Subject:
|
What is Skin Cancer and Who is Most at Risk?
|
Newsgroups:
|
lugnet.publish
|
Date:
|
Tue, 25 May 2010 12:54:04 GMT
|
Viewed:
|
15103 times
|
| |
|
|
What is Skin Cancer and Who is Most at Risk?
If you have read a newspaper or listened to the news over the last few years,
then you will know that there are always constant warnings telling us to protect
our skin against skin cancer. Whilst many people do listen to these warnings,
there are still a shocking amount of people who still ignore them.
If you are one of those people that do ignore the warnings you are likely to be
thinking that there is no chance of you getting the cancer and that there is no
harm in missing an application or two of sun tan lotion. After all, skin cancer
takes ages to develop doesn’t it?
Skin Cancer and its Various Forms
Skin cancer is not as rare as some people
reckon that it is. Whilst it is right that staying in the sun unprotected for a
small amount of time, rarely leads to skin cancer, it still can occur. There are
different forms of skin cancer, though some are extremely rare. The three most
common types of skin cancer include:
Melanoma
This is less common than the other two types of skin cancer, though it can be a
lot more serious. It develops from the melanocytes in the skin and is usually
seen as a pigmented lesion with an irregular shape in the skin. This is
certainly the most potentially harmful cancer as it can spread to various
different areas within the body. If treated early, the excellent news is that
this type of cancer has a very high cure rate, so get to the doctors as soon as
possible for your best chance of recovery!
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This is usually seen within any part of the body which is exposed to excessive
sun. Often occurring in the hands, lower lip, and the forehead, this type of
cancer appears as a red bump or an ulceration of the skin which does not heal.
The cancer if left untreated can spread to lymph nodes within the affected area.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma is by far the most common type of cancer you are likely to
get and it usually appears as a small bump which has a pearly colored
appearance. Usually the cancer is found on areas of the body which have had
excessive sun exposure. This type of skin cancer does not usually spread to
other parts of the body, and will only spread to the skin around the actual
cancer.
Overall, Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common skin cancer but it is not the
most serious. Usually people with honest skin are more at risk than others of
contracting the cancer, especially people with freckles. Obviously, the longer
you expose your skin to the sun without sufficient protection, the more at risk
you are of developing skin cancer.
How to Prevent Yourself from Getting Skin Cancer and the Treatments Available
It is really simple to protect yourself against skin cancer, so really there is
no excuse for not preventing it. Using an adequate amount of sun protection
lotion is a must, and unfortunately many people simply do not bother with it.
There seems to be some confusion between how much you should use and what
protection factor you should go for. Generally, children and people with honest
skin need to be using a higher protection factor than other people. People with
darker skin do not tend to get skin cancer as often as people with lighter skin
so they do not need a high factor sun lotion.
Sunbeds are also a cause of skin cancer, though cases are rare. So if you do use
a sunbed, it is vital that you limit your use of it, and contact your doctor to
see how often they recommend you should use it.
When out in the sun do not forget to protect your face too. Applying lotion to
the ears, nose and neck will help to protect those sensitive areas from the sun.
If you do notice any changes in your skin such as moles, lesions or sores which
do not heal, it is always better to consult your doctor immediately. If caught
early, most skin cancer can be cured. There are various forms of treatment for
skin cancer including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The treatment
which you will receive depends upon your age, health and the size of the cancer.
But, surgery is the most common form of treatment and it is usually done as an
outpatient procedure.
|
|
Message has 1 Reply:
2 Messages in This Thread:
  
- Entire Thread on One Page:
- Nested:
All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:
All | Brief | Compact
|
|
|
|
