Basic information about skin cancer
How to recognize the skin cancer basal cell carcinoma
When we think of skin cancer we may not always realize that there are 3 different types of skin cancer. What most people think of as skin cancer is in fact malignant melanoma where the moles on your skin changes.
Basal cell carcinoma or also called a rodent ulcer, is probably one of the most common types of all types of skin cancer. It appears in the basal cell layer strangely enough and it is the inner most layer of the outer skin (the epidermis if you care to know). Basal cell carcinoma skin cancer is a slow growing form of cancer and it looks like a raised edged swelling with a dimple in the center and you can often see small blood vessels under the skin.
This type of skin cancer appears mainly in the areas most exposed to sun light, like the nose and around the eyes. It hardly ever spreads around the body although if it is ignored it is possible. The main consequence of a neglected “bcc” or rodent ulcer is that it can cause a lot of tissue damage as it burrows deep into the tissues, hence why it has been called rodent ulcer.
As stated, Basal cell cancer is the most common type of skin cancer to affect people. Like all skin cancers it mainly affects people with pale or fair Caucasian skin. It is also likely or probable that new patients who develop this form of skin cancer have a family history of rodent ulcer or BCC. It has been found that sunlight is a huge factor in about two thirds of these types of cancer; however the remaining third usually occurs in non sun-exposed areas. This is why dermatologists are so insistent about people wearing sun screens and getting annual skin cancer exams to prevent or provide early detection of this common tumor. (Especially in those countries which are very hot).
If you have been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma then it is most likely that it will be treated by a surgeon operating on you to remove the tumor. Usually they will perform a routine that effectively just scrapes out the tumor and then leave the wound to heal itself. This treatment of rodent ulcers as it is also known has an excellent cure rate and the cosmetic results are equally impressive with very little scarring, and made even more attractive as it is a very cost effective procedure, which is important to your health care provider no doubt.
If you get skin cancer then this type of skin cancer is by far the easiest one to cope with as it only really grows locally and with detection happening early enough the cosmetic consequences are minimal. The cancer never stops growing however until it is removed completely so if it is in a place where it can impinge on vital structures and cause them to stop working it is very rarely deadly.
Proper care and consideration for your skin is still essential in order to avoid the cancer in the first place so common anti skin cancer advice still applies like use sunscreen, cover up exposed ares during the mid day sun and stay out of the sun when ever possible. It is especially important for children and babies to stay out of direct sunlight as they have thinner skin.
Even during winter it is important if you live in a snowy area as snow doubles your exposure to UV rays.
Basic information about skin cancer
Skin cancer is defined as ‘a malignant neoplasm of the skin’. The most common cancer, the risk of skin cancer affects a large cross section of the population, most notably those that have fair skin and freckles. Consequently, it is also relatively preventable when you take the proper precautions. Simply put, skin cancer is often caused by an over-exposure of the body to ultra-violet rays. It doesn’t matter where these rays come from; both the sun and commercial tanning beds give you a heightened risk of developing skin cancer. To most easily prevent your chance of getting this disease, it’s important to take the proper precautions when exposing yourself to the sun. When possible, wear clothing that is tightly woven to avoid the suns rays. A loose fit on your clothes is another way to ensure that as few rays as possible reach your skin. Dark colored clothing is also known to help ward off ultra-violet rays, so all of these precautions should be taken when you are planning to be in the sun for an extended period of time. Also, it is crucial to wear sun screen when exposing your body to the sun’s rays. An SPF value of at least 15 is recommended for those who wish to sun themselves without significantly increasing their risk of developing skin cancer. Also, do your best to avoid exposing yourself to the sun’s rays between 10 AM and 3 PM. These are the hours of the day in which the sun produces the most UV rays, and avoiding sun during these hours is recommended to decrease your likelihood of skin cancer. Your lips should also be protected with an SPF lip balm, since the risk of lip cancer is increased by too much sun exposure. Sunglasses can also be a good idea; they help you to avoid getting too much exposure to the sun on your eyelids, which are sensitive layers of skin which can develop skin cancer just the same as the rest of your body.
There are three types of skin cancer: the two that are most harmless are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. When these cancers are discovered, it is usually possible to treat them without much of a risk, with a full 90% of all carcinomas diagnoses being treated properly. However, there is another, more deadly type of skin cancer, which is known as malignant melanoma. This type of skin cancer can spread to other parts of the body, including the lungs and the liver, and can be very difficult to treat. While this cancer can be removed with a high success rate when caught early, advanced cases of melanoma can be very difficult to treat. Melanoma accounts for a full 75% of all skin cancer cases which result in death. If melanoma is diagnosed while in an early stage, treatment can be very simple and the risk of death is low. However, the longer you wait, the more exponential the risk of death grows.
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