Different Types of Skin Cancer
There are over one million new cases of people affected by the different types of skin cancer per year in the United States. This makes the disease the most common form of cancer in the country.
Cancer risk factors include exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun which can damage the DNA of cells, family history of the disease, and more. The different types of skin cancer are classified according to the type of skin cells from which they initially develop. Symptoms include new growths, changes in old growths, and sores that do not disappear or heal. Among the different types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and malignant melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the two most common types of skin cancer—they belong to the non-melanoma family, which is less serious than melanoma cancers. Almost all cases of non-melanoma skin cancers are linked to sun exposure—”extended periods under the sun over many years. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is rarely deadly; however it can cause disfigurement. Of all the types of different skin cancer, it is the most widespread but least detrimental. It grows at a slow rate generally on the neck, face, upper chest and back, and usually does not spread to the organs. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), however, does spread in some cases—slowly so. It usually appears in the same parts of the body as basal cell carcinoma, as well as on the tops of hands and arms. Surgical removal to the lymph nodes might be necessary to prevent spread to organs, if caught in time. Malignant melanoma is very rare among the different types of skin cancer and can be fatal. It spreads speedily and readily from the skin to the bloodstream or lymph system and to the organs. It usually afflicts people who receive occasional but strong sun exposure, and it usually grows somewhere between the neck and legs. Much attention is given to the different types of skin cancer; therefore, it would not be difficult to find information on the topic and learn about prevention. For starters—avoid the sun and tanning beds, and make sunscreen part of your daily regimen.
