Among the various types of cancers prevalent in humans, skin cancer is the most widespread. In United States of America alone, more than 1 million are diagnosed with some form or type of the skin cancer. Cancer is the uncontrolled expansion and multiplication of cells. These cells then develop into a mass which is known as tumor and skin cancer is the tumor which occurs on the skin. The malignant tumors spread to the neighboring tissues and destroys them. It can also travel to various areas of the body via the bloodstream. The most common cause for skin cancer is ultraviolet radiations which are contained in the sunlight. Skin cancer can also occur due to high exposure to the sunlight, use of tanning booths, impairment of the immunosuppression system of the body by some disease, long-term contact with elements like arsenic and other types of hydrocarbons, high number of moles on the body, genetic transfer of cancerous genes, etc.
Symptoms of Skin Cancer
1. Basal cell carcinoma
The most primary form of cancer is the basal cell carcinoma which looks like a raised, pearly and smooth bump on the skin. It occurs on the skin exposed to the sun. It can occur on the head, shoulder or neck. Small blood vessels can be seen within the tumor. It is evident to the naked eye as well. Ulceration (crusting and bleeding) having a central depression occurs on the skin. Many of you confuse basal cell carcinoma with a sore that is not healing. This is often a very dangerous mistake and the basal cell evolves into a more malignant form which is very difficult to heal.
2. Squamous cell carcinoma
Another form of cancer is the squamous cell carcinoma. It has scaling and well-defined thickened patches which occur on the sun exposed part of the skin. The squamous cell carcinoma is also like the basal cell carcinoma as it bleeds and ulcerates. If the squamous cell carcinoma is left untreated, it develops into a larger mass of tumor. Other majorities of tumors and malignant melanomas are black- to brown-colored pigmented lesions.
3. Mole
If an existing mole in your body starts to bleed, ulcerate, has pain or a new mole appears on any part of your body, you should get it examined by the doctor or the health examiner. You must also frequently check your body against the development of new moles, once in a while.
4. Cutaneous horn
A funnel type growth that extends from a red base to the skin is called cutaneous horn. Compacted keratin is its constituent. Most of them are only a few millimeters in length though their size and shape and structure varies from body to body. The formation of squamous cell carcinoma is at the base and usually fair skinned people with continued exposure to sunlight are more prone to them.
5. Farmer’s lip
Farmer’s lip or sailor’s lip or solar chelitis is the growth on skin based of increased exposure to sunlight. If the exposure to sunlight is more in the early years of the individual’s growth, the proneness to the disease increases. Arsenic like constituents in smoke which are carcinogenic in character are also an important contributor to sailor’s lip. Poorly fitted skin dentures also cause irritation in lower lip which might lead to the occurrence of this disease.
The other effective way for detection of tumor and cancer is the ABCDE guideline.
A – Asymmetry
The normal moles or Freckel which appear on the body are totally symmetrical, with their one side identical to the other. If a line is drawn through these halves, we get a replica in structure of the two halves. But in a cancerous growth, one side of the lesion differs from the appearance of other and their is an asymmetry which is clearly evident.
B – Border irregularity
The normal moles have clear boundaries. But in cancerous moles and growths on the body, the margins are notched and are irregular with no clear boundaries. The jagged edges can thus be helpful in determining cancerous cells.
C – Color melanomas
The normal moles have the same color but the cancerous moles have hues of different colors. The moles occur in different colors such as blue, black, brown, red or white and hence are easily identifiable.
D – Diameter
A cancerous legion has a minimum diameter of 6 mm, i.e. the size of a pencil eraser. Thus if a large sized mole appears on your body, you need to get it examined immediately by the doctor.
E – Elevation
The cancerous mole is usually elevated from the surface and the surface in itself is not uneven.
People which have their body exposed for a prolonged period to the sunlight should get their mole and body examinations done on a regular basis. You should also contact your physician, if you find any changes in the pigments of your skin changing in shape, color or texture.
