Those were the days when cancer was a disease that was considered rare. Today, we can see an alarming rate of people who are being affected by the same. One of the most common types of cancer found these days is skin cancer. People who are not taking care of themselves and are not sun-safe are considered the most common skin cancer causes. One thing that helps us feel relaxed is that skin cancer can be diagnosed earlier or on time, it can be treated and even cured.
What is skin cancer?
When there is an uncontrolled growth of cells in the tissues of the skin, then it is considered skin cancer. This formed tumor is malignant and affects the other remote organs when flowing through the bloodstream. That is why it is important to treat skin cancer immediately when diagnosed.
What are the main causes of skin cancer?
Exposure to Sun – Overexposure to the Ultra Violet rays of the sun increases the chances of getting affected by skin cancer in the long run.
White Skin – People with less melanin pigment are prone to this cancer when compared to the darker-skinned tones.
Exposure to a carcinogen – Too much exposure to certain chemicals like nicotine, tar, and arsenic are found as the skin cancer causes.
Family History – Genetic reasons and family history can also be the reason behind the occurrence of skin cancer. If someone from your family is affected with skin cancer then there is a high chance of getting the disease.
Types of cancer
There are three types of skin cancers:
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC): This type of cancer arises from basal cells, which are present in the deepest layers of the epidermis. This is the most common type of skin cancer and many people affect by this frequently when compared to the other types. It appears as a patch of skin, which is red and irritated. Sometimes it could also be in form of a bump or sore, that does not heal. Areas like the scalp, ears, face, etc, or the parts that are constantly exposed to too much sunlight are usually affected by BCC. If the condition is diagnosed in time, then curing it is possible.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) – This type of cancer affects the squamous cells in the epidermis. It appears as skin crusting or scaling, the affected area could become red and burned. There could also be bumps that cannot heal. This condition is also due to overexposure to sunlight. One of the scary things is it affects any part of the body and spreads faster to other organs, so it is a must to treat the disease earlier to stop spreading.
Melanoma – This is the most dangerous type that affects the pigments of the skin. It spreads rapidly and could lead to death. There is less chance to treat this disease through minor surgeries before it gets spread to the other parts of the body.
How it is treated?
In considering your age, general health, type of cancer, size of cancer, and where it is on your body, the treatment choice will depend. Most commonly followed treatment methods include:
- Surgery
- Scraping
- Freezing
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
Prevention of skin cancer
While skin cancer is treatable, the best treatment of all is prevention. Following are some of the healthy lifestyle significantly reduces the chances of developing skin cancer.
- Avoiding excessive exposure to sunlight
- Covering up the skin when going out in heavy summer.
- Applying good quality sun creams.
- Using protective gloves when handling dangerous chemicals.
Following the above tips can protect yourself and your family from any types of skin cancer.