Skin Cancer

According to Eco Health 101, the definition for skin cancer is, “A harmful, malignant growth on the skin, which can have many causes, including repeated severe sunburns or long-term exposure to the sun.” The number of skin cancer cases has increased in the United States. Every year there is more than about one million cases of either basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. In 2002, 44,582 people got malignant melanoma and 7,513 men and women died from it. There is about a 3% increase in the people who get this disease every year, and it is also the most common cancer among people 25-29 years of age. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma are the three major types of skin cancer and if left untreated, can cause major damage and disfiguration. These cancers have a 90% cure rate though and if you detect the cancer early enough it’s almost always curable. If a person detects it a while after it first occurred then it’s more likely to spread to other organs and can lead to death. The main cause of skin cancer is the over exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. These rays also cause lip cancer. Tanning beds and sun lamps are like having the sun’s UV rays a couple inches away from you. Despite the risk of skin cancer thousand of Americans do not protect themselves.

There are many types of skin cancer. The most serious form of skin cancer is melanoma. It is a malignant tumor that originates in the cells that produce the pigment melanin, the thing that colors the skin, hair, eyes and is in moles. The moles are usually mostly black or brown. If the melanoma stops producing pigments, the color goes from blackish/brown to a pink, red or purple. There is superficial spreading melanoma which is when the disease travels along the top layer of the skin. The second type is lentigo maligna. It is like the superficial type remaining close to the skin and appearing as a flat tan, brown discoloration of the skin. The third type of melanoma is acral lentiginous melanoma. This form is on the top layer of the skin but also a black or brown discoloration under the nails or on the soles of feet or even palms of hands. The best type is nodular melanoma. This kind becomes a black bump but can also be blue, gray, white, brown, tan, red or skin tone.

The most common skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. This cancer occurs in the basal cells. These cells are at the bottom of the outer skin later. This type forms with a lot of exposure to the sun. Also, complications of burns, scars, vaccinations and also tattoos can contribute to this basal cell carcinoma. There are five early signs of this so you know to stop doing what you are doing before your cancer gets worse. The first sign is an open sore. This sore will not heal and remains open for three or more weeks. The second sign is a reddish patch. People get this patch on their chest, shoulders, arms or legs. This patch crusts, itches and hurts. The next sign is a shiny bump. It is often pink, red or white. It can also be confused as a mole. The fourth sign is a pink growth with a rolled border and crusty indentation in the center of it. As this growth gets bigger, tiny blood vessels develop on the surface of the skin. The last sign is a scar-like area. It is usually white, yellow or waxy looking. You cannot see the borders on this scar but it is a warning sign that can indicate the presence of an aggressive tumor.

The second most common skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma is squamous cell carcinoma. It resembles the squamous cells that make up most of the upper layer of the skin, and affects 200,000 Americans each year. If not treated this cancer can also cause disfiguration and spread to tissues and organs and can become fatal. Chronic exposure to sunlight causes most cases of squamous cell carcinoma. This is the reason why the face, neck, bald scalp, hands, shoulders, arms, and back appear most frequently burned. The cancer also forms from different types of injuries like burns, scars, sores and skin that was exposed to x-rays or certain chemicals. Studies have led researchers to believe this disease can be inherited but it is not yet proven. The people who get it are usually people with a history of skin problems or cancers. The fair skinned, blue, green, or gray eyed people are the ones at highest risk. Dark skinned people like people from African descent are way less likely to get this cancer compared to light or fair skinned people. Before the cancer occurs, there are some precancerous conditions for you to know so you can do something about it before it is too late. Some precautions are, actinic keratosis, which are scaly, rough growths on your skin. Another precaution is leukoplakia. These are white patches on the tongue or mouth having potential to cause squamous cell. There are also many warning signs. Some of these warning signs are, a wart