Skin Cancer Symptoms

There are many types of skin cancers. The types of cancers depend upon the area affected and the severity of the disease. A skin cancer can damage any part of the body. The symptoms also differ from the type of cancer developed.

The three types of cancers are BCC, SCC and melanoma. The main symptoms of BCC are:

a. on the skin bumps develop in the form of a circle and the bumps are usually in the shape of a pear. If they swell then immediately visit should be made with the doctor. These bumps usually occur in the areas that are often exposed such as face, neck or shoulders.

b. When crusts develop on the lump, they may bleed and cause infection. If such symptoms are noticed they immediately visit the doctor because this bleeding can be the early cause of cancers.

The BCC and SCC develop in the similar form. Following are the symptoms of SCC.

a. the SCC develops in a form of patch in the skin at the initial stage. The size of the patches is usually form and appears on the face like a scale. It of course! Causes a lot of discomfort to the skin. They usually appear on those areas that are exposed to the radiations of sun most of the times.

b. Similarly like BCC they later on began to bleed and develop in the form of an ulcer. Most of the patients who develop it think that he has developed an ordinary swelling but he may not be aware that it may cause a major problem to him. But he must realize that it may lead him to cancer.

If these symptoms are neglected at an early stage then the large of these bumps obviously enlarge. Then these bumps develop cancerous cells within them.

If you develop melanoma then you notice the following symptoms:

a. in the initial stage you develop moles and when the moles develop they become cancerous. You must realize the onset of skin melanoma if you notice large moles in your adulthood or if you are feeling itchy or discomfort due to the presence of mole in the skin.

b. You must be able to identify moles. The moles are usually encircled by some peculiar elements. The color of the mole appears somewhat brown or red. You may notice lesions also.

There are many types of skin cancers as the skin is made up of many layers and each layer consists of many cells. The type of skin cancers depend upon the layer infected and the cells damaged. The skin is made up of three main layers and the three main layers consist of three main types of cells. The outer most layer is known as epidermis and it consists of three cells. The second layer is known as dermis layer and the inner most layer is known as subcutaneous layer. This innermost layer consists of fat and loose cells. When skin cancer is caused the layer that is most affected is the epidermal layer.

1. As you know there are three types of cancers ie. Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC, Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and Melanoma.

Basal cell carcinoma: the basal cells that are found in the epidermis are affected by the cancer. This cancer is mostly caused to people with fair skin. When this cancer develops the basal cells enlarged. This disease is mainly caused to people who are often exposed to sunlight. The cancer becomes malignatnt if not treated for a longer time. The cancerous cells spread due to the development.

SCC: The Squamous cells are the outermost lining cells of the epidermal layer. If these cells are affected they can affected the entire skin or the entire layer of epidermis. It should be treated at the right time or else the cells become malignant. these cells do not have the property of metastazing even if they are left untreated for a longer period but they may just spread to the nearby tissues.

Melanoma: it is the most hazardous type of cancer compared to the other types of cancers. In the lower area of the epidermal layer melanocytes are present. They are responsible for the secretion of pigment known as melanin when it is exposed to sunlight. This disease is so dangerous that it can spread to the inner organs also.

The treatment of skin cancer also depends upon the type of disease he is experiencing. There are many types of skin cancers. If a person is diagnosed with melanoma, then he must undergo very systematic form of treatment. Even the doctors should treat such patients so carefully that the cancer should not spread to the other cells. But a person who is undergo BCC or SCC can be treated with localized treatment.

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Skin Cancer - Types, Risks, Symptoms And Treatment

Obviously, the topmost layers of the skin are the first to be affected; the three major types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma (rodent ulcer), squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, all develop in the upper layer of the skin known as the epidermis. Basal cell carcinoma, the most frequent of the three, causes local erosions of tissue if neglected, while squamous cell carcinoma may spread if untreated. Fortunately, both these types can be successfully treated in nearly all cases. Squamous cell carcinoma sometimes occurs on the vulva in women after menopause and may be more difficult to deal with.

Melanoma, the least common of the three, occurs more frequently in sunny countries. Although a certain amount of sun on the skin is beneficial because it forms vitamin D, too much is dangerous. The danger has increased now that high levels of ultraviolet A radiation are reaching the earth's surface from the sun due to depletion of the ozone layer by flurocarbon chemicals from widespread use of spray cans. Melanomas are the most serious of the three skin cancers, once it starts to grow, it can spread rapidly. If detected and treated early enough, melanomas may be cured in about 75 per cent of cases.

The lighter your skin and eye colour, the more easily you will sunburn and the more likely you are to develop skin cancer. This likelihood increases with exposure to sunlight over both short periods - sunbathing on the beach to a point of, say, blistering - and long periods - pursuing an occupation, such as farming, in which many activities take place outdoors. Even moderate sunbathing after summer increases the odds that you will get skin cancer. The damage to the cells accumulates over time, so that people in their middle or later years are more likely to develop the disease.

The simplest way to avoid skin cancer is to reduce the exposure of you skin to the sun's cancer causing rays. Protect you skin by limiting your time in the sun and wear full clothing, those parts of the skin that are still exposed apply a good quality sunscreen to. The chemical composition of sunscreens block most of the sun's harmful rays.

Basal and squamous cell cancers have similar symptoms, while melanomas have their own special set of warning signs. What all skin cancers have in common, however, is change. That is what you should be on the lookout for. Basal and squamous cell cancers may start out small, rough patches of skin that are redder or paler that the surrounding skin. They can also start as tiny lumps or as small sores that bleed easily and seem to heal very slowly or not at all. If left untreated these tiny spots will soon grow and spread to surrounding tissue. Melanoma usually indicates its presence by altering the colour or appearance of a mole. Since melanoma involves cells that produce brown or black pigments, you should be aware of changes in dark spots or patches or moles and be on the lookout for new moles, moles that bleed, or any dark spot, new or old that changes colour, shape or size. Melanomas can be cured if treated in its early stage; those that go untreated may spread to other parts of the body, where they may attack vital organs.

Since skin cancer grows on the surface of the body, the first step in diagnosing them involves visual examination by a dermatologist. An experienced dermatologist can often determine whether a growth on the skin is or is not cancerous just by looking at it. If he suspects skin cancer he will remove a small sample and send it to a laboratory for examination under a microscope. There a pathologist will determine if the cells are skin cancer forming cells. If the samples reveal skin cancer, the dermatologist will remove the growth in one of a number of ways. Certain pre-cancerous skin problems may be treated by the application of a skin lotion containing anticancer drugs. In the case of basal or squamous cell cancer at an early stage, doctors remove the growth either surgically with a knife or by freezing it with liquid nitrogen. Melanomas, which are potentially more dangerous, are nearly always removed surgically together with surrounding tissue. Remember if the melanoma spreads to other parts of the body, other kinds of treatment such as chemotherapy - may be required. Radiotherapy, unfortunately, does not seem to be effective in treating melanoma. The key to treat this type of skin cancer is early detection.


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Finding a Skin Cancer Specialist Near You

Whether you have a mole or some other markings on your body that are unusual, you need to take the time to go to your primary care doctor to get it checked out. Your doctor may biopsy it, and depending on the results, may decide to send you to a skin cancer specialist. This may be a dermatologist. Before going to the specific specialist, you should make sure that your insurance covers the issue. Make sure that the doctor has a good reputation, and make sure that he or she has a history of good results.
If you are going through your primary care physician, then you should probably go with the doctor that he or she chooses. It will make things easier with insurance referrals, and you will likely get in quicker to be treated. If, after you go to see someone, you find that you cannot deal with him or her, then you should look for someone else that your insurance covers. You will want to decide this before deciding to have the specialist do any major procedures.
A good reputation is something else to take into consideration. Doctors' reputations often go before them, but you should still look up reviews in various places. You can find them online. You can also talk to your primary doctor about a few options when it comes to choosing a skin cancer specialist. He or she should be willing to tell you what options might be best for you. If you know others who have had an issue like yours, then you could also speak with them.
The results of a certain physician's procedures should also be considered. You could ask for before-and-after photos if your issue is one for which the doctor might have pictures. You could also ask for statistics concerning the procedure.
Melanoma is actually a very serious form of cancer, and it is important to have it addressed quickly so that it does not metastasize. This outer covering on your body is the largest organ that you have, and it is connected to every other part of your body. Taking care of it is important.
After considering the various areas and meeting with a skin cancer specialist that your doctor has suggested, you should have a good idea of the direction you would like to go. You will either choose to stay with the one to whom you were referred, or you might ask for a different referral. What is important in this situation is that you take care of things quickly.

When trying to find the right skin cancer specialist Augusta GA locals often decide to go with the referral of their primary care physician. For caring, experienced doctors, schedule a consultation with the following: http://www.harmoniemedical.com.

What is Cancer - Incidence, Diagnosis, Causation, Symptoms, Treatment and Prognosis

Cancer is second only to cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in the Western world. Although Cancer is primarily a disease of the elderly with more than 60% of deaths from cancer occurring in those over the age of 65, cancer can strike even the youngest of children.

Cancer appears to occur when the growth of cells in the body is out of control and cells divide too rapidly. Cancer can develop in almost any organ or tissue, such as the lung, colon, breast, skin, bones, or nerve tissue.

Most common sites are:

Prostrate 24%
Breast 13%
Lung 13%
Colon and Rectum 9%
Bladder 3%
Uterus 2.5%

The cause of Cancer is believed to be a combination of genetic factors and outside carcinogens such as tobacco, viruses, infection, asbestos, vinyl chloride, inappropriate diet.

Cancer often has no specific symptoms, so it is important that you limit your risk factors and undergo appropriate cancer screening. The signs and symptoms will depend on where the cancer is, the size of the cancer, and how much it affects the nearby organs or structures.

If a cancer spreads (metastasizes), then symptoms may appear in different parts of the body. As a cancer grows, it begins to push on nearby organs, blood vessels, and nerves. If the cancer is in a critical area, such as certain parts of the brain, even the smallest tumor can cause early symptoms.

But sometimes cancers start in places where it does not cause any symptoms until the cancer has grown quite large. Pancreatic cancers, for example, do not usually grow large enough to be felt from the outside of the body. By the time a pancreatic cancer causes these signs or symptoms, it has usually reached an advanced stage.

A cancer may also cause symptoms common to many other problems, such as; fever, fatigue and weight loss. This may be because the cancer uses up much of the body's energy or it may cause the release of substances which affect metabolism.

Some lung cancers make hormone-like substances that affect blood calcium levels, affecting nerves and muscles and causing weakness and dizziness.

It is important to know what some of the general (non-specific) signs and symptoms of cancer are, but remember that having any of these does not mean that you have cancer.

Most cancers can be treated and some cured, depending on the specific type, location, and stage. The earlier the cancer is found, the better the prognosis.

A good example of the importance of finding cancer early is melanoma skin cancer. Skin cancer can be easy to remove if it has not grown deep into the skin, and the 5-year survival rate (percentage of people living at least 5 years after diagnosis) at this stage is nearly 100%.

Screening for breast cancer with mammograms has been shown to reduce the average stage of diagnosis of breast cancer in a population. Colorectal cancer can be detected through fecal occult blood testing and colonoscopy, which reduces both colon cancer incidence and mortality, presumably through the detection and removal of pre-malignant polyps. Similarly, cervical cytology testing (using the Pap smear) leads to the identification and excision of precancerous lesions.

Testicular self-examination is recommended for men beginning at the age of 15 years to detect testicular cancer.

SIGNS and SYMPTOMS

Pain may be an early symptom with some cancers such as bone cancers or testicular cancer.

Long-term constipation, diarrhea, or a change in the size of the stool may be a sign of colon cancer.

Pain with urination, blood in the urine, or a change in bladder function (such as more frequent or less frequent urination) could be related to bladder or prostate cancer.

Skin cancers may bleed and look like sores that do not heal.

A long-lasting sore in the mouth could be an oral cancer and should be dealt with right away, especially in patients who smoke, chew tobacco, or frequently drink alcohol.

Sores on the penis or vagina may either be signs of infection or an early cancer, and should not be overlooked.

Unusual bleeding can happen in either early or advanced cancer.

Blood in the sputum (phlegm) may be a sign of lung cancer.

Blood in the stool (or a dark or black stool) could be a sign of colon or rectal cancer.

Blood in the urine may be a sign of bladder or kidney cancer.

A bloody discharge from the nipple may be a sign of breast cancer.

Many cancers can be felt through the skin, mostly in the breast, testicle, lymph nodes (glands), and the soft tissues of the body. A lump or thickening may be an early or late sign of cancer.

While they commonly have other causes, indigestion or swallowing problems may be a sign of cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or pharynx (throat).

A cough that does not go away may be a sign of lung cancer.

A cancer may be suspected for a variety of reasons, but the definitive diagnosis of most malignancies must be confirmed by histological examination of the cancerous cells by a pathologist.

TREATMENT

Once diagnosed, cancer is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Radiation therapy may be used to treat almost every type of solid tumor, including cancers of the brain, breast, cervix, larynx, lung, pancreas, prostate, skin, stomach, uterus, or soft tissue sarcomas.

Most forms of chemotherapy target all rapidly dividing cells and are not specific for cancer cells, although some degree of specificity may come from the inability of many cancer cells to repair DNA damage, while normal cells generally can.

Contemporary methods for generating an immune response against tumours include intravesical BCG immunotherapy for superficial bladder cancer, and use of interferons and other cytokines to induce an immune response in renal cell carcinoma and melanoma patients.

Pain medication, such as morphine and oxycodone, and anti-emetics, drugs to suppress nausea and vomiting, are very commonly used in patients with cancer-related symptoms. transmission and disease.

Advances in cancer research have made a vaccine designed to prevent cancer available. The vaccine protects against four HPV types, which together cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts.

The consensus on diet and cancer is that obesity increases the risk of developing cancer. The cancer-fighting components of food are also proving to be more numerous and varied than previously understood, so patients are increasingly being advised to consume fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables for maximal health benefits.

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Why Every Doctor Recommends You Learn the Signs of Skin Cancer

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 signs of 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.

One of the easiest ways to remember the signs of melanoma is through the ABC's of skin cancer. A mole needs to have an Appearance that does not change rapidly. If you have a mole that suddenly grows larger or is raised from the surface of the skin, get it checked out. If the mole is benign, it will normally have Borders which are even and regular. A mole with jagged edges is also one that needs to be evaluated by a professional. The Color of a mole should be normal as well. Moles are usually a shade of brown and any other color should at least be looked at before it is dismissed as being nothing to worry about.

Do you know someone who has been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. It is interesting that while basal cell cancers are the most common, most people do not know what they look like or how common they are. They can look like a number of things including a wart, a raised sore with a sunken, weeping middle or an open wound that will scab over but will not heal permanently. The good news is that through the use of surgery and other treatments it is possible to recover quite well from basal cell carcinoma since they do not tend to spread. The bad news is that they can be quite disfiguring and often form on the face or other visible areas of the body.

The other most common form of skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. Like basal cell carcinoma, these also often look like pimples, raised lumps or scars. They also tend to be slower growing and not as likely to spread as a melanoma is. However, with any potential skin cancers it is important to get diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.

You can expect that if you visit your doctor with a suspected skin cancer, they will inspect the area and test to make sure that it is not cancerous. This usually means taking a sample of the tissue to biopsy it. Once the test results have come back, treatment will begin. The kind of treatment can vary between people and cancers so you can see why an accurate and early diagnosis is as important as possible.

The kind of treatment can vary between people and cancers so you can see why an accurate and early diagnosis is as important as possible. It can mean the difference between survival and death and nobody wants to think they could have saved their life if they had taken the time to get in to see their doctor. Taking the time to learn how to recognize and diagnose possible skin cancers can be the best skill you have learned yet.

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Top 5 Foods That Can Make Your Facial Skin Care Routine More Effective

Facial care is as important as how we take good care of our whole body. Your face is what you primary use in presenting yourself. It is openly done and sometimes causes others to judge you. This affects your self confidence and self respect. Just as how everyone wants to be treated nice and fair, we should also consider making our facial care better.

With the numerous products that you can use, proper care also comes with the food you eat. Below are the top five foods that can assist in making your facial skin care more effective.

o Water hydrates the whole body. The body, which is mainly composed of water needs ample amount of water in keeping it well. Cells need to be hydrated, too, to help you keep your skin look healthy. At least eight glasses a day is needed. Energetic people need more than this amount to supplant the fluid they excrete. Washing the face with water also freshens and cleans the pores. Use ample amount of water in washing away remnants of cleansers used.

o Salmon is rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6, the fatty acids that are heart-friendly. These are also great in fighting eczema, and dry patches, helping the skin maintain a natural youthful glow. Fatty acids as well as antioxidants are key in facial skin care.

o Wheat Germ is packed with B vitamins, vitamin E, and Selenium. B vitamins help cells in their process of regeneration, and have the ability to resist blemishes. Vitamin E, plus Selenium, fights premature aging. This combination also reduces risks of skin cancer and energizes your facial skin care routine.

o Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins A and C are natural antioxidants. Vitamin C helps in collagen production, which improves the color and texture of the skin. Sweet potatoes and carrots are both rich in carotene, which is turned in vitamin A inside the body. It helps minimize wrinkles and fine lines, and fights radicals that can cause cancer.

o Blueberries are antioxidants that fight certain cancers. They contain phytochemicals that gives this fruit its great ability. Our everyday life exposes us to smoke and toxins, blueberries can help us deter the effects of these, which leads to the natural way of protecting our skin.

Our facial skin care routine may be good enough. The above mentioned foods can help you make it more effective. These foods all help protect the skin. They also help in making the skin smooth and youthful, yet strong enough to counter harmful factors from the environment we get to face every single day. These factors or radicals can make our facial care useless.

Knowledge about healthy foods will be of great assistance in facial care. While it doesn't have to be so tedious, being aware and careful are two keys in making our facial skin care more effective. After all, it doesn't do us any harm in wanting to have healthy looking skin, and also, with these foods, we are giving our whole body the vitamins it needs the natural way. These natural methods are best in keeping ourselves healthy.

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Men's Skin Cancer is on the Rise!

Men's skin cancer rates are on the rise here in the United States. In 1970 the death rate for men due to skin cancer was 4.5 per 100,000. In a recent study the death rate has soared to 15.2 deaths per 100,000 men. That is quite a scary number if you ask me. That number does not include men that have survived skin cancer.

Why have men's death rates from skin cancer risen by almost 400% in the last 40 years? There is really not any one definitive answer to that. Many factors can play a part in anyone dying from skin cancer. Genetics, how soon the cancer is discovered, quality of health care and family history are just a few.

I feel that a rise in sunbathing and men striving for than golden skin tone is a huge factor that has increased skin cancer rates in men over the past 40 years. During the 1970's the culture on skin tone took a turn towards finding a golden tan more and more appealing. This prompted men every where to focus more on tanning and striving for that perfect skin tone. However, sunscreens and sunblocks are not as advanced as they are today (Think white goop coating people noses) and many men didn't even bother to use them at all. More men opted to just lay out in the sun with no UVA or UVB protection at all. Most opted for baby oil which only intensifies the suns damaging rays.

Another reason that more men die from skin cancer than women is due to the fact that we are generally in the sun more than our female counterparts. From mowing the lawn, cleaning the pool, playing basketball to watching a baseball game, us men spend a lot of time in the sun.

So what can you do to limit your chances of getting skin cancer? First off, the best choice is to limit your exposure to the sun as much as possible. If your not in the sun, then the sun cannot inflict its damaging rays onto your skin. I know that not going in the sun at all is simply not an option for 99.9% of men out there. This leads me to the second best option for reducing your chances of getting skin cancer, wear sunscreen or sun block.

Most high quality men's sun products offer broad spectrum protection from the sun. This means that they offer protection for both UVA and UVB rays. If you are wondering what the difference between the two are I have written an article called The Difference Between UVA and UVB Rays.

It is extremely important to wear a powerful sunscreen whenever you are going to be in the sun for long periods of time. Outdoor events, Concerts, a day of yard work or a picnic are a few examples. We carry two wonderful full spectrum sunscreens from Jack Black, Jack Black Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 30 and Jack Black Performance Remedy Sun Guard Sunscreen SPF 45. Both of these products are perfect for applying to your whole body whenever your skin is going to be exposed to the sun for any length of time.

The next line of products that we carry for sun protection are face moisturizers with SPF infused into them. What is great about these facial moisturizers is that they are easily applied in the morning after your morning routine. They add moisture to your face as well as all day protection from the sun. The main benefit from using an SPF infused facial moisturizer is that by using them daily, you are protecting your face from the suns aging damage. This might not be noticeable at first, but over the years you will notice that as your friends start to show signs of aging, your skin will still look young and healthy. Your friends will start to ask you how you stay looking so young. You will simply tell them that you apply a face moisturizer every morning that has SPF in it. So simple.

So give your face and skin a fighting chance and use some kind of product that contains full spectrum UVA and UVB protection from the skin. In 20, 30, 40 or 50 years you will thank me. A small investment in your skin today can save you money in hospital stays and can even save your life. We know that you're a tough guy, but cancer is pretty tough too and we are pretty sure that you don't want to go toe to toe with skin cancer.

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A Brief View About Skin Cancer Symptoms

Skin cancer is one of the most malignant cancers. Thousands of people are affected by this disease all over the world. It is a malignant neoplasm of the skin and if it is left unattended it could prove to be fatal. It is noticed that the people who spend a great time under the sun are at great risk of skin cancer. Generally two types of skin cancer are categorized by the doctors, melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma is very rare and it is also very difficult to sure. However, the second type of cancer is curable if attended at right time.

Skin cancer symptoms can be very easily detected. But it is always advised to be checked by a reputed dermatologist regularly to find out the symptoms. There are some symptoms and indicators that people could notice easily. It is very important to detect these symptoms before cancer spreads throughout the body.

The early symptom of this type of cancer is growing of moles. To detect the early symptoms of skin cancer people should check out the moles of their body regularly. Generally during this type of cancer a normal mole grows larger. If you find out any change in the size of your mole you should rush to a dermatologist for a checkup. Sometimes it has been seen that the normal removal of that particular mole can prevent any further problems.

Any changes in the skin can be a symptom of cancer. One of the most common skin cancer symptoms is a sore or growth in the skin that does not heal easily. Sometimes it is manifested in the form of lumps. Normally these lumps are smooth, shiny and reddish in color. Sometimes a rough or scaly, flat red spot in the skin can be a symptom of cancer. It is advised that if you ever find out these types of changes in your skin, you should visit the doctor without spending time.

At the same time it is also important to keep in mind that not all kinds of disorders in your skin are a symptom of cancer. So don't be panicked about it. The best way is to visit a dermatologist regularly for safety reason. You are also advised to contact a reputed medical practitioner for confirmed diagnosis.

Several types of skin cancer are there. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of it. It appears as a sore or a waxy red bump on the skin. Another form is Squamous cell carcinoma. It also looks like red patch or lumps on the skin. Both of these types of cancer grow slowly but it affects the tissues very rapidly.

A recent statistic shows that around 65,000 people worldwide dies due to skin cancer in a single year. The most horrible is that the number is increasing regularly. It is not like that this disease is not treatable but the awareness among the people about this disease is very low. The study also reveals the fact that light skin toned people have high risk of acquiring cancer in skin but in some cases dark-skinned people are also likely to acquire it.

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Basal Cell Carcinoma - Skin Cancer and Nose Cancer

Authors Note: Last year I met two ladies a week apart who told me a story of their "nose cancer". They thought they had a small pimple, it was a tiny little bump that was there and wouldn't go away, they tried to pick it off and the little bump grew quickly which prompted them to seek medical attention immediately. They were completely surprised to discover it was cancer, although treatable, scary nonetheless. Now, 8 months later I hear of another case of basal cell carcinoma of the nose and am completely curious - something I have never heard of and suddenly 3 cases in less than a year.

Why?
Why now?
What is it? What causes it? I had to know more.

What is it?

Basal cell carcinoma is a slow growing cancer which is nonmelanoma and makes up 75% of all skin cancers.

What causes it?

There are many factors which can attribute to basal cell carcinoma. It starts in the top layer of the skin (epidermis) and can spread to surrounding areas and lower skin layers and/or nerves and bone if left untreated.

Some risk factors:

    Fair Skin
    Blue or Green Eyes
    Red or Blonde hair
    Sunburn history, especially @ young age
    Lots of exposure to the sun or UV rays
    Exposure to Xrays and/or radiation
    Personal and/or family history of skin cancer
    Many moles & abnormal skin liaisons which can turn cancerous
    Weak Immune System
    Sensitive/Damaged Skin: burned, radiation, certain eczema & psoriasis creams can also damage skin and make it more susceptible to skin cancer
    Environmental exposures: herbicides and arsenic exposure
    Age: due to the slow growth of basal cell carcinoma, it is most often noticed around 40 - 50 years of age, but that number is begin to lower

What are the Symptoms?

    Pearly or waxy skin spot
    White or light pink spot of skin
    Brown or flesh colored spot of skin
    Skin sore that easily bleeds
    Sore(s) that do not heal
    Sore(s) that have oozing or crusting in them
    Appearance of scar although you never injured that spot
    Irregular blood vessels around area
    Any sore with a sunken middle

What are the Treatments?

    Surgery (including Mohs surgery)
    Cryosurgery (freezing of skin cells)
    Cream to treat superficial cells
    Radiation if cancer has spread to organs/lymph nodes

How to prevent it?

    Avoid the sun during peak times of day 10am - 4pm
    Wear Sunscreen & apply often
    Wear protective clothing
    Stay away from tanning beds & tanning accelerators
    Pay attention to any skin sensitizing creams or drugs - some medications will warn you to stay out of the sun during your treatment: head the warning
    Monitor your skin and note any changes - follow up with doctor if unsure. While no one wants to be diagnosed with any form of cancer, the sooner detected the better success rate of overcoming it.

Arsenic as a factor?

Did you know we are exposed to minute quantities of arsenic every day? Forming naturally in the environment and being placed there as well, we know arsenic is hazardous to our health in large quantities but very little consideration and protection is given to shielding us from the minute quantities that can be building up in our systems.

Monosodium Methanearsonate (MSMA ) is an arsenic-based pesticide and was used back in 2001 as a pesticide to kill of the pine beetle infestation in British Columbia. What was thought to be 80% effective in killing them off turned out to only be 60% effective and the other effect was the increased mortality rates of woodpeckers and other wildlife who were exposed to arsenic.

Arsenic is known to cause basal cell carcinoma and can be found in drinking waters, chicken, beef, fish, wine and near smelting plants. "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that the average American ingests 11 to 14 milligrams of arsenic every day." [i]

Basal cell carcinoma on the rise?

With a stronger sun and more environmental toxins to contend with, it would be assumed this type of cancer (and others) would be on the rise - so is it?

    "One in five people will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The disease is also on the rise, especially in young adults. Melanoma, the most dangerous form of cancer, has increased in people between 25-29." [ii]

Learn the risk factors - protect your skin - observe any abnormalities and seek medical assistance immediately if you suspect basal cell carcinoma.

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Information About Skin Cancer

Cancer that is formed in the tissues of the skin is known as Skin Cancer. It is one of the most common kinds of cancer that affects men and women. This cancer affects about a million people every year and there are many factors that cause this including excessive sun exposure, tanning, weak immune systems, etc. Read on to get a complete awareness of this most common form of cancer and on steps to prevent it.

How is skin cancer caused?

When the skin cells modify and multiply in an abnormal fashion, the uncontrollable growth causes the development of a mass known as a tumor. This tumor that occurs in the skin is also known as a lesion and these cancerous growths are malignant in nature which causes the destruction of adjacent cells leading to random growth. These tumors flow through the blood stream and affect other remote organs also during the advanced stages of skin cancer.

Types of skin cancer

Skin cancer is divided into two kinds depending on their ability to spread around. The two types of skin cancer are non-melanoma and melanoma. Non-melanoma includes the type basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in it.

1. Melanoma - The cancer that affects the melanocytes or the skin cells that create the pigments.
2. Basal cell carcinoma - The cancer that affects the lower part of the epidermis or the outer layer of the skin.
3. Squamous cell carcinoma - The cancer that affects the squamous cells or the flat cells that form the skin surface.

Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma normally do not spread to other parts of the body whereas melanoma is a dangerous form of skin cancer which spreads to other parts of the body. The major ratio and the most common type of skin cancer are the carcinoma types with the aggressive melanoma forming the least portion.

Symptoms of Skin Cancer

The symptoms of skin cancer are skin changes which take time to heal along with ulcers. Sometimes skin discoloration and changes to moles on the skin can also been seen. The most common symptom is a small lump that is shiny and pale in color or a firm red lump. Some types of cancer also are associated with rough and scaly patches or flat scaly patches of red or brown color. Also beware of any new suspicious growth and consult a physician in such cases. Though these growths are most of the times painless, they can also be painful at times.

A smooth round bump is normally developed on the head, shoulder or neck with signs of crusting and bleeding with development of the tumor in cases of basal cell carcinoma. In squamous cell carcinoma, a thick red color patch along with ulcer and bleeding can be developed. Brown or blackish lesions are formed in cases of melanomas. The lesion exhibits change in size, color or shape as a symptom of the melanoma becoming malignant.

Diagnosis of Skin Cancer

This cancer is diagnosed by the physician in two main methods. The first and the most common method is the skin examination. In this method the doctor looks out for any abnormal growth or irregularity in the skin. This can be followed by a biopsy in case of finding any abnormal growth. In case of biopsy, the affected area or abnormal growth is well studied under a microscope to check for the presence of cancerous cells.

Treatment of Skin Cancer

Surgery is one effective method for the treatment of non-melanoma cancer types. The complete procedure of surgical treatment begins with surgery and includes follow-up methods of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In the surgical methods, the lesion and a calculated amount of tissues around it is removed so as to make the body tumor free. The Moh's micrographic surgery is one effective technique that is used for this process.

Prevention of Skin cancer

Early diagnosis and detection can help treat skin cancer before it turns dangerous and hence self evaluation of your skin on a regular basis is a must on a frequent basis. Look for any kind of abnormal changes, discoloration or growth in your skin. You can also undertake a doctor visit once a year to detect any signs or symptoms of cancer. In certain cases of high-risk situations, you can consult a skin specialist on a regular basis to screen for this cancer.

Skin cancer can be prevented by adopting a few basic tips which can be very useful in your daily life.

1. Use Sunscreens - 90% of the skin cancers are known to be caused by harmful UV radiations and sunscreens are the best protector when you are someone who spends a lot of time outdoors. UV rays damage our cell DNA structure and modify them making them cancerous. Minimize outings during the time when the sun is at its brightest. Also try to maintain your presence within the shade where ever possible. But even if you are in a shade, remember to wear your sunscreen,
2. Avoid excessive tanning - Artificial lights as in tanning beds, lamps and booths, all contain UV rays and increase the chances of melanoma.
3. Wear protective dressings - Though sunscreens do protect, you can consider wearing protective dressings like a hat or sunglasses, which can protect your eyes and facial skin from the sun.
4. Avoid childhood sunburns - Most of the times, a burn during your childhood can increase your risk of being affected with skin cancer along the years as you grow. Thus it is required that you monitor kids when they are in the sun reducing their exposure.
5. Eat healthy - A weak immune system is a ready agent for skin cancer. Make sure that you include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables so as to improve your body's immunity power.

People who run a higher risk of Skin cancer

Though many people are equally exposed to the chances of this cancer, there are a few who run a higher risk. Individuals with a family medical history of skin cancer or those who possess fair skin tone and freckles run a higher risk. Also people who are addictive to tanning and spend a lot of hours outdoors in the sun along with a weak immune system also possess equal risks of getting this cancer.

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