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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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).
Melanoma is an extremely important issue, as 75% of skin cancer deaths in Australia are attributed to melanoma, making it the most dangerous form of skin cancer in the country (AIHW 2010). The AIHW also states that Australia has the highest occurrence of melanoma in the world, with over 12,500 Australians being diagnosed annually, and having a recorded 1500 deaths each year. The Melanoma Institute of Australia states that melanoma is the “most common cancer in young Australians aged 15-39”, and that “rates have doubled in the 20 years from 1986-2006”. The incidence of melanoma is increasing more rapidly than any other major cancer. Owing to the high incidence and mortality rates of the disease in Australia, melanoma is the most life-threatening form of skin cancer in the country, making it a very serious non-communicable disease.
The skin is made up of layers called epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis is the outermost layer and consists mainly of dead cells and a protein called keratin. The epidermis is avascular, meaning there are no blood vessels in this layer. It contains a few nerve receptors for touch and pain. The cells found in the epidermis are stem cells, which become the next cell described, keratinocytes. These cells manufacture the protein keratin and are the most abundant cells in the epidermis. Melanocytes are found in the epidermis and they create the pigment called
What is skin cancer ? first, Skin is the largest organ of the body . it gives our body protection from harms, injuries and infections. It also organize the body temperature and dispose of waste substances through the glands . out layer of the skin is called the epidermis and the layer underneath is known as the dermis . Skin cancer is type of disease where malignant cancer cells are to be found the outer layer of a person's skin and is the uncontrolled development of the irregular skin cells .It occurs when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or genetic defects, that lead the skin cells to duplicate rapidly and form malignant tumors. there are three main types of skin cancer which are basal
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. The combination of the predominantly light-skinned population, tropical latitude, and cultural emphasis on out-door activities have contributed to this problem. The Australian government has taken measu...
In melanoma some common signs and symptoms are the doctor may notice an abnormal area in the skin that may look unusual. A mole, sore, lump, or growth on the skin can be a sign of melanoma. A sore or growth that bleeds, or changes in skin coloring may also be a sign of skin cancer. Your doctor may run several test to detect if melanoma is...
Melanoma is a very serious type of skin cancer. The cancer starts in skin cells known melanocytes. Even though melanoma primarily affects skin cells, it also can grow in the eyes (uveal melanoma). Melanocytes are made up of melanin, which provides skin color and protects the deeper layers of the skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Basal Cell Carcinoma often abbreviated as (BCC) is the most frequently appearing form of skin cancer. They are also referred to as Basal Cell Cancer. It was discovered along the way as skin cancer was being treated as different types with no specific period. The BCCs’ are uncontrolled growths that normally arise in the skin’s basal cells. These cells lie in the deepest layer of the epidermis which is the outermost layer of the skin. BCC’s are normally caused by a combination of two things; one is cumulative UV exposure and the other is intense occasional UV exposure. The most vulnerable, according to a research done, tend to be people with fair hair, blue eyes and fair skin and this is because they tend to burn easily. The BCCs’ may first appear as a small white flesh or a colored bump that may bleed. Other normal appearances may look like open sores, red patches on the skin, pink growths, shiny bumps or scars. 80% of Basal Cell Carcinoma cases are mainly found in the head and neck that is the body parts that are mainly exposed to the sun. The nose also tends to be most vulnerable and according to a recent study done, 40% of BCC that were diagnosed on the head and neck were adjacent to the nose.
The skin is the largest organ in the body, so it isn’t surprising that skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer, affecting 4% of all cases but causing 79% of skin cancer deaths. The average age of people diagnosed with Melanoma is between 45 and 55, although 25% of cases occur in people under 40. About 10% of all people with melanoma have a family history of melanoma. You are at increased risk of developing melanoma if there is a family history of melanoma in one or more of your first-degree relatives like a parent, child, brother or sister.
Symptoms women often start noticing that indicate the possibility of having a cancerous tumor in the breast include a lump on the underarm or armpit, thickening of the nipple, fluid (not milk) leaking from the nipple, change in the size of the nipple or breast, changes of color, shape or texture of the nipple or the areola, and unusual pain in the breast or in the armpit (Stephan., 2010). These are the symptoms women usually start noticing before go to the doctor to ge...
Skin cancer has been overlooked for the past few decades because the medical community has been focusing more on internal cancers. But with in exponential rise in recorded cases of skin cancer, it is grabbing attention now. Skin cancer is a serious problem and society is brushing it off so people might sport a nice tan. Even though skin cancer is not the type cancer that people see everyday or have family members develop it as often as say, breast cancer or prostate cancer, that does not make it any less of an important item to keep a look out for.
Sun shine contain ultraviolet ray which can cause the sunburn or even skin cancer. According to Cancer Council in Australia, Australia has highest incident rate of skin cancer in the world. More than 430000 Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. There are approximately 60 percent of people who have got skin cancer will survive greater than five years after they diagnosis (Cancer Council Australia, 2014). In order to protect people under the sun, the sun protective behaviour is significant necessary.
Skin cancer is a disease where cancer (malignant) cells are found on the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). The three types of cells found in the epidermis are squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes. These cells in time grow to be cancerous. Thus, the three types of skin cancers are squamous cell, basal cell, and melanoma. Melanoma is the most deadliest and destructive type of cancer. (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com) The number of people with melanoma has risen in Scotland from 3.5 in 1979 to 10.6 per 100,000 in 1998 for men and 7.0 to 13.1 for women. (Miller 945) Squamous cell and Basal cell skin cancer can kill up to 2,200 people a year in the United States. (Sommerfield SIRS.com) Basal cell, being the most common type of skin cancer, is the cancer that about 75 percent of the people have. (“Skin Cancer “ infotrac.com) Melanoma is mostly seen in older men but ever since tanning came in during the 1970’s, it has increased in women 60 percent around the ages 15-29 over the past three decades.(Sommerfield SIRS.com) “And basal cell and squamous cell cancers are increasing at a rate of about 5 percent per year”(Sommerfield SIRS.com).
The high incidence of skin cancer in Australia is the reason for our choice of
Benign tumors look similar to the tissues that they came from and develop slowly. The tumor remains in the same area that the tumor originated in. Malignant tumors are formed from cells that do not resemble the tissue that they came from. They vary in shape and size. This enables pieces of the tumor to break off and spread to other places in the body.
Moles are likely to appear in the first 30 years of your life or they may likely to appear when you are exposed to UV rays such as outside in the sun or even on tanning beds. When assessing a mole to make sure its non-cancerous you should always use the ABCD, first one stated below is for Normal moles Asymmetry(symmetrical) Borders(even) Colour (one colour) Diameter (smaller than ¼