Skin Cancer

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Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a disease that can affect any one. Skin cancer includes many types that can be classified as severe or superficial. Consequently, treatement of skin cancer depends on the degree of severity a person has. In the following paper, we will shed lights on the types of skin cancer and its causes. Finally, we will investigate how to treat the different types of cancer and how to avoid it.

Skin cancer is a term used to describe cancer in skin tisssues. The skin is made of several layers. Skin cancer is classified according to the layer it develops in. Skin cancer is classified according to the layer it develops in. The epidermes is the skin’s outer layer and is made up squamous cells, basal cells and melanocytes (common cancer, 2000, P.2)

Skin cancer occurs twice often in men than in women. The highest rates of skin cancer occurs in South Africa and Australia. It is common among white skinned people but rare in dark skinned people. (Bair, 1991, P. 367) Statistics show that the most common cancer is skin cancer. Over six hundred thousand people in the United States have skin cancer. Moreover, in every three new cases of cancer, one happens to be skin cancer. Approximately forty to fifty percent of people who reach sixty-five have skin cancer ( Dollinger, 1995, P. 579)

Skin cancer is of three types: Basal cell cancer (BCC), Squamous cell carcinoma, and Melanomia. To begin, Basal cell cancer (BCC) is the most common of all cancers. It carries this name because it develops on the outermost layer of the epidermis. BCC is made of three types; the most common of skin cancer is Basal cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma is a flesh colored (cream to pink), round, translucent tumour. Basal cell carcinoma tumors grow slowly sideways. The second type of BCC is the pigmented lesion that appears as a blue, brown, or black tumour, the third type of BCC is the superficial type that appears as a red often-scaly localized plaque. If BCC is not treated properly, it may crust, ulcerate, and sometimes cause bleeding ( Dollinger, 1995, P. 579).

Skin Cancer 3

The second type of skin cancer is squamous cell cancer (SCC). Its origin is from the cells that make the protective “ keratin” of the epidermis. SCC occurs in the areas of the skin that were damaged by ultraviolet rays. SCC is a red, well defined plaque and may turn to an ulcer or sca...

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...in cancer.

Moreover, some moles can be considered as a pre-cancerous stage. Abnormal moles feel hard, itchy, and begin to bleed. Other ones may change in diameter ( some become larger than six millimeters); Thus they are considered dangerous.

Finally, red and brown patches on the skin can develop anywhere in the body and especially appear in the neck and face area ( areas most exposed to the sun). ( Skin cancer, symptoms, management, and treatment, 2000,p.1)

In the final analysis, scientists and doctors have given people many “tips” for avoiding skin cancer. These “tips” can be summarized in the following points . First avoiding exposure to the sun between eleven a.m. and three p.m. At this time, sunlight can be very strong, and wearing tight clothes and hats to cover the face and the neck region. Secondly, using sunscreen during exposure (the best recommended is the one with SPF 15, ) and wearing sunglasses because UV rays are extremely harmful for the eyes. The last advice is that lips must also be protected from UV rays, and that babies under six months must not be exposed to sunlight as much as possible. ( Skin Cancer, symptoms, management and treatment, 2000, P.4).

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