Skin Cancer is a disease in which certain body cells don't function right, divide very fast, and produce too much tissue that forms a tumor. The skin is the body's largest organ. It protects us against heat, light, injury, and infection. It regulates body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D. The two most common kinds of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The most serious kind of skin cancer is called melanoma.

Types of Skin Cancer

Basal Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Malignant Melanoma

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA : the most frequently occurring form of skin cancer. Although this type of cancer may appear at any time, it appears most commonly in people over the age of 40. Most of these tumors will form on sun damaged areas which have received prolonged sun exposure. Basal cell carcinoma can spread and invade other tissue.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA : also frequently associated with sun-damaged skin. The most commonly affected areas include the face, head, and hands. This form can also spread but is usually NOT life-threatening.

Melanoma : It is a disease of the skin in which cancer or malignant cells are found in the cells that colour the skin that is melanocytes. Melanoma is the more serious type of the caner. It usually occurs in adults, but it may rarely be found in children and adolescents.

Causes of Skin Cancer

Although there are other contributing factors, including heredity and environment, sunburn and UV light damage the skin, and this damage can lead to skin cancer. Most people receive 50 percent of their lifetime exposure to the sun.

Sign And Symptoms of Skin Cancer

The most common sign of skin cancer is a change on the skin, especially a new growth or a sore that doesn't heal. Skin cancers don't all look the same. For example, the cancer may start as a small, smooth, shiny, pale, or waxy lump. Or it can appear as a firm red lump. Sometimes, the lump bleeds or develops a crust. Skin cancer can also start as a flat, red spot that is rough, dry, or scaly.

Both basal and squamous cell cancers are found mainly on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun -- the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. However, skin cancer can occur anywhere.

Treatment of Skin Cancer

Treatment for skin cancer known as actinic keratoses varies, depending on the size, type, depth and location of the lesions. Often the abnormal cells are surgically removed or destroyed with topical medications. Most treatments require only a local anesthetic and can be done in an outpatient setting. Sometimes no treatment is necessary beyond an initial biopsy that removes the entire growth.

If additional treatment is needed, options may include:

Excisional surgery - Your doctor cuts out the cancer from the skin along with some of the healthy tissue around it.

Mohs' surgery - Removing the cancer and as little normal tissue as possible. During this surgery, the physician removes the cancer and then uses a microscope to look at the cancerous area to make sure no cancer cells remain.

Laser therapy - Doctor may use this therapy to treat superficial skin cancers or precancerous growths on lips.

Radiation therapy - Radiation may destroy basal and squamous cell carcinomas if surgery isn't an option.

Chemotherapy - In chemotherapy, drugs are used to kill cancer cells. For cancers limited to the top layer of skin, creams or lotions containing anti-cancer agents may be applied directly to the skin. Topical drugs can cause severe inflammation and leave scars. Other types of chemotherapy can be used to treat skin cancers that have spread to other parts of the body

Tips for Preventing Skin Cancer :

Avoid the sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are the strongest.
Don't use tanning booths or sunlamps.
Wear protective clothing and hats.
Check your skin yourself every month for signs of skin cancer.
If you see an area on your skin that looks unusual, ask your family doctor about it.

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