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Three Types Of Skin Cancer - Characteristics And Treatment |
By:
Adrian Fletcher |
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Three Types of Skin Cancer - Characteristics And Treatment
Adrian Fletcher
If you are prone to sun burn and work in the sun a lot then it makes sense to get you skin checked out at least once a year by a professional. Skin cancer screening is a process where your skin is examined for any blemishes, marks or bumps that may be cancerous. It can identify potential problems early on and thus increase the chances of treating the disease effectively and without fuss. However, you should also examine your skin from time to time for any changes. In order to do this successfully you need to know a bit about skin cancer. This article will list the three types of skin cancer and their typical signs and treatment.
There are three types of skin cancer. The most common forms of the disease are the first two mentioned in the article. They are generally straightforward to treat because they do not spread or are localized to one area of the skin. However, it is still important to identify them early and get treatment of they could lead to more serious problems.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
The most common form of the three types of skin cancer is known as basal cell carcinoma. Typical signs of basal cell carcinoma are a waxy bump that appears on the face or neck. Other signs are brown or flesh colored marks that may look like an old scar. They can appear anywhere on the body but are more common on the back or chest.
Treatment of basal cell carcinoma is relatively straightforward as the carcinoma rarely spreads to other parts of the body. Treatment involves removing the bump or blemish. This is normally done by cutting it out or freezing it. This is a simple process that can be done in the doctors surgery in about thirty minutes depending on the size and number of carcinoma.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is similar to basal cell carcinoma and has the same methods for treatment. However it is more liable to spread than the other type and therefore needs to be treated immediately it is diagnosed.
A Squamous cell carcinoma is typically noticeable as a red bump or nodule. It can appear on the face, neck, or arms. On some occasions it will occur on the ears or lips. The nodule will be hard to the touch. As it develops it may become scaly or have flaky skin on the surface. It will continue to develop to become a crusty lesion where the nodule used to be. It is usually treated by cutting or freezing.
Melanoma
Melanoma is the most serious of the three types of skin cancer. If it is left untreated it may spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes. This will increase the chances of it spreading throughout the body including vital organs. This will ultimately prove to be fatal unless treatment is started. Diagnosing melanoma early is the best chance of treating it successfully thus it is important that you get screened by a professional from time to time. Mention any lumps or unusual skin conditions that you may have noticed during self examination and let the professional examine them.
Being aware of the three types of skin cancer is important during self examination and can help alert you to any potential problems. However, when it comes to any disease, prevention is much better outcome than needing to treat it. Prevention of skin cancer involves covering up in the sun and avoiding exposure to other forms of ultra-violet radiation.
Get more information on the signs and http://symptomsofskincancer.net/) symptoms of skin cancer at http://symptomsofskincancer.net/ http://symptomsofskincancer.net. The site covers skin cancer of the nose and sun creams to use.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article73871.html |
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