Skin is a multi-layered organ, which is the first line of defence in a human body that is exposed to the various physical and chemical environments.
However, several types of skin cancer can affect an individual due to a number of reasons that might not be limited to only sunlight exposure. Therefore, we present this article on skin cancer, discussing everything one should know about the types, causes, treatment and symptoms of skin cancer.
Without any delay, let's know more!
Skin cancer is by far the commonest form of cancer that can be treated if detected early. Generally, skin cancers are locally destructive cancerous growth of epidermal cells. However, depending on their types and stages, certain skin cancers can metastasise, i.e., they can spread to other parts of the body and become life-threatening.
Furthermore, depending on skin cancer types, its symptoms vary. An early prognosis of the ailment will leave scope for its treatment. Therefore, let's learn about the types of skin cancer in the following section.
Broadly speaking, there are two categories of skin cancer:
Including basal and squamous cells, these are the common forms of skin cancer which is treatable if diagnosed early. These develop on the body parts which receive maximum sunlight, like the head and neck. On the other hand, squamous cell carcinoma is most common in immunosuppressed individuals and possesses the chance of a distant spread.
As a simple answer to the question "what is melanoma" it can be said that this type of cancer can become life-threatening, as it metastasises more than the basal and squamous cell carcinoma. Melanoma originates from melanocytes or the cells that produce colour for the skin. Sometimes benign moles developing from melanocytes on the back and chest of a man and a woman's legs can become cancerous.
Apart from this, there are other types of skin cancer like:
However, skin cancer symptoms vary depending on its types. Therefore, it is vital to know everything about skin cancer signs.
Here are the symptoms of Basal Cell Carcinoma:
Symptoms of Squamous Cell Carcinoma:
Signs of Melanoma:
Apart from this, the signs of rare skin cancers include:
After knowing about the symptoms of skin cancer, it is vital to learn about its causes.
However, there are certain types of cancers like melanoma, whose causes are not yet clear. Most of the skin moles do not turn into melanoma. Further, exposure to UV rays can also be one of the causes of melanoma. But at times, melanomas develop in certain body parts which are not exposed to sunlight.
Therefore, after knowing the causes of this disease and its types, it is important to focus on the stages of cancer.
Detecting the stage of particular skin cancer helps in its treatment and helps understand the severity of the disease. For instance, early-stage skin cancer is treatable and does not pose much threat. A doctor determines the stage of skin cancer considering the following factors:
Considering these, there are two categories of skin cancers for staging: nonmelanoma and melanoma.
The nonmelanoma skin cancer stages include:
Apart from this, the melanoma skin cancer stages include:
Also, it is important to note that skin cancers can recur at any point in time. Therefore, it is essential to carry on follow-up care and self-examinations.
Physicians carry out skin cancer diagnoses by doing various examinations and tests. A skin biopsy confirms the presence of cancer. During a biopsy, the tumour region is numbed with a local anaesthetic like lidocaine. Then a small portion of the tumour is sliced away and sent to the pathologists for examination.
Therefore, in case an individual misses out on any obvious symptoms of skin cancer, a diagnostic test will give accurate results.
With the advancement in modern science, scientists discovered several cancer treatments. However, the treatment depends on the severity, type, and size of the tumour and the patient's overall health. Here are some effective means of cancer treatment:
Other types of treatment include photodynamic therapy (PDT), laser surgery, oral medications and more.
However, it is advisable to know how to avoid skin cancer and follow the strategies to save huge costs in future and lead a healthy life.
It is vital to take some preventive measures that can lower the chances of skin cancer. These measures are as follows:
Even after taking these measures, one might notice symptoms of skin cancer. In that case, he should consult a doctor urgently to treat the disease from an early stage.
Finally, let's consider the risk factors of skin cancer.
Here are the common risk factors of this disease:
Therefore, from the mentioned points, it is evident that learning about treatment, types, causes and symptoms of skin cancer will help an individual fight against the disease effectively.
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Disclaimer #2: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.
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