Different types of skin cancerSkin cancer can affect all parts of your body and can be very severe and harmful to the body. There is Basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, Actinic Keratosis (AK). These are just a few we will be talking about today. Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) Basal cell carcinoma is characterized by pink, raised, waxy bumps that may at times bleed after minor injuries occur. They may have superficial blood vessels and a central depression. People who receive organ transplants are at a higher risk of getting Basal cell carcinoma compared to the general population.
They are locally invasive, and rarely metastasizes only in exceedingly rare cases has it been known to spread to other parts of the body and become life threating. They are abnormal, uncontrolled growths or lesions that arise in the skin’s basal cells, which line the deepest layer of the epidermis. There are many ways to remove BCC doctors may do a procedure called Mohs micrographic surgery, there is also radiation and excisional surgery just to name a few. There are also a few topical medications that may be used to treat BCC. Melanoma
The most dangerous form of skin cancer, these cancerous growths develop when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds) triggers mutations (genetic defects) that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors. These tumors originate in the pigment-producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Melanomas often resemble moles; some develop from moles. The majority of melanomas are black or brown, but they can also be skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue or white.
Melanoma is caused mainly by intense, occasional UV exposure (frequently leading to sunburn), especially in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease. Melanoma kills an estimated 9,710 people in the US annually. If melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable, but if it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. While it is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most deaths.
The first step in treatment is the removal of the melanoma, and the standard method of doing this is by surgical excision (cutting it out). Surgery has made great advances in the past decade, and much less tissue is removed than was customary in the past. Patients do just as well after the lesser surgery, which is easier to tolerate and produces a smaller scar. Actinic Keratosis (AK) Scaly or crusty growths (lesions) caused by damage from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, actinic keratosis (AK) is also known as solar keratosis.
They typically appear on sun-exposed areas such as the face, bald scalp, lips, and the back of the hands, and are often elevated, rough in texture, and resemble warts. Most become red, but some will be tan, pink, red, and/or flesh-toned. Untreated AKs can advance to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the second most common form of skin cancer, and some experts believe they are actually the earliest stage of SCC. More than 58 million people are diagnosed with AK annually this figure is generally accepted as the best current estimate of the number of Americans with actinic keratosis (AK).
People with a fair complexion, blond or red hair, and blue, green or grey eyes have a high likelihood of developing one or more of these common pre cancers if they spend time in the sun and live long enough. Location makes a difference: The closer to the equator you live, the more likely you are to have actinic keratosis. The incidence is slightly higher in men, because they tend to spend more time in the sun and use less sun protection than women do. African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians and others with darker skin are not as susceptible as Caucasians.
Medicated creams and solutions are very effective by themselves or in combination with another form of treatment when a person has many actinic keratosis.
References Skin cancers. (2007, May 4). Retrieved October 20, 2014, from Types of skin cancer website: http://www. dermatology. ucsf. edu/skincancer/professionals/types. aspx Types of skins cancer. (2013, January 15). Retrieved October 20, 2014, from http://www. healthline. com/health-slideshow/types-of-skin-cancer POWERED BY TCPDF (WWW. TCPDF. ORG).