Skin Cancer Symptoms

New Document What is Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer build up when molecule or DNA found in the cells that encode the generic info the molecule found in cells that encode genetic information, which becomes damaged and the body is not able to repair the damage. The cells which get damaged starts to grow and divide them uncontrollably. When all of this process occurs in the skin, develops the skin cancer. If the damaged cells get increased, tumor gets formed. Skin cancer generally started in the epidermis which is outermost layer of the skin, so tumor frequently evidently visible. Because of this skin cancer can be detected in the early stages.

Types of Skin Cancer:

There are three types of skin cancer. Each type of cancer is initiated in different cell inside the skin, and each cancer has named depends on the cell in which it started. Skin cancer is typically divided into two types that are melanoma skin cancer and nonmelanoma skin cancers. Deadliest form of skin cancer is Melanoma skin cancer.

Following are different kinds of skin cancer:

Basal Cell Carcinoma: This is the very common type of the skin cancer. It normally appears as a bang with small raise which has lustrous look. It is generally occurs in the area of the skin which receives excessive sun light. This cancer spreads to the skin that around the cancer and rarely spread to the other parts of the body.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: This type of cancer is generally found on that area of skin that receives extra sun rays. These areas may be nose, hands, lower lips, foreheads or the hands. This cancer is seen as red bump or the ulceration of skin that doesn't cure. This type of cancer can spread to the lymph nodes area present in the body.
Melanoma: This type of cancer initiated from the melanocytes present in the skin. Melanoma cancer started as pigmented lesions in skin with irregular borders, irregular shape and the multiple colors. Compare with other skin cancers, this is harmful because it spreads other parts of the body. This have very high rate of cure when it identified early and treatment gets early.

Causes of Skin Cancer:

A cause for skin cancer is sun exposure. According to the ACS (American Cancer Society), each year more than one million skin cancers get diagnosis only by protection from the sun rays. Ultraviolet rays present in the sun rays damages the DNA present in the skin. Body normally develops that damage before developing the cancer but when body is unable to repair the damaged DNA, then develops the cancer.

In some of the cases, this skin cancer symptoms are inherited. Five to ten percent of the melanomas initiated with history of melanoma of family.

Skin Cancer Symptoms and Signs:

Skin cancers are generally of two types: non melanoma and melanoma. Non melanomas cancers are very common and less harmful than the melanoma cancer.

Skin Cancer Symptoms:

A small spot that is waxy, shiny, pale in color, and the smooth in touch.
Scaly and rough patches on the skin.
A red spot that is hard
Any new growth which is suspicious
A sore or spot that become hard, also look at towards sores that do not cure.
Flat scaly areas of the skin that are brown or red.

Signs of skin cancer include:

A firm, transparent bump laced with tiny blood vessels in thin red lines.
A new, smooth skin bump (nodule) with a raised border and indented center.
A reddish or irritated patch of skin.
A smooth, shiny, or pearly bump that may look like a mole or cyst.
An open sore that oozes, bleeds, or crusts and has not healed in 3 weeks.
A shiny area of tight-looking skin, especially on the face, that looks like a scar and has poorly defined edges.
A sore that does not heal or an area of thickened skin on the lower lip, especially if you smoke or use chewing tobacco, or your lips are exposed to the sun and wind.
A persistent red bump on sun-exposed skin.

Diagnosis of Skin Cancer:

If the cancer diagnosed and treated early, then majority of the skin cancers may be cured. Away from taking care of skin from the sun damage, it's very necessary to know the skin cancer sings.

Nodules or bumps in the skin that are enlarging
Skin sores that do not cure
Changes in existing moles such as texture, size and color.

If you see any of these, immediately see your doctor. If you have any spot on your skin, then doctor minimize the growth and check the tissue under microscope. This procedure is called as a biopsy.

Treatment of Skin Cancer:

After checking the tissue, it is identified that tissue is cancerous, and then doctor considers the various treatments for the skin cancer. Treatment is based on location, size of cancer, and the cancer spread beyond the skin. For removing the cancerous growth, three surgical techniques are available namely conventional surgery, curettage and electrodesiccation, and the Mohs' surgery.

Conventional surgery: In this surgery, cancer cuts from the skin with some of the healthy tissues present around it.

Curettage and electrodesiccation: In this surgery, scratches the cancerous skin. Instruments are used such as sharp, spoon-shaped end. This area is then normally treated with the electrodesiccation. Electrodesiccation is an electrical current which is given from special machine. This current is used for controlling bleeding and killing the cancer cells.

Mohs' technique: Until whole tumor is removed, at a time cut off one thin layer of skin.

Doctors also perform other non surgical techniques such as cryosurgery - used for freezing the tumor, laser therapy with narrow beam of light used for removing or destroying the cancer cells, radiation therapy uses with high-energy rays for damaging cancer cells and end them from the growing, or the topical chemotherapy in which anticancer drugs in cream or lotion form which are applied on the skin.

Prevention:

For reducing the development of skin cancer symptoms, some of preventing tips are given below:

Wear a hat, sunglasses and tightly woven clothes when you are in the sun
Avoid the rays of sun during 10.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m because at this time intensity is at the pick.
Do not use tanning booths or sun lamps.
For signs of skin cancer and skin cancer symptoms, check the skin for every three months.
Use sunscreen lotion with a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 15 - 30.

Use following links for more details on skin cancer: