Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cancer cells that is found on someone’s skin. It is the most preventable form of cancer but is also the most common form. This is because people don’t know enough about it so they do not know how harmful it is. Skin cancer is mainly caused by too much exposure to UV rays. Florida is known as the sunshine state, or UV ray state, because of this it is very important to understand all the ramifications of skin cancer.
There are three main types of skin cancer; basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma and Squamous cell carcinoma are categorized as nonmelanoma, they are the most treatable and common forms of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma covers 90% of
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all skin cancer diagnoses and has a slow growth rate and rarely spreads among the body. Squamous cell carcinoma has a higher chance of spreading than basal cell carcinoma but the chances of spreading are slim. People who are diagnosed with either basal or squamous cell carcinoma are ones who are in the sun for long periods of time. Melanoma is the worst of all skin cancer and is contributes to 75% of skin cancer deaths (Choshi 2014). Melanoma typically forms from a mole and is likely to spread overtime if not immediately treated. Like other skin cancers melanoma is from too much sun exposure, when UV rays hit a mole, cancer cells begin to grow and spread. Because melanoma spreads so easily it must be treated quickly before it reaches the lymph nodes, if it reaches the lymph nodes then serious measures are taken. It is very important to be aware of skin cancer no matter age, gender, or race.
Signs to look for are moles that are larger than a pencil eraser, hard or lumpy, inconsistent in color, itchy, dark, oddly shaped, fifty or more moles on the body, or a new growth. Men are more susceptible to have cancerous moles on the upper backs while women tend to have cancerous moles on the legs. The neck and chest show the earliest signs of cancer because these areas are thinner and more exposed than others (Kevin Cooper, MD). Though skin type and race doesn’t matter, someone who is fair skinned and freckles easily has a greater chance of getting skin cancer than someone who is very dark. People of a darker completion tend to see cancerous spots under the finger and toenails or the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The best method when it comes to checking your moles for signs of skin cancer is the ABCD method. The ABCD method goes as following: A, asymmetry, look for a non-symmetrical shape; B, border, the border may be jagged or hard to make out; C, color, inconsistency in the colors within the mole; D, diameter, shouldn’t be larger than six millimeters (pencil eraser). If a mole favors anything from the ABCD method the patient should see a dermatologist …show more content…
immediately. Skin cancer can be caused my many things but the most common reasons skin cancer is formed is from sun exposure and tanning beds. When using a tanning bed the user is enclosed in a tube with UV rays surrounding them at 360 degrees. Skin cancer chances are increased by 60-70% when someone uses a tanning bed. Many people do not shows signs of skin cancer until at least fifty years old but most of the damage is done before they reach eighteen years old. People who have had a history of sunburn or family history of skin cancer need to be extra careful in the sun and use all measures possible to prevent it. Sometimes skin cancer is something that just happens to people, they could be born with the precancerous cells in their body and as they age the cells grow, even with no UV contact.
Yet others bring skin cancer upon themselves by not protecting their skin the way they should. The different ways to help prevent skin cancer is to wear sunscreen, whether it is for a beach trip or just a relaxing class of tea with friends on the back porch sunscreen is the biggest and best protector for skin cancer. For the face it is important to wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection, lip balm with SPF, and a facial moisturizer or makeup that contains SPF 15 at the least. Clothing is also something that is very helpful when it comes to protecting your skin; a big hat can be worn to cover the face and shoulders or a long sleeve shirt to protect the arms from the beating sun. The hottest time of the day is 10-2, during these hours more cautious measures should be taken to shield your skin from sun than in earlier or later
hours. The treatment for atypical moles is quite simple and painless. A biopsy is taken on a suspicious freckle or mole and is sent to a lab to test for cancer cells, the results come back within a week or two. If the mole come back benign then you are cancer free but if the mole is atypical that means it is precancerous. The typical procedure for this mole is to go slightly deeper and wider into the healthy tissue around the removed mole, this requires stitches. If you are diagnosed with melanoma after these steps then further precautions are taken; removing of lymph nodes are done first but if the cancer continues to spread then surgery’s such as radiation and chemotherapy occur. Skin cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer but that doesn’t make it any less lethal. More than two million people are diagnosed each year with a form of skin cancer and skin cancer makes up half of the cancer population. It is very important to visit a dermatologist every 6 months to a year for a check up on your body. Also it is very beneficial to know how to treat, prevent, and diagnose skin cancer because no one is immune to this deathly uncontrolled cell growth.
The Cancer Council NSW and NSW Health Department Skin Cancer Prevention Strategic Plan for New South Wales (2001) Gladesville NSW The Cancer Counsil New South Wales and NSW Health Department 2001
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
Melanocytes, embryologically derived from the neural crest, are distributed in the epidermis and thus are found throughout the skin. They produce a brown pigment known as melanin and are responsible for racial variation in skin color and also the color of moles. Malignant degeneration of the melanocyte gives rise to the tumor, melanoma, of which there are four subtypes. These are: superficial spreading, nodular, lentigo maligna, and acral lentiginous melanomas, accounting for 70%, 15% to 30%, 4% to 10%, and 2% to 8% of cases, respectively. Malignant melanoma may develop anywhere on the body. In men, it is most common on the trunk. In women, it is most common on the back or legs. The subtype also may influence where the tumor develops, lentigo melanoma is more common on the face while acral lentiginous melanoma is more common on the palms of the hand, soles of the feet, or in the nail beds.
Skin cancer is a significant public health issue in Australia. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun in the UVA and UVB wavelengths is the primary cause. Australia has been a world leader in efforts to protect the ozone layer, the main line of defense against ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. Ultraviolet radiation induces the formation of thymine dimers that cause mutation of skin cells if not repaired before DNA replication. Mutations of tumor suppressor genes can lead to uncontrolled cell growth. Ultraviolet radiation also causes immunosuppresion that allows skin cancers to become established. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma are types of skin cancer caused by sun exposure, though each form is associated with a different pattern of exposure. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, due to a combination of tropical latitude, fair-skinned population, outdoor lifestyle, and high amount of ambient ultraviolet radiation. Widespread opinions about tanning and health benefits of sunlight lead many Australians to intentionally overexpose themselves to the sun. State cancer councils have developed sun safety and awareness campaigns, such as “Slip! Slop! Slap!” and “SunSmart,” to educate the population about sun exposure and encourage early detection of skin cancers. Gradual changes in knowledge and behavior indicate that the fight against skin cancer can be won.
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...
Superficial spreading melanoma spreads slowly on the top layers of the skin before it may begin to penetrate deeper layers of skin. A flat or slightly raised, discolored (tan, brown, black, red, blue or white), and asymmetrical patch of skin. are likely indicators of its presence. In this regard, superficial spreading melanoma may begin with previously benign mole. This type of melanoma is more common in young people, and it accounts for 70 percent of all melanoma diagnosis.
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 first sign of melanoma is often a change in the size, shape, or color of an existing mole or the appearance of a new mole. Men most commonly develop melanoma on the trunk, particularly the back, and women on the legs or arms. Melanoma develops in a manner similar to other cancer types. A cell's DNA genes, which control cell division and reproduction, become damaged. The damaged genes cause the cell to divide and grow without control or order, eventually becoming a malignant tumor.
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...
The PubMed Database was conducted for search the literature about the chosen health behavior. Key search terms were used: sun protective behavior, sun protective behavior AND project, sun protection* AND project, sun protective behavior AND questionnaire*, sun protection* AND trend* AND skin cancer. Limits including: publication date 10 years, free full text available, English. In addition, the age limitation is adults.
It is very important to use a sunscreen every day and especially when out in the sun. Sunscreens protect the skin from the harmful rays put off by the sun. Using sunscreen will help prevent skin cancer. It is very important to understand the strength needed for the amount of time in the sun. Sunscreens come in different strengths and there are many different brands of sunscreen available. Sunscreen also varies in prices. Some are very cheap and some are very expensive. It is up to the individual to decide which to use. A dermatologist can recommend what is best for the individual needs. As we all know, we have to be careful staying in the sun too much. We often get sunburned if we do not use sunscreen, but most people think it will heal and it’s not that big of a deal. This is also the case for tanning beds. The people who say things like “it’s not a big deal” are definitely wrong. He or she could be harming their skin and could end up with serious problems, like skin cancer. If a person gets too burned too often then he or she may develop skin cancer and end up having to have skin cancer surgery. A dermatologist will check the skin and if there are any suspicious places, they will perform a biopsy to see if it is a skin cancer. If it does turn out to be a skin cancer, the dermatologist will then determine the best course of treatment. Some treatments are by
The most common type of skin cancer is nonmelanoma skin cancer, which is classified as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. “These begin either in the basal cells or squamous cells that are located at the base of the outer layer of the skin.” (Kenneth, 2012) Basal and squamous cell cancers are among the less serious types of skin cancers, but make up ninety-five percent of all skin cancers.
Basal and squamous cell skin cancer are the most common forms of skin cancer. Multiple studies have shown that these cancers are almost always connected to large amounts of sun exposure. This can come from things like outdoor sports, performing something outdoors with little coverage from clothing, and getting multiple severe sunburns. You can see signs of skin cancer inside and outside of your body. Rough, thick, dry skin patches are common symptoms, but things
amount of UV exposure absorbed by a person is a direct result of the intensity of the light absorbed, the length of time of the exposure, and whether or not the skin was protected by clothing or sunscreen. Skin damage can be prevented by limiting when and how long one is exposed to sunlight, and by wearing protective clothing and sunscreen. Avoid exposure to sunlight during mid-day hours, when it is most intense. Tight weave clothing, and hats, protect against the sun's rays. Tanning beds, while popular, are also ...
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).