If you are older you may never have heard about the need for sun screen until recently. This is because in the last decade or so, the link between skin cancer and sun exposure has become more and more evident. If you are someone who spent years without wearing sunscreen, knowing how to recognize the signs of skin cancer can be the best way to keep healthy and get treatment when and if it becomes necessary.
Even people who do not know a lot about skin cancer have probably heard about malignant melanoma. This is because skin doctors stress the importance of identifying these fast spreading, deadly tumors. They are called melanomas because they start in moles and areas where melanin, the pigment factor in skin, is present. People with more melanin in their skin often have more of a protection against these tumors but it is no reason to go without sun screen if you will be outside.
If you want an easy way to detect melanomas, you should remember the "ABC's" of skin cancer detection. You want to check the Appearance of a mole. You want to look at its Borders. And, lastly, the Color of that mole can be a key to whether or not it is malignant. A benign mole will not look different in a short period of time. It will have regular, even borders and be a normal brown color. Anything that is raised, fast growing, uneven or oddly colored should be assessed by a doctor as soon as possible. This makes your chances of survival much more likely.
Although most people do not know as much about them, basal cell carcinomas are actually more common than melanomas are. They are also much harder to identify since they can have a variety of different appearances. They may look like a scaly patch of skin. They may also look like a weeping, open sore that will not heal with time. Or, it can look like a raised sore with a sunken middle that may or may not weep and ooze. The last appearance of a basal cell carcinoma is an area of scar tissue that does not correspond with an injury. These cancers can be very disfiguring and can also spread to other areas of the body, although this is not as common as it is with melanomas.
Squamous cell carcinoma is another very common form of skin cancer. Like basal cell carcinoma these also start off as raised lumps, bumps or wart-like areas. They may also crust or scale over but may also open up and bleed or ooze on a regular basis. It can start out as a rough, red painful rash that may eventually form into a lump or bump and begin to grow from there.
If there are any areas that you are worried about or that look at all unusual, you need to see your doctor to have them looked at. The doctor will take a biopsy or sample of the cells in the area you are worried about. Depending on what they find, you will then begin an appropriate course of treatment depending on what stage the cancer is at, whether it has spread and what kind of skin cancer you have.
The effectiveness of skin cancer treatment is much better when you begin treatment shortly after a skin cancer has started to grow. Unfortunately many people do not regularly perform self examinations at home and do not get any areas they are concerned about checked out. Because early treatment can be the key to getting rid of the tumor completely, it is critical that you get in to see your doctor so that they can check you over as well. - 29763
Even people who do not know a lot about skin cancer have probably heard about malignant melanoma. This is because skin doctors stress the importance of identifying these fast spreading, deadly tumors. They are called melanomas because they start in moles and areas where melanin, the pigment factor in skin, is present. People with more melanin in their skin often have more of a protection against these tumors but it is no reason to go without sun screen if you will be outside.
If you want an easy way to detect melanomas, you should remember the "ABC's" of skin cancer detection. You want to check the Appearance of a mole. You want to look at its Borders. And, lastly, the Color of that mole can be a key to whether or not it is malignant. A benign mole will not look different in a short period of time. It will have regular, even borders and be a normal brown color. Anything that is raised, fast growing, uneven or oddly colored should be assessed by a doctor as soon as possible. This makes your chances of survival much more likely.
Although most people do not know as much about them, basal cell carcinomas are actually more common than melanomas are. They are also much harder to identify since they can have a variety of different appearances. They may look like a scaly patch of skin. They may also look like a weeping, open sore that will not heal with time. Or, it can look like a raised sore with a sunken middle that may or may not weep and ooze. The last appearance of a basal cell carcinoma is an area of scar tissue that does not correspond with an injury. These cancers can be very disfiguring and can also spread to other areas of the body, although this is not as common as it is with melanomas.
Squamous cell carcinoma is another very common form of skin cancer. Like basal cell carcinoma these also start off as raised lumps, bumps or wart-like areas. They may also crust or scale over but may also open up and bleed or ooze on a regular basis. It can start out as a rough, red painful rash that may eventually form into a lump or bump and begin to grow from there.
If there are any areas that you are worried about or that look at all unusual, you need to see your doctor to have them looked at. The doctor will take a biopsy or sample of the cells in the area you are worried about. Depending on what they find, you will then begin an appropriate course of treatment depending on what stage the cancer is at, whether it has spread and what kind of skin cancer you have.
The effectiveness of skin cancer treatment is much better when you begin treatment shortly after a skin cancer has started to grow. Unfortunately many people do not regularly perform self examinations at home and do not get any areas they are concerned about checked out. Because early treatment can be the key to getting rid of the tumor completely, it is critical that you get in to see your doctor so that they can check you over as well. - 29763
About the Author:
There are different types of skin cancer being aware of the basic five signs of skin cancer is important. Where can I learn more about skin cancer? Please visit www.fivesignsofskincancer.net for more great tips.
