Skin cancer is an uncontrolled growth of the cells within the skin.
There are 3 major types :
- basal cell carcinoma
- squamous cell carcinoma
- and melanoma
Some types of skin cancer can spread to other locations and can be fatal.
Skin cancer can have many different appearances :
1.Basal cell carcinoma often looks like :
- Open sore
- Red bumps
- Red patches
- Shiny bumps
2.Squamous cell carcinoma often looks like :
- Persistent scaly red patch
- Crusted spot
- Elevated growth with central depression
3.Melanoma often looks like :
- Brown or black but can appear pink, tan or even white
A B C D E Rules
for early detection of melanoma
A stands for Asymmetry:
One half of the mole does not match the other half.
B stands for Border:
Borders of the mole are irregular, ragged or blurred.
C stands for Color:
Color of the mole changes or varies throughout, no uniform pigmentation.
C stands for Color:
Color of the mole changes or varies throughout, no uniform pigmentation.
D stands for Diameter:
Diameter is greater than 6 mm (could be smaller).
E stands for Evolving:
Changes in the mole over variable time- weeks, months or years.
Prevention
- Avoid peak sunlight during the day
- Avoid indoor tanning bed
- Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen
- Reapply sunscreen every 2-4 hours
Risk Factors
People with certain risk factors will increase the risk of skin cancer.
- Light natural skin color
- History of sun burns early in life
- History of indoor tanning
- Family or personal history of skin cancer
- Blonde or red hair
Skin Cancer Treatment
Treatment for skin cancer depends on types and stages. The goal of treatment is to remove cancer completely.
