Three Types of Skin Cancer - Characteristics And Treatment

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by: AdrianFletcher
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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

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It will normally manifest as a waxy bump on the skin. It may also appear as a flesh or brown colored mark. It is typically found on the face, neck, chest and back but can occur anywhere on the body.

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 treated in the same way as basal cell carcinoma although it is more common for it to spread. Normally it only spread to surrounding skin cells so it can still be treated successfully.

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 least common of the 3 types of skin cancer however it is the most serious of the three, especially if it goes undiagnosed or untreated. Of the three it is most likely to spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes and vital organs of the body. If this occurs (known as metastasizes) then it becomes difficult to treat and may involve chemotherapy and other aggressive treatments. Early detection is crucial for a melanoma but they are often very hard to identify. This is why it is important to get a screen once a year by a professional in the diagnose of skin cancer.

Knowing the signs and characteristics of the three types of skin cancer will help you to diagnose and treat the disease however prevention is a far better solution. Always put sunscreen on exposed parts of the body when in the sun. Wear a hat and sunglasses. Wear clothing like a long sleeve shirt to cover the arms and torso.

About the Author

For more information on the symptoms of squamous cell skin cancer visit SymptomsofSkinCancer.net. You will find details on skin cancer on the nose and popular sun creams.