Vital Skin Cancer Symptoms
Statistics shows that there is one American dies every 65 minutes and an estimate of 60,000 people worldwide dies annually due to skin cancer. The figure is rapidly increasing for everyone is prone to skin cancer. Even Though, this is treatable but people awareness of the disease is low.
This is caused by too much exposure to the sun which emits ultraviolet radiation. It commonly develops on areas such as scalp, head, shoulders and arms which are sun-exposed. But, it can also grow anywhere even on not ordinarily expose to the sun area of the skin. Light skin toned people have higher risk of acquiring skin cancer but in some cases dark-skinned people are also likely to acquire it.
Fortunately, even on early stages, this is highly detectable. One can have a preliminary self check-up on his skin and detect suspicious lesions or moles. Once, an unusual mole or lesion is detected, the health provider can confirm on the earlier stage and place early treatment as well. With this, there is about 100% rate of curability.
It is also important to know on what stage the cancer is to plan its treatment well. Generally, it is done through biopsy. Biopsy is done by taking a sample tissue to the cancerous area. The sample is then examined through the aid of microscope by a pathologist.
There are several types of skin cancer. One is basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer and looks like a sore or a waxy, red bump on the skin as showed on the picture. Though, it grows slowly, but it can spread and affect other tissues.
Another form of skin cancer is Squamous cell carcinoma. It looks like a red patch or lumps on the skin and also grows slowly.
Both of these types have the size of about 1 centimeter diameter or smaller on its first stage. If the diameter reaches 2 centimeters, the cancer cells are on its stage 2 and about to affect other organs, bones and ligaments. So, it is best to treat it before it reaches the next stage.
Melanoma is the most fatal type of skin cancer for it rapidly affects the other organs and travels through the lymph system. It is oftentimes mistaken as a mole. But unlike moles, it is changing, multicolored and has irregular shape. It has a thickness of 2 millimeters on its first stage.
The thickness of melanoma continually grows. In the picture, the thickness of the melanoma is between 2 and 4 millimeters and is now on stage II. On this stage, the cancer cells are still confined in the skin but anytime will spread beyond the skin.
We can alter and define statistics through early treatment and awareness is our best weapon in winning the battle against this disease.