easyjet travel insurance: Skin Cancer ? All You Need to Know About Non-Melanoma Skin ...

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Skin Cancer ? All You Need to Know About Non-Melanoma Skin ...

Article by Carol Ann

Melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer. However, it is the most dangerous of all. Despite this, the other types of non-melanoma skin cancer should not be ignored. Even though they are more common and more curable, they can be equally serious when they are left untreated.

There are two types of non-melanoma skin cancer. These are basal cell skin cancer and squamous cell skin cancer. They differ in terms of causes and symptoms. For this reason, each one of them should be looked into individually.

Basal cell skin cancer or basal cell skin carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer in general. An interesting fact to note is that it affects primarily people with fair skin. Individuals with dark skin are rarely affected.

Excessive exposure to the sun can get you this type of non-melanoma skin cancer. It is characterized by skin growths, formed from abnormal skin cells. These growths usually appear on the areas of the skin that are most exposed to the sun. These include the face, neck, chest, shoulders, back and head.

Basal cell skin cancer has a number of different symptoms. The most common warning sign is the appearance of small bump that has flesh color on the skin. The bump is smooth and its surface may resemble the surface of a pearl. Such bumps are characterized by having an indentation in the middle. They are easily noticeable. These bumps may crust and/or bleed. This is often a repetitive process that forms a cycle.

Other symptoms include the appearance of a lesion that closely resembles a skin scar. It is firm when you touch it. A red flat spot on the skin may also signal the condition. Such spots tend to bleed easily. A specific formation of tiny blood vessels forming red lines that look like spider nets is also a symptom of basal cell skin cancer.

These symptoms are easily observable. Additionally, the basal cell skin carcinoma is quite slow to spread. It is highly unlikely to spread to other organs and tissues. For this reason, most cases of this type of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed early.

The basal cell skin cancer treatment usually involves only surgery for the removal of the bump or lesion. Sometimes, topical chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy are applied, but this is rare. The percentage of completely cured patients is quite high, but the carcinoma may come back.

Squamous cell skin cancer (carcinoma) is the second most common type of skin cancer. It is characterized by the growth of abnormal skin cells. Much like basal cell skin carcinoma, this condition affects primarily light-skinned people. Those with darker complexion are less likely to suffer from this disease.

Excessive exposure to the sun is one of the main reasons for getting this type of non-melanoma skin cancer. Because of this, the areas of the skin that are usually affected are the ones with greatest exposure to the sun. These include the nose and ears, lips, and the lower lip in particular, the forehead and hands.

It is also possible for squamous cell carcinoma to appear in skin areas that have been burned and/or exposed to chemicals. It can develop on skin areas, which have been treated with radiation therapy as well.

This type of non-melanoma skin cancer has several noticeable symptoms. The most common one is the formation of a firm red bump on the skin. The growth or the formation of a skin patch that is scaly and bleeding is also a warning sign. It is not uncommon for such growths and patches to form a crust as well. A persistent sore that does not heal with time is also a symptom of this condition.

Squamous cell skin cancer grows quite quickly to form large masses. In turn, it tends to spread rapidly to nearby lymph nodes. For this reason, a timely visit to the doctor and a timely diagnosis are essential. The treatment involves the removal of the abnormal tumor growth with a surgery. In some cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are also used for treatment. The chances of curing are high, provided that the condition is detected at the early stages of development.

The best methods for prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer include avoiding exposure to the sun, using sunscreen with high SPF and having frequent self-exams.