Age and Skin Cancer

Like most cancers, skin cancer is more common with increasing age, but malignant melanoma is disproportionately high in younger people. Malignant melanoma is now the most common cancer in young adults (aged 15-34) in the UK. Over the last twenty-five years, rates of malignant melanoma in Britain have risen faster than any other common cancer.

Although non-melanoma skin cancer is extremely common, in the vast majority of cases it is detected early and is not life threatening. Malignant melanoma survival rates have been improving for the last twenty-five years and are now amongst the highest for any cancer. More than 2,600 people die from skin cancer each year in the UK. Most skin cancer deaths, more than 2,000 each year, are from malignant melanoma.

Skin Cancer Information

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.  The two most common types of skin cancer—basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas—are highly curable.  However, melanoma, the third most common skin cancer, is more dangerous, especially among young people.  Research shows that most skin cancers can be prevented if people are protected from UV light. 

Malignant melanomas are the least common but most serious type of skin cancer, with more than 10,400 new cases diagnosed in 2006.  In 2006 over 81,600 non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) were registered in the UK but registration is known to be incomplete.  Almost a third (31%) of all cases occur in people aged less than 50 years and in the age-group 15-34 malignant melanoma is the most common cancer (when NMSCs are excluded). 

This is an unusually young age distribution for an adult cancer and emphasises the importance of its prevention and early treatment to avert the potential loss of many years of life.  The Cancer Atlas of the UK and Ireland, which analysed rates at local authority and health board level, showed that male and female melanoma incidence rates have a very similar geographical distribution.  In the UK, the national skin cancer prevention programme, SunSmart, is run by Cancer Research UK and mainly funded by the UK Departments of Health.

What is Basal Cell Carcinoma skin cancer?

What is Basal Cell Carcinoma skin cancer?  The most common of skin cancer, Basal Cell Carcinoma skin cancer,is not as dangerous as other skin cancers, but it can still be extremely harmful, and is still considered by medical science as a malignant skin cancer.  This is because of the disfigurement and destruction the basal carcinoma skin cancer can cause. This form of skin cancer is the least deadly and with proper treatment can be completely eliminated, often without scarring. Basal Cell Carcinoma skin cancer symptoms
Basal cell carcinoma skin cancer symptoms are quite different than others. In one tumor, there may two or more symptoms may occur. Plus, basal cell carcinoma skin cancer symptoms sometimes resemble other non-cancerous skin conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema.
BCC skin cancer symptoms

It suggested to learn basal cell carcinoma skin cancer signs and examine your body regularly for at least one time in a month, also make sure you use full-body mirror and a hand-held mirror.
Skin cancer symptoms

These are basal cell carcinoma skin cancer symptoms and signs that often occur:

1. 80% basal cell carcinoma shows on the head and neck.
2. An early basal cell carcinoma skin cancer symptom is an open sore that bleeds, oozes or crusts, and remains open for three or more weeks.
3. The tumor looks like a raised, smooth, pearly bump. This tumor color is often pink, red or white. The bump can also be tan, black or brown, especially in dark-haired people, and can be confused with a mole. These skin cancer symptoms often occurs on the part of the body that exposed to the sun, such as: neck, head and shoulder. As the tumor grows, you may see small blood vessels within the tumor.
4. The tumor area fells irritated and reddish colored. This symptoms frequently occurring on the chest, shoulders, arms or legs. Crusting and bleeding in the center of the tumor frequently develops. It may also itch or hurt. At other times, this basal cell skin cancer symptom persists with no noticeable discomfort.
5. A scar-like area (white, yellow, or waxy in appearance) which often has poorly defined borders. The skin itself appears shiny or taut.

However, even if basal cell carcinoma symptoms show a less frequent signs, it can indicate the presence of an aggressive tumor.
Basal Cell Carcinoma skin cancer symptoms
Main Article: Skin Cancer Symptoms and Signs

Self Examination for Signs of Skin Cancer

It is very easy to give yourself an examination for signs of skin cancer. Develop a routine to regularly inspect your body for skin growth changes. If any growth, mole, sore or skin discoloration begins to change or suddenly appears, see your dermatologist. Remember, each of the skin cancers are treatable with early detection.
To help you know waht to look for, there is an easy reminder of what to look for in the exam. It is the ABCD’s and recently added E. The letters stand for:

Asymmetry - when one half of the growth has a different shape than the other.

Border irregular - when the growth has uneven edges

Color varied – the growth has more than one color. Melanomas may be black, shades of brown and tan, and even have specks of red, white, blue or/and black.

Diameter - a size, bigger than the diameter of a pencil eraser.

Enlargement - recently doctors haves have recognized the importance of moles that grow larger in predicting high-risk lesions. Thus they have now added E to the criteria.

Remember, with early detection, skin cancer is not only treatable, but also curable. I recently read an excellent ebook. "How I Survived Melanoma Skin Cancer - seven survivors tell their stories" It is written from the vantage point of 7 people diagnosed with Skin Cancer. I was impressed most not with the clinical information that you find on most websites, but with the emotional and mental attitude of these survivors. They share their stories on how they keep positive even at the lowest moments. It really is a good read. I read things that I hadn’t found anywhere else. A recommended read for dark nights.

For more information on Multiple Melanoma, please visit my site, Signs Of Skin Cancer and Other Information