The Importance Of Knowing How To Detect Skin Cancer
Knowing How to Detect Skin Cancer Early Will Prevent Further Spreading
It is no secret that number of people who are affected by some form of cancer is on the uprise, with skin cancer being the most prevalent; therefore, it is important to learn how to detect skin cancer. In the United States alone, over two million people are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer every year. There are three classifications of skin cancer, which are – melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.
Therefore it is important that you learn the following key areas in order to stay healthy and be prudent enough to self-diagnose.
- How To Detect Skin Cancer
- How To Check For Skin Cancer
- How To Treat Skin Cancer
- How To Identify Skin Cancer.
Early detection will lead to successfully overcoming these three types of cancer, although melanoma is considered the most serious type out of the three classifications. Yet, it is important to know 1) how to detect squamous cell carcinoma and 2) how to detect basal cell carcinoma as well, since these two kinds of cancer are the most common, with squamous cell carcinoma taking precedence over basal cell carcinoma. In the medical field, these two kinds of skin cancer are categorized as non-melanoma skin cancer.
Learn How to Detect Skin Cancer and Use Sunscreen
The Cancer Society consistently warns people to avoid long exposures to the sun and to faithfully wear a sunscreen that contains SPF, Sun Protection Filter, with a minimal strength of 15x SPF. A regular, thorough self-examination is detrimental in detecting skin cancer, but you may be wondering just how to detect skin cancer early.
Key Elements of How to Check for Skin Cancer Early
There are key elements to look for in the detection of skin cancer, which you can learn to look for. If you are unsure of how to check for skin cancer, these are the early warning signs: 1) an unusual skin growth that keeps increasing in size, with a color that appears multi-colored, black, brown, tan, pearly or translucent 2) mole, freckle, beauty mark that keeps increasing in size, changes color or texture, is shaped irregularly, becomes evident after age 21 and is larger than a pencil eraser (1/4” or 6mm) 3) an open sore that is not healing (3 weeks or more) 4) a sore or spot that will not stop bleeding, eroding, crusting or scabbing, hurting or itching.
Knowing How to Treat Skin Cancer is Important
The next concern for people is how to treat skin cancer. Treatment of skin cancer is dependent upon factors such as: type, size, location and depth. Skin cancers that are small and superficial (on skin surface) may only need any treatment other than a skin biopsy which will mean removal of the whole growth. The possible options if further treatment is required are: freezing, excisional surgery (removal), laser therapy, Mohs surgery (may include squamous and basal cell carcinomas), curettage and electrodessication (growth removed, layers scraped etc), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT) (combination of laser light and drugs destroy skin cancer cells) and biological therapy (treatments stimulate immune system to kill cancer cells, medications).
The ABCDEs of How to Identify Skin Cancer
When patients wonder how to identify skin cancer, doctors often instruct them in using the ABCDE method. This method stand for: 1) Asymmetry – unusually shaped, irregular moles 2) Border irregularity – borders of moles that are scalloped, uneven or notched 3) Color Changes – lesions with unusual or oddly distributed color 4) D – Diameter – lesions, moles larger than ¼ “ or 6mm 5) Evolving – moles, lesions that become itchy, bleed, ooze or change in size, shape or color.
The Importance of Knowing How to Detect Squamous Cell Carcinoma
In the other two classifications of skin cancer, you may wonder how to detect squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cancer is typically found on areas that experience sun exposure consistently, such as the face, neck, head, arms and hands, but it can also be found orally. To detect this type of skin cancer, look for small, reddish, scaly areas on skin that ulcerate or crust. It can grow quickly and if left untreated, it can cause death.
Learning How to Detect Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is known as the most prevalent form of skin cancer, commonly striking fair-skinned people. If you would like to know how to detect basal cell carcinoma, look for a growth that is raised (dome-shaped) and is covered with superficial, tiny blood vessels (telangiectases). It will be pearly and shiny. Instead of shiny, it may look dark due to melanin pigment. On the back or chest, basal cell carcinoma will appear patchy with raw, dry skin. The growth is slow, so check any strange and new skin change to a physician.
As the adage states: ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ and this is certainly true when it comes to knowing how to detect skin cancer early.
