09.23.08
Early Warnings of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer, a disease in which cells lose the ability to grow in normal healthy ways, is a rising concern for many people. Every year, 1.3 million American people are diagnosed with some kind of skin cancer, and almost half of everyone in the country will have had some form of skin cancer by the time they are 65. It seems like a bleak picture, but the good news is that modern medical technology can cure almost every known form of skin cancer as long as it is detected early and given the proper treatment, which means that knowing the first signs of skin cancer and being aware of the symptoms can save millions from this disease.
Skin cancer often takes the form of a sore or a pimple that won’t heal, typically appearing as an abnormal growth on the skin. The first sign of skin cancer is if these sores or growths either appear out of nowhere, or significantly alter their shape. They might also ooze fluid or crust and scab over, and will simply not heal over or reduce in size, regardless of over-the-counter treatment. The growths might change in size or color, marking them as an area for concern, you should tell your doctor anytime that you develop a new growth on the skin, or a mole, sore, or other spot on the skin significantly changes in size or shape. The outward signs of skin cancer usually appear on parts of the body that are most often exposed to the sun, such as the v-shaped area of the chest, the face, the neck, and the upper back. Remember that only a doctor can tell if a skin growth is benign or cancerous.
Something that’s important to know while you’re looking for the first signs of skin cancer is how to do a self-examination and see if there is anything that you need to ask your doctor about. You can give yourself a regular check-over for any new growths or to monitor if one might be changing, to look for sores or moles. In particular, you want to look for signs of melanoma, the most malignant and dangerous forms of cancer. To look for melanoma, you want to look for things like the growth being asymmetrical, where one side has a different shape than the other. When the growth has scalloped or uneven edges or has more than one color is another sign of a possible melanoma, they may be black, have colored specks in them, or be shades of brown. Also, if the size measured edge to edge is bigger than a pencil eraser on a new growth, it could be a melanoma.
Skin cancer can be a frightening thing, however it is almost always extremely treatable and can be cured with a minimum of damage to the body if it is discovered early enough. Doctors and medical associations constantly stress the importance of knowing the first signs of skin cancer and being able to check yourself for melanomas, and now, you can.
09.05.08
Preventing and Controlling Skin Cance
Cancer is becoming more and more prevalent around the world and skin cancer is the most common form. There are two types of skin cancer that are seen the most often – squamous cell and basal cell – and both of them have a high rate of success in curing. There is a third type of skin cancer – melanoma – and it is the most dangerous of all, especially to the younger generations. Why? Because 65 to 90 percent of all melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. This includes exposure to sunlight.
In 2004 alone – which is the most current statistics available – 50,039 people in the United States alone were diagnosed with some form of melanoma skin cancer. 7,952 people in the United States died from it that same year. Medical organizations and the government do not track incidences for basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer so the number of people in the United States that were diagnosed with a form of skin cancer is probably higher.
Prevention and control for skin cancer is not just determined by what you do to protect yourself. It is also determined by specific risk factors each of us faces. Some people are more prone to the development of skin cancer than others. Risk factors can include, but are not limited to:
• Skin coloring that is light in natures
• Family history of skin cancer
• Personal history of skin cancer
• Exposure to the sun through playing or through the person’s job
• History of sunburns during childhood
• Skin that burns, reddens easily, freckles, or hurts when exposed to sunlight
• People with blue or green eyes
• People with blonde or red hair
• People who have a specific type of mole in large quantities over their body.
If you find that you fall into any of these risk factors then prevention and control for skin cancer should become a way of life for you. We cannot avoid going outside and it is proven fact that people need so much sunshine and fresh air for their well-being. With this being the case, anyone who is at risk should practice good prevention and control for skin cancer.
Prevention and control for skin cancer is actually very easy and just requires getting used to using sun-protective practices on a daily basis. It is very easy and here are a few things that medical professionals and governmental organizations recommend for safe outdoor protection from UV rays:
1. Seek a shady spot or go indoors between the hours of 10am and 4pm on a sunny day. This is when the UV rays from the sun hit the Earth the hardest and can do the most damage to your skin. As our ozone layer is thinning, more UVA and UVB rays get through making prevention and control for skin cancer even more important.
2. If you need to be outside during those hours, cover up any exposed skin with clothing. Clothing provides a barrier between your skin and the rays. Wearing white also helps as white reflects sunlight and heat.
3. Wear a hat with a wide brim to protect you face, head, ears, and neck from the sunlight. A baseball cap will leave areas exposed.
4. Get a pair of sunglasses that wrap around your eyes as much as possible and blocks out UVA and UVB rays. Look for a pair that blocks these rays close to 100%.
5. Wear sunscreen that is rated SPF 15 or higher and also blocks UVA and UVB rays. Even if you are just running out to the store, rubbing some sun block on your face, neck, arms and hands will go a long way to protecting you from harmful radiation.
When you use a combination of all these methods as prevention and control for skin cancer, you are giving yourself a better chance of not being stricken with it. Remember that some UV rays can also reach you on cloudy and hazy days and can reflect off of things like water, sand, snow, and cement. Make sure you follow the same methods during these times as you do in the summer.
If you are serious about the prevention and control for skin cancer for yourself, stay away from the tanning beds. Everyone claims they are safer, but it still takes UV rays to give your body that golden look. Even if those UV rays are manmade, they can still cause skin cancer.
One last note: if you notice any abnormalities in moles or freckles on your body, or you see something strange on your skin that has suddenly developed, contact your family doctor right away and have them examined. This could be the first signs of a skin cancer problem and the sooner it is caught and treated, the better off you will be.
08.21.08
Introduction To Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
Let’s face it; no one wants skin cancer to show up in our fun in the sun summer time plans. Along with the bronze tan we seek, the real threat of skin cancer creeps in. Over one million people develop non-melanoma skin cancer every year. The good news is with early detection and treatment, the cure rate is near 100%.
One of the first warning signs of skin cancer is a noticeable difference in your skin such as a new growth or a persistent sore that will not heal. Other symptoms are a firm, transparent bump or a smooth skin lump with a raised border that may resemble a mole. Watch for red patches of irritated skin or a shiny area of tight skin that looks like a scar. You should pay close attention to any open sore that bleeds or oozes, and does not heal in three weeks time.
There are two types of non-melanoma skin cancer. Both forms usually appear on the face, and upper body. The nose is the most common spot for skin cancer to grow. Basal cell carcinoma occurs three times as often as the second type- Squamous cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and accounts for more than ninety per cent of all skin cancer diagnosed in the U.S. Thankfully, these cancers almost never spread to other parts of the body. There is evidence that some forms directly from intermittent sun exposure like that received during vacations.
Fair-skinned people are of course at a higher risk of developing some form. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the main cause. Most appear after age 50, but the suns damaging effects begin at a much earlier age. Sun protection should start in early childhood to prevent any from showing up later in life.
Guard yourself and your loved ones by taking every precaution when playing or working in the sun. Avoiding the sun is the best way to lower your risk. Self-examination and regular medical check-ups are always a good idea if you have a history of skin cancer. Using daily sunscreen is an absolute must, especially with children. Sunscreen needs to be applied generously every couple of hours, and after swimming even when using ‘waterproof’ sunscreens. Make it part of your sun protection routine to check yourself and your family for unusual growths on your skin. If you notice a suspicious growth or a change in the appearance of a mole, do not- ‘wait and see’-what happens. Consult your doctor before you decide any growth is harmless.
There are several treatments for non-melanoma skin cancer, which depend on the type and location. Physicians take in to consideration the patients age and health when deciding on a treatment. No one likes to hear the word cancer but do not despair; skin cancer is preventable and curable. There is not any reason to let the news of non-melanoma skin cancer get you down. There is action you can take now to keep skin cancer away.
08.15.08
The Three Types of Skin Cancer
Can skin cancer be avoided? While scientists still have miles to go before they can determine whether or not skin cancers can be completely deterred, at least one type is associated with definite risk factors.
The three main types of skin cancer are: basal cell carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma; and malignant melanoma. All three are detrimental to one’s health, though two out of the three can be cured if caught early enough. This sort of skin cancer is responsible for 90 percent of all skin cancers within the United States. Basal cell carcinoma hardly ever seeps into other parts of the body, though it can reach the bone if it is not eradicated right away. Those at risk for this type of cancer are usually Caucasian, fair skinned, light eyed, and have light hair. It is also believed that this type of cancer occurs when parts of the body are exposed to a large amount of sunlight.
Squamous cell carcinoma affects 200,000 people every year. As with basal cell carcinoma, this type of skin cancer can be cured if it is detected early enough. Squamous cell carcinoma usually affects the ears, face, lips, and mouth, which is one of the main reasons why it is easily measurable. Though scientists do not know why this type of cancer occurs, it is usually found in Caucasians with light skin, light eyes and light hair. Sun damage is thought to be one of the major causes of this cancer, though this has yet to be proven concretely.
The last type of skin cancer happens to be the most dangerous kind. Melanoma is a rare type of cancer, yet it also happens to be the deadliest. Those that are at risk for melanoma include: persons with blond or red hair; persons with blue eyes and a fair complexion; those with a family history of melanoma; and those that spend a significant amount of time in the sun without proper sunblock. While melanoma usually strikes those with a fair complexion, it will also strike those that spend time in the sun — whether or not they happen to have fair skin.
The only known way to prevent melanoma from occurring is to make sure to wear sunblock every day. Not only should you wear sunblock during those summer months, but it is also important to wear sunblock during the winter months as well. Rather than wait to see whether or not you become ill, do yourself a favor and put on that sunblock no matter what the weather report says – it could save your life.
07.19.08
Non-melanoma skin cancer.
Skin cancer starts in the cells of the skin. The skin is the body’s largest organ. It protects the organs inside your body from injury, infection, heat and ultraviolet light from the sun. The skin helps control your body temperature and gets rid of waste materials through the sweat glands. It also makes vitamin D and stores water and fat.
The skin has two main layers. The layer at the surface is called the epidermis. Below the epidermis is the dermis.The epidermis is made up of 3 types of cells:
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Basal cells are continually being made deep in the epidermis. Newly made round basal cells push the older cells toward the surface of the skin to become squamous cells.
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Squamous cells are old cells. As they move toward the skin’s surface, they become thin and flat.
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Melanocytes are also found deep in the epidermis, in between the basal cells. Melanocytes are cells that make melanin, which gives colour to your skin.
The most common types of skin cancer are squamous cell cancer and basal cell cancer. Both are known as non-melanoma skin cancer and they can usually be treated successfully.
05.22.08
Signs and symptoms of skin cancer
There are a variety of different skin cancer symptoms. These include crabs or changes in the skin that do not heal, ulcers in the skin, discoloration, and changes in existing moles.
- Basal cell carcinoma usually looks like a raised, smooth, pearly bump on the sun-exposed skin of the head, neck or shoulders. Sometimes small blood vessels can be seen within the tumor. Crusting and bleeding in the center of the tumor frequently develops. It is often mistaken for a sore that does not heal.
- Squamous cell carcinoma is commonly a red, scaling, thickened patch on sun-exposed skin. Ulceration and bleeding may occur. When SCC is not treated, it may develop into a large mass.
- Most melanomas are brown to black looking lesions. Signs that might indicate a malignant melanoma include change in size, shape, color or elevation of a mole. The appearance of a new mole during adulthood, or new pain, itching, ulceration or bleeding of an existing mole should be checked.
What is Skin Cancer ?
Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin which can have many causes. Skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), so a tumor is usually clearly visible. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages. There are three common types of skin cancer, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises. Cancers caused by UV exposure may be prevented by avoiding exposure to sunlight or other UV sources, and wearing sun-protective clothes. The use of sunscreen had been recommended in the past, but there is an increasing body of evidence that sunscreen is not entirely safe.
Unlike many other cancers, including those originating in the lung, pancreas, and stomach, only a small minority of those afflicted will actually die of the disease. Skin cancers are the fastest growing type of cancer in the United States. Skin cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed malignancy, surpassing lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. More than 1 million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in 2008.
