of decades so as to protect people from asbestos exposure; therefore, some think that the number of cases of mesothelioma will peak around 2020 and that it will begin to decline after that, since exposure to asbestos by then will… Continue reading
There are real, although very limited, benefits of diet and supplements in supporting mesothelioma. There’s nothing to buy that would prevent this horrible form of cancer, although eating fresh vegetables seems to tie in to a reduction in the rate of development. More recently, the medical literature suggests that one B vitamin may at least make one form of chemo for mesothelioma less toxic.
Dr. H. L Kindler of the Hematology/Oncology Section at the University of Chicago Hospitals finds that medically supervised folic acid supplementation probably decreases the toxicity of pemetrexed (Alimta). The research absolutely, positively does not suggest that anyone… Continue reading
Selecting the right mesothelioma lawyer can be a daunting task. In addition to the emotional strains and struggles you may be experiencing as a result of a mesothelioma diagnosis, it may feel like choosing an attorney for your legal case is too daunting. In this article we will explore how to find a mesothelioma attorney.
It is your responsibility and right to obtain the best legal advice you can when submitting a claim to the court for a mesothelioma negligence suit. Large sums of cash, potentially millions of dollars, are ultimately at stake and you don’t want to be unprepared for… Continue reading
Related posts
» Filed Under Skin Cancer
Comments
Leave a Reply
