Skin Cancer – 1,000,000 Americans Will Get It In 2008!
INTRODUCTION: Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy, well ahead of lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. The disease generally develops in the epidermis (the outer most skin layer), so a tumor is usually clearly visible.
If left untreated, the disease can be very dangerous, but with early detection and medical intervention most are curable. There are three common kinds of skin cancer, of which each is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises. More than 1,000,000 people in the US will be diagnosed with skin cancer in 2008.
CAUSE: Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin which can have many causes. It is usually caused by exposing skin to UV rays excessively. Cancers caused by UV exposure may be prevented by avoiding excessive exposure to sunlight or other UV sources, and wearing sun-protective clothes.
A lot of people go out of their way to get an artificial tan before they leave for a sunny vacation, because they want to get a “base coat” to minimize sun damage. Sunburn, brought on by a kind of ultraviolet (UV) light known as UVB, has served as a surrogate for far more serious conditions such as melanoma and basal and squamous cell carcinoma, 3 forms of skin cancer.
RISK: Although it is impossible to completely eliminate the possibility of skin cancer, the risk of developing such a cancer can be reduced significantly with the following steps: reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, especially in the early years, avoiding sunburns (NOTE: Recent studies have shown that sunscreen does not protect from melanoma). Although it is generally accepted that UV exposure is the greatest risk factor in melanoma development, some skeptics say that there is no proven data that links moderate sun exposure with the appearance of melanoma.
The chances of acquiring skin cancer is also affected by where a person lives. People who live in areas that receive the highest levels of Ultraviolet radiation from the sun are more apt to develop skin cancer. In the US, for example, skin cancer is found more often in Texas than it is in Minnesota, where the sun is not as strong. Internationally, the highest rates of skin cancer are found in South Africa and Australia, which are areas that receive very high amounts of UV radiation.
TYPES: The most common kinds of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) which may be locally disfiguring but are not likely to metastasize (spread to other parts of the body). The most dangerous type is malignant melanoma.
TREATMENT: Most skin cancers can be treated by removal of the lesion, making sure that the edges (margins) are free of the tumor cells. However,it is important that skin cancers are found and treated early because they can invade and destroy nearby tissue.
CONCLUSION: Skin cancer is the most common form of human malignancies and is also known as skin neoplasia. The use of sunscreen is recommended by medical authorities as a preventative to help protect against skin cancer (NOTE: New studies however have shown that sunscreen offers no protection from melanoma). Approximately 65 percent of melanomas and 90% of basal and squamous cell skin cancers are attributed to Utraviolet exposure. Even though it is rare, malignant melanoma is responsible for 75% of all skin cancer related death cases.
It has also been estimated that nearly 1/2 of all US residents who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once. The most commonly found warning sign of skin cancer is a change in the look of the skin, such as a new growth or a sore that will not heal. The Majority of skin cancers appear after age 50, but the sun’s damaging effects start at an early age. Therefore, protection should be started in childhood in order to prevent skin cancer later in life.
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