Posts Tagged ‘melanoma’
March 1st, 2010 | 
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It’s a public service announcement for melanoma (a type of skin cancer)
How to recognize the signs of melanoma carcinoma skin cancer in this free health care video. Expert: Dr. Susan Jewell Bio: Dr. Susan Jewell is a trained doctor and scientist in clinical research medicine, as well as a stem cell scientist in oncology and AIDS/HIV. Filmmaker: Susan Jewell
There is a direct link between skin cancer and sun exposure. It is usually found on areas of the body that are frequently exposed to sunlight. However, it can also develop in areas that are rarely exposed. For that reason, the skin all over your body should be examined regularly. There are three types of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Skin cancer can develop on the face, lips, ears, scalp, hands, palms, under your fingernails, between your toes, and anywhere on your body where you have skin. It can strike people of all skin tones and can develop slowly over time or appear suddenly.
The most common type of is known as basal cell carcinoma. This is also the most easy to treat. It typically appears as a waxy bump on your skin or as a flat lesion that resembles a scar.
Squamous cell carcinoma has more of a tendency to spread but is still easy to treat if it is caught early. This type of skin cancer appears as a firm red bump on your skin or as a flat lesion with a scaly surface.
Melanoma can develop on your skin or cause an existing mole to become cancerous. Melanoma accounts for the most cancer related deaths. It appears as a brown spot on your skin that has an irregular color and jagged borders. Melanoma can also cause your mole to change shape or color; it may cause your mole to bleed. Melanoma lesions can also appear on mucous membranes inside your mouth and nose.
You may have a higher risk of developing melanoma if you have fair skin, eyes and hair. Your risk is also higher if you sunburn or freckle easily. If you had multiple sunburns as a child or teen then your risk of developing skin cancer as an adult is greater. People who spend a lot of time in the sun working or tanning increase their risks if they do not wear protective clothing or use sun screen properly.
Treatment for cancer is simple and effective if the cancer is caught early. The cancer is removed in a doctor’s office under local anesthesia. The cancer is removed along with healthy tissue that surrounds it so no stray cancer cells are left behind. Surgery may be performed with a laser that directs a targeted beam of energy onto the cancer so it is destroyed. Laser surgery works well on surface cancers and on pre-cancerous growths.
Mohs surgery is another type of treatment. This requires the surgeon to remove skin a layer at a time. Each layer is examined for cancer cells. In this manner the cancer cells can be removed without taking away too much healthy tissue.
Some types of cancer can be killed by freezing them with liquid nitrogen. The cancer falls off as it thaws. Radiation and chemotherapy are also used in the treatment of skin cancer. Chemotherapy can be taken orally or applied directly to the skin cancer in the form of a cream or lotion.
Skin cancer can be treated much easier while in the early stages. Therefore, frequent self-examinations and regular full body exams by your doctor are very important. You can also take steps to prevent skin cancer by being wise about sun exposure. Wear sunscreen even in the winter and avoid the sun during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
By: Brent McNutt
About the Author:
I’m doing a biology project on skin cancer, and I’m making a brochure. I’m focusing on basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, but I just need this bit of information in general. So I just need to know how many people die of skin cancer in general, just an approximation. Thankss.
There are five different kinds of skin cancer. All of them are dangerous though some are to be worried about more than others. The most common type of skin cancer is Basal cell carcinoma with over a million Americans developing this cancer each year. Seventy five percent of all skin cancers treated are of this variety. This type of skin cancer is believed by physicians to be caused by a person spending too much time in the sun. Which is why this type of skin cancers tends to be found ion the more common places on the body that has sun exposure. This includes the face, scalp, and upper torso. Although they have more than one form basal cell carcinoma often begins like a shiny bump. It takes the form of a sore that does not heal or that heals and then becomes unhealthy looking once again. These are slow growing; rarely spreading to other parts of the body but still must be attended to quickly.
At least two hundred thousand Americans yearly are treated for Squamous cell carcinoma, this is the second most common and accounts for twenty percent of the cases of skin cancer. This one is also blamed on too much sun but is more common among middle aged and the elderly. They first appear as a crusty spot, but one with that appears reddened and irritated looking and does look very much like a small growth or boil. If you notice something that looks like this go immediately to your health care provider as Squamous cell carcinoma can spread to other parts of your body.
The next in line is the most dangerous of the skin cancers. That one is Melanoma and it affects four percent of those who are treated for skin cancers. It is considered the most dangerous because it is the most lethal. Although if found early the cure rate is a stunning ninety five percent effective. But once it begins its spread there is very little hope. So if you see changes to a mole or a new mole, especially if you are over thirty, see your health care provider immediately.
The remaining one percent if divided between Paget’s disease and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Paget’s occurs because of cancers in the sweat glands of the intestines, genitals or urinary tract and so the cancer shows up in the genital area or around the anus. It can also come out around the nipples because of cancer of the milk ducts though both men and women can have this problem. The sores look a like normal patchy skin, rashes, and can be very itchy or even painful. A biopsy is usually needed to determine if its just a skin condition or its Paget’s. Kaposi’s sarcoma is an AIDS related skin cancer related to herpes.
Learn self-examination, its a way to protect yourself that is easy and costs you nothing more than a few minutes of your time once every few months. Aren’t you worth it?
Posted in Skin Cancer | 
Tags: Basal cell carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, melanoma, Paget's disease, Skin Cancer, Squamous cell carcinoma | 
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