Posts Tagged ‘Skin Cancer’

Basal Cell Carcinoma – Type of skin cancer

There are a number of different types of skin cancers depending on the type of skin cell from which they arise. Each kind of skin cancer has its own distinctive appearance. Certain skin cancers also tend to develop in specific areas of the body.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA : This cancer is the most common type, and is the type of skin cancer that 90% of US citizen are diagnosed with.
- Basal cell carcinoma arises from the basal cells in the bottom layer of the epiderrmis – stratum basale.
- Basal cell carcinoma does not metastasize like the other skin cancers, but can still badly damage the area they occupy.
- It resembles a small nodule that is red in color, and located on the face, hands, or sometimes the torso. Occasionally, these nodules appear on the trunk of the body, usually as flat growths.
- Basal cell carcinoma can lead to the loss of organ function on such external organs as the ears or eyes.
- Although most cases of basal cell carcinoma are caused by the sun, other exposures can have the same results. Arsenic, severe burns, tattooing, vaccinations, and radiation can all cause basal cell carcinoma.

The variety in which basal cell carcinoma can appear makes for hard diagnosis. It can hide itself in the form of a mosquito bite, wart, rash, or cyst. For these reasons it is important for one to see a physician if any area of sun exposed skin looks unusual or has had prolonged pain.

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What causes skin cancer ?

There are quite a few known causes of skin cancer. The most widely acknowledged cause is over exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays or sunlight.
Over-exposure to UV radiation from the sun damages the skin, causing it to change colour, burn or even blister. Every time you expose your skin to the sun you add to your ‘lifetime exposure’ and increase your skin cancer risk. The number of severe sunburns you have received, especially during childhood, also increases your risk.
UV rays damage DNA, the genetic material that makes up genes. Genes control the growth and overall health of skin cells. If the genetic damage is severe, a normal skin cell may begin to grow in the uncontrolled, disorderly way of cancer cells. UV also can cause sunburn, and other damage that makes the skin look prematurely old and wrinkled.

The list below highlights some of the main causes:
- Having any deficiency of the immune system, that is having a condition that predisposes you to lowered immune system function, will increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
- Being exposed to abnormally high levels of X-rays may contribute to the development of skin cancer.
- Using tanning booths to acquire an artificial tan has been widely accepted as a substantial cause of the disease.
- Having a family history increases the risk of skin cancer.
- If you have several moles these can become cancerous growths on the skin’s surface.
- Some people are thought to be at a more significant risk, such as lighter skinned people, people with blond or red hair and green or blue eyes.

Skin Cancer : causes and symptoms.

Skin cancer is the most common form of human cancer. It is estimated that over 1 million new cases occur annually. The annual rates of all forms of skin cancer are increasing each year, representing a growing public concern.
Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin which can have many causes. This sudden transformation in the cells causing uncontrollable formulation of cells leads to a mass called a tumour. Tumour of skin is often referred to as lesions. These tumours are cancerous in the cases when they are malignant causing invasion of neighboring tissues due to the excessive growth. The tumours may also travel to remote organs through the bloodstream.
The three most common skin cancers are :
- Basal cell cancer
- Squamous cell cancer
- melanoma, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises.

Symptoms of skin cancer :
- These include changes in the skin that do not heal, ulcering in the skin, discolored skin, and changes in existing moles, such as jagged edges to the mole and enlargement of the mole.
- In the case of the basal cell carcinoma generally a raised, smooth, pearly bump on the skin of the head, neck or shoulders is visible sometimes crusting and bleeding in the center of the tumor also develops.
- In the case of Squamous cell carcinoma a thick patch develops red in color. Ulcers and bleeding can also develop.
- The melanomas have brown or black colored lesions. The signs of malignant melanoma include a change in size, shape, color or elevation in the pre-existing mole.

Causes of Skin cancer :
- Smoking tobacco and related products can double the risk of skin cancer.
- Overexposure to UV-radiation.
- Chronic non-healing wounds, especially burns.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Human papilloma virus (HPV) is often associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the genitals, anus, mouth, pharynx, and fingers.
- Skin cancer is one of the potential dangers of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.
- Deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals.