Types of skin cancer

The Five Types of Skin Cancer

Many people will find it surprising to learn that there are five different types of skin cancer. The most common of these is called basal cell carcinoma. This skin cancer is diagnosed in nearly three quarters of all cases with over seven hundred and fifty thousand people treated yearly. Like the next most common cancer this one is caused by over exposure to the sun. That is why this cancer is often found on the face, scalp or the upper body. One good thing about this skin cancer is that it is not likely to spread to other parts of the body since it is a slow growing cancer and so can be cured. Nonetheless it is important to act on it quickly for the best results.

The next most prevalent kind of skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. The cancer is found in over twenty percent of cases. This type is also caused by too much exposure to the rays of the sun. It is a cancer more common among people who are middle aged or older and, unlike basal skin cancer, is first noticed as a crusty spot that might be red and irritated. If something like that is seen a quick visit to a health care provider is very important. That leaves the last few percent divided between three different types of skin cancer. This includes the most dangerous of the skin cancers which is melanoma. Most of the remaining cases will be this kind of cancer. It is the most life threatening but if found and treated early has a success rate of ninety five percent. But if it begins to spread then there is almost no hope for a cure. The key to this one is to watch for moles that seem to change.

The final two types of skin cancer are Paget’s disease and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Paget’s disease resembles a normal rash and is found around the breasts, genital area, the anus or the sweat glands. The sores are usually very itchy as well as being known to be quite painful. Kaposi’s sarcoma is a skin cancer that is usually associated with herpes and is commonly found in those suffering from AIDS. Any suspicious sores, rashes or moles should be investigated immediately.

Squamous skin cancer

The Causes of Squamous Skin Cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma, also known as SCC or squamous skin cancer, is a very common type of skin cancer. It is in fact the second most common after basal cell carcinoma. SCC attacks the upper layers of skin. Fortunately this is not necessarily a serious cancer if identified early and then treated immediately. Of the two hundred and fifty thousand cases diagnosed each year, ninety seven percent of these are easily treated ones. The remaining three percent are more worrisome since they are likely to be cases where the cancer has spread and so potentially is life threatening to the person dealing with this disease.

The primary cause of this type of skin cancer relates to excessive exposure to the ultra violet light of the sun. This would be long term exposure and take years before it resulted in the cancer, but nonetheless it is the likely cause. Squamous skin cancer is more likely to occur on the face. This is because the face is always exposed to the sun and is the part of the body that people are more likely to forget to protect on a daily basis. People going swimming or who plan to be outside for a long time are more likely to use sunscreen, but when going to catch a bus, taking a walk to the store or any of the more mundane daily activities people do not think to put sunscreen on their faces.

Fair haired, and so fair skinned, people are more likely to get this type of cancer. People with very dark skin tone almost never have to worry about getting squamous skin cancer. Those who have had treatment in some area for skin cancer may find another spot later since the area has already been damaged by the sun and so another cancer spot may appear. If this is going to occur it will happen within two years of being diagnosed. The best way to protect oneself from skin cancer is to use a sunscreen that is rated at least at thirty, to cover up when possible and stay out of the direct sun when it is not.

3 Types of Skin Cancer

What are the Most Common 3 Types of Skin Cancer?

There are currently 3 types of skin cancer that are recognized by health care providers around the world. These types of cancer range from the relatively benign to extremely dangerous and possibly life threatening. Currently, there is no real rhyme or reason as to why one type of cancer would manifest itself over the others, but it seems that all are related to prolonged exposure to the ultraviolet rays from the sun.

The least dangerous form of skin cancer is known as basal cell carcinoma. This type of cancer develops primarily on people with fair skin who cannot easily tan. While it should be treated as quickly as possible, it is normally not life threatening and will not usually spread to other parts of the body. Typically, this type of cancer will look like a translucent bump or a smooth, pearly bump.

The second most dangerous of the 3 types of skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cancer can occur on any part of the body and is usually marked by a firm, red bump with a scaly feel. While it can spread to other parts of the body if left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma can easily be treated if it is caught early enough. Look for it to pop up on places that are always exposed to the sun, such as the nose, the lips, and the hands.

The last variety of skin cancer is malignant melanoma. This is the most deadly type of skin cancer and is also the most likely to spread to other parts of the body if left untreated. It may masquerade itself as a simple mole, but may eventually change in size and shape as the cancer begins to spread. Of the 3 types of skin cancer, this is the one that you should always be on the lookout for, as it can occur nearly anywhere on the body.

Skin Cancer on Nose

Is it Possible to Self Diagnose Skin Cancer on Nose?

Whenever anyone sees some kind of blemish or wound that does not heal on their nose, they always jump right to the conclusion that it is skin cancer on nose. However, despite what most of us want to believe, it is almost impossible to self diagnose blemishes and other odd deformities on the nose as skin cancer. Instead, we must make a visit to our local doctors in order to have a biopsy taken on the troublesome spot. This is currently the only way to determine whether or not there is skin cancer growing on your nose.

The nose is one of the most common places for skin cancer to develop. After all, it is the portion of your face that is most likely to be exposed to direct sunlight, as our noses stick out from our face and are just asking to be sun burned. Because the nose absorbs so much direct sunlight, even after it has been coated with sunscreen, it is highly likely to experience cellular damage which can eventually lead to skin cancer on nose.

Unfortunately, because so many people think that they know exactly what skin cancer looks like, they think that they can diagnose whether or not they have skin cancer on their nose without seeing a doctor first. This is a terrible idea, as it can lead to a wrong diagnosis that assume that any little blemish is skin cancer - but fail to spot the real cancerous spots that are masquerading themselves on your nose. Therefore, if you are concerned about anything on your nose, and how it might relate to skin cancer, go see a doctor before it gets any worse. After all, skin cancer on nose, benign as it may seem at first, can progress into a variety of other problems if you are not careful.

Melanoma symptoms

The Melanoma Symptom Guideline

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can be fatal. It is one of the rare types but because it can spread it is the most dangerous. This cancer occurs more often in Caucasian males--especially those who live in an area where there is lots of sun. When trying to determine if you have a melanoma symptom, a good guide to use is the ABCD chart. This shows a person to look for an asymmetrical skin lesion, with a border that is irregular in appearance and more than one color. They should normally have just one color. If the diameter of the mole is more than five millimeters this is also a potential cancer since more often the larger the mole is the more likely that it might be a melanoma. Sometimes an E is included in the list. This stands for elevation; meaning that the mole is raised.

To avoid a melanoma symptom being missed, it is suggested that a person asks their health care provider to include a skin examination as part of their yearly check-up. It is also suggested that people learn to do a self examination a couple of times yearly to ensure that nothing gets missed. If something is noticed a visit to the health care provider is the next step. If the physician is concerned they may then send you to a dermatologist to continue the investigation. This would be the next step because a dermatologist is a doctor who concentrates on skin conditions. This doctor will examine the area and determine if it is skin cancer and if so if it is one of the easily treatable ones or the more worrisome melanoma.

When attempting to make a competent diagnosis of a melanoma symptom, the next step would be a biopsy. It is the only conclusive way to ensure the diagnosis is correct. The physician will take a small sample of the spot and have the sample checked for cancer cells. This is a simple procedure and can be done in the doctor’s office with nothing more than a local anesthesia. Once the results come back the health care provider will determine the next step. If the spot is not a melanoma then it can be removed with no worries. If it is it must still be removed but follow-up treatment could be required.

Skin Cancer on Face

How to Determine Whether or Not You Have Skin Cancer on Face

A proper diagnosis is the most important first step when dealing with skin cancer on face. Therefore, if you want to make sure that you receive the best possible skin cancer treatment so that you can live a long, healthy life, then you need to ensure that the brewing skin cancer on your face is diagnosed early and effectively. Only then can you be sure that your doctor will be able to remove all of the cancerous cells on your face for a quick, full recovery.

Skin cancer on the face can take a variety of forms, so do not simply look for one particular type of cancerous form that you may have seen somewhere in a health magazine or on the Internet. No, you should instead be in tune to the entirety of your face and note any changes that you may have seen since your last visit to your doctor. Have your family members also keep tabs on your face to determine whether or not you have any drastic changes to the composition of your face. Be especially wary of new moles, open wounds that may have formed from nowhere, and any discolored spots, as they are all possible signs of skin cancer on face.

Luckily enough, if you are vigilant about what is going on on your face, you will likely catch any form of skin cancer early enough that it can be treated without a problem. While there are lots of different types of skin cancer, the majority are very easily treatable - so long as they are not allowed to progress. So, if you want to be sure that you will be around long enough to watch your children and your grandchildren grow up, take action against any possible signs of skin cancer on face - your family will thank you.

Skin Cancer Symptoms

What is a Skin Cancer Symptom?

The primary skin cancer symptom is a change somewhere in the appearance of the skin. This can be a change in a mole or wart that is already on the skin or a new sore that does not heal in a reasonable length of time. The most common type of skin cancer is the basal cell carcinoma accounting for just over seventy percent of all skin cancers. The signs to look for with this type of skin cancer are not necessarily distinctive from those of the others. If you see a mole that changes shape or if the color or the size of it changes then this is something to bring to the attention of your health care provider. Any spot on the skin that is red, smooth, or shiny and bleeds for no reason, then scabs, bleeds again and scabs with this cycle repeating regularly and lasting more than three weeks should be checked.

The basal cell carcinoma is highly curable if caught early. That means even if you feel foolish about asking your health care provider about something small that seems out of place on your skin you are doing the cautious and smart thing. This type of skin cancer can appear in several different forms and each one is just a much a concern. Sometimes the skin cancer symptom appears as a spot filled with blood vessels and looks more like a spider. This is called telangiectasias. Whichever signs you notice do not ignore them.

The second most common kind of cancer is called squamous cell carcinoma. Over twenty percent of the remaining cases diagnosed yearly will be this kind. Like basal cell carcinoma it is curable if identified and treated early. The skin cancer symptom you would check for is not much different though if you are a smoker, spend too much time in the sun or chew tobacco and notice sores on the lower lip that do not heal properly this is also a sign. Any bump or sore that does not heal on the skin is worrisome and should be checked out. Do not delay if you see something you think is wrong, the worst that can happen is your health care provider givers you a clean bill of health.

Mole Skin Cancer

What is the Relationship Between Mole, Skin Cancer?

When it comes to self diagnosis with skin cancer, far too many people assume that there is some kind of link with mole, skin cancer. However, this widely accepted theory is almost completely incorrect, as the vast majority of moles are totally normal and completely non cancerous. That being said, the most deadly kind of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, first manifests itself as a rather unassuming looking mole. This cancerous mole can be anywhere on your body, although there are a few warning signs that you should be aware of before you start to think that every mole on your person is somehow related to cancer.

Your risk factors for melanoma are much higher if you are a fair skinned individual who cannot tan easily. The majority of all people who have a mole, skin cancer, from melanoma will meet those two criteria every single time. However, just because you do not have fair skin does not mean that you cannot get melanoma - just that you are at a slightly lower risk for it.

So what exactly makes a cancerous mole different from your average, everyday mole? For one, regular moles will not change in size or shape as time goes on. They are stagnant and fixed in their particular shape and size. On the other hand, cancerous moles will change their appearance and grow in size as the days go by.

There are also other things to look out for when considering a cancerous mole. The most common feature is that the mole oozes or bleeds fairly regularly. Also be on the lookout for a mole that becomes itchy or tender to the touch, as this is usually a sign that there is a definite link building between what you thought was a normal mole, skin cancer.

Skin Cancer Cure

Is There a Tried and True Skin Cancer Cure?

The day that some medical researchers develop a skin cancer cure is the day that the world will rejoice. Just think of the possibilities of never having to worry about dealing with the sun's ultraviolet rays again. No more soaking yourself in sun screen before you go to the beach. No more having to worry your head off thinking that you have some incurable form of melanoma. Yes, times will be good when someone unlocks the secrets to a full on cure for skin cancer that works every time.

However, that is something to simply speculate about. These days, while cancer treatments are getting better, there is still no such thing as the perfect skin cancer cure. While it is looking as though there may be one on the horizon, it still may be a few years off at best.

The most important thing about treating and curing skin cancer now is early diagnosis. If you feel as though you have new, strange looking things growing on your skin, you should visit your doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will scoop out the skin imperfection and send it to a lab for a biopsy and in a weeks time you will know whether or not that spot was cancerous.

If the biopsy comes back negative, you have nothing to worry about and you can go on with your life as usual. On the other hand, if it turns out that your skin blemish was cancerous there will be quite a bit of treatment for you in the coming months. Usually there will be some combination of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment administered to the affected area. And, while those treatments all work reasonably well, there is still no telling as to whether or not any of them will be a true skin cancer cure.

Sign of skin cancer

Recognize a Common Sign of Skin Cancer

Different skin cancers have different clues to their state. The clues are based on which type of skin cancer they are. If you see something strange that you think might be a sign of skin cancer be sure to see your health care provider immediately. Most skin cancers can be cured if they are found quickly; the problem is when they are not recognized and so go untreated. Studies have shown that the average health care provider only makes the right diagnosis ninety percent of the time. That ten percent of the time they are wrong can be a fatal mistake for the person who is given the wrong information. Due to this possible misdiagnosis it is important for the average person to know what they should be aware of when it comes to skin cancers.

The symptoms of basal cell carcinoma, the most common skin cancer, are the appearance of a bump on the face or neck that is off white in color. Sometimes they look flesh colored or like a fresh scar and are on the chest or back. This cancer strikes nearly three quarters of a million people yearly, but is highly curable if caught early and treated. If the sign of skin cancer that is noticed is on a person’s face, lips, arms hands or on the neck and seems to be a solid red bump this may be squamous cell cancer, the second most common kind diagnosed. Sometimes they appear crusty though still on the same areas.

The most dangerous type of skin cancer is melanoma. This is because this type will spread and that is when it becomes worrisome. There are several signs to be wary of with melanoma. One of the most common is changes that take place in a mole. If one changes color, bleeds or feels different it should be shown to a physician immediately. If a new mole appears suddenly, or a small sore that does not go away which is firm and shiny these also should be shown to a health care provider as soon as possible. Another sign on skin cancer is seeing red or purplish colored patches on the skin. These can be a sign of Kaposi’s sarcoma which is a skin cancer common in AIDS patients. Any unusual skin lesions should be shown to a physician to prevent spreading and get early intervention; it could save your life.