Skin Cancer - Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Skin Cancer Facts:
Skin cancer is the most common cancer people suffer from among the various types of cancers. In fact, number of people suffering from skin cancer in the biggest countries in world like United States, UK and Australia seems to be growing higher and higher than the number of people suffering from any other type of cancers. Most common reason why the skin cancer is not recognized in the early stage is because the symptoms of skin cancer seem to be very normal and one can confuse them with any other skin related problems.

What Causes Skin Cancer?

• Skin cancer is basically caused due to over exposure to the ultraviolet light that is a part of sunlight or sun beds and also some other sources.
• People endowed with highly fair skin are at greater risk of skin cancer as fair skin burns easily.
• As the skin cancer is very slow growing, in most of the cases exposure to any such melanoma causing substances or elements in early age increases chances of falling prey to skin cancer later in the life.
• People having high number of moles on skin stand high chances of acquiring skin cancer.
• Misuse/overuse of drugs containing high level of carcinogenic elements can lead to skin cancer.
• Exposure to carcinogenic substances/elements like arsenic, tar, creosote and radiation etc. can lead to skin cancer.
• If a person had underwent skin cancer related treatment before, he/she stands high chances of
• Skin cancer is hereditary. If anyone from your family had skin cancer, then you are at higher risk of acquiring skin cancer.

What Are Different Types of Skin Cancers?

• Basal Cell Carcinoma: This is the most common type of skin cancer. Almost 8 out of 10 skin cancer cases are of this type. This skin cancer type is a very slow-growing cancer and stands very less chances of spreading to other parts of body.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma: This type of skin cancer is more harmful than Basal Cell Carcinoma, and it also stands very less chances of spreading to other parts of the body. This type of skin cancer is second most common after Basal Cell Carcinoma.
• Malignant Melanoma: This type of skin cancer is most dangerous skin cancer and growth of this skin cancer is fastest among the other skin cancer types.

Among the above type of skin cancers, Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma are also called nonmelanoma cancer.

What Are Different Types of Treatments Available?
Skin cancer treatment involves:
Surgery: Surgery for skin cancer involves cutting the skin area which is affected. Surgery can be most effective if the affected area is cut from the skin in the early stage of skin cancer.
Curettage And Electrodessication: An instrument called curettage is used to remove the cancer affected area. An electric machine is used to pass current in and around the affected area that stops blood circulation to and from the affected area, which is called electrodessication.
Moh’s Surgery: This type of surgery is used when the doctor is not very much sure about the area, depth and nature of the skin cancer. In this surgery, the tissues affected by the skin cancer are removed from the affected area. Seemingly simple Moh’s Surgery is very complex in nature and is more effective when the tumor is bigger in size and the affected area is hard to treat. In Moh’s Surgery, tissue layers are removed based on the microscopic study of the tissues in and around the affected area.
Cryosurgery: In this type of treatment, the affected area is cooled to a very low temperature. The affected tissues/cells are frozen and killed with the help of liquid nitrogen. Depending upon the complexity and the affected area, this treatment can be repeated number of times.
Laser Therapy: A high intensity narrow beam of laser is used to destroy the cells in the affected area. This therapy is used in most of the cases where the cancer has not reached deeper inside the skin.

Along with the above mentioned therapies, Radiation and Chemotherapy are the most commonly used treatments.

What Should I lookout For?
Skin cancer begins with very small, light colored lumps on the skin. Sometimes the lump can also appear dry and be reddish or dark in color, these lumps are rough in nature. Any such lump can serve as a clue of skin cancer. The melanoma matures into a large mole which has spread across a large area. As the cancer progresses, the melanoma appear as if leaking blood. If you experience such mole or lump on your skin, you should visit your doctor. If you witness any suspicious change in skin and have non-healing sores, in such case you should consult your doctor.