Skin Cancer Basics

Tuesday, May 12 2009

As the most common form of cancer, most people know about skin cancer.  With various types of skin cancer and different causes of skin cancer, it can seem like a difficult task to become aware of important information about this health issue.  Here are some basic things to get you started on your way:

Skin Cancer is the most common form of cancer in humans.
More than 1 million new cases of skin cancer occur every year.  It is estimated that nearly half of all Americans will develop skin cancer at least once during their lifetimes.

“Skin cancer” can refer to any of three conditions.
Melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma are all forms of skin cancer.
UV light exposure is the most common cause of skin cancer.

The sun and commercial tanning beds are two sources of ultraviolet radiation.  Both types of UV light that reach the earth (UVA and UVB) contribute to skin cancer.

Fair skinned people are at greater risk.
People who are fair skinned, have light (blond or red) hair, and have blue or green eyes are at the greatest risk for developing skin cancer.

Risk increases with age.
Generally, skin cancer develops slowly, so the risk of developing skin cancer increases with age.  Damage to the skin that occurs during childhood may not be known until much later in life. 

Skin cancer is generally divided into two stages.
At the “local” stage, skin cancer affects only the skin.  At the “metastatic” stage, the cancer has spread beyond the skin.

There are a variety of treatments for skin cancer.
Depending on the condition of the cancer, a variety of methods can be used to treat it, including excisional surgery, laser therapy, freezing, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Most skin cancer can be prevented.
Limiting or avoiding exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and watching skin for noticeable changes are ways to prevent skin cancer.  Protect yourself by avoiding the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the strongest.  Wearing sunscreen and protective clothing also protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.  Prescription medication is also available to repair skin damage.

Now that you have some basic knowledge of skin cancer, take the time to do some additional research on the subject.  Websites like WebMd and eMedicineHealth have a wealth of information on the topic of skin cancer.