Sickle Cell Disease Thyroid Kidney stones Tailbone Leukemia Kidney injury Small intestine Kidney infection Blood Cholesterol Chondropathies Warts Mold Spores

SOS - Skin Cancer

Source: www.cancer.org
Topic: Skin
Download: Click here!

Sort Desciption: Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Fortunately, most skin cancers are slow-growing, easy to recognize, and relatively easy to treat when detected early. Skin cancers are either nonmelanoma or melanoma. ...

Content Inside:
Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Fortunately, most skin cancers are slow-growing, easy to recognize, and relatively easy to treat when detected early. Skin cancers are either nonmelanoma or melanoma.

Most skin cancers are nonmelanoma, meaning they occur in either basal cells or squamous cells. These cells are located at the base of the outer layer of the skin or cover the internal and external surfaces of the body. Most non- melanoma skin cancers develop on sun-exposed areas of the body, like the face, ear, neck, lips, and the backs of the hands. Depending on the type, they can be fast- or slow-growing, but they rarely spread to other parts of the body.

Melanoma skin cancers develop from melanocytes, the cells that produce our skin color. Melanoma is curable when it is detected in its early stages. Although melanoma accounts for only 4% of skin cancers, it is a far more serious skin cancer, and it causes about 73% of skin cancer deaths.

Opportunities

Prevention The best way to prevent skin cancer is to limit unprotected exposure to the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Most of the skin can be protected with clothing and broad-brimmed hats. Wraparound sunglasses provide the best protection for the eyes and the skin around the eyes. Sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more should be used on areas of skin exposed to the sun. The use of tanning parlors and sun lamps should be avoided.

Detection The American Cancer Society recommends a cancer-related checkup by a physician, including skin examination, during a periodic health examination for people ages 20 and older. Everyone should know their own pattern of moles, blemishes, freckles, and other marks on the skin so they can notice changes during monthly self-examinations. Key warning signs of non- melanoma skin cancers are a new growth, a spot that is getting larger, or a visible sore that does not heal within three months.

For melanoma, the most important warning sign is a change in the size, shape, or color of a mole or signs that its border is becoming more ragged. Other symptoms include scaliness, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule; the spread of pigmentation beyond its border; or a change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness, or pain. People who notice these kinds of signs should see their doctor immediately. ...

Name (required)

E-mail (required - never shown publicly)

URI (optional)

Your Comment

Verification Code

© 2007-2009 HealthPDF.org | Design by Ganesh Gunasegaran
Privacy Policy

All files and contents mentioned are the property of their respective owners. This page consists of a compilation of public information, commonly available on the internet, at multiple sites, as well as official websites. No information on this page is guaranteed to be correct, and any data contained here may be erroneous.