5 Risk Factors for Skin Cancer People Must Consider

Nearly everyone knows that skin cancer is a very real possibility, but few are aware of exactly how little it takes to prevent this potentially deadly illness. More than one million people are diagnosed each year with various forms of skin cancer. Colorado Springs residents aren't an exception to this statistic. Here are a few risk factors you may not have previously considered.

· Ongoing exposure to UV radiation, particularly if you're unprotected at the time, puts you at much higher risk for this condition. There are many potential sources of UV radiation that you may not be aware of, too. Sunlight is perhaps the largest source of this type of radiation, but UV lamps, some welding equipment, and even phototherapy lamps can also place you in areas where the UV radiation occurs at a much higher concentration.

· If you have a fair complexion, you're at a much higher risk of skin cancer. Colorado Springs residents who don't have naturally darker skin may find themselves coming down with this condition at much higher rates than those with other pigmentations. While this isn't a primary risk factor, it's certainly something to be aware of every time you go out in the sun.

· Some jobs may put you at greater risk of this condition. If your job involves coal tar or pitch as well as arsenic compounds, radium, or even creosote, skin cancer is a very real possibility, and your employer should provide you ongoing screenings to ensure you're exposure rates haven't been too high.

· Childhood may also play a role in skin cancer. Colorado Springs adults who experienced sunburns as a child are far more likely to be diagnosed with one of the many forms of skin cancer than others are. Because the UV radiation can take some time to build up in your system, by the time you reach adulthood, you could be looking at some very real consequences for serious burns as a child.

· Individuals with multiple moles are also considered to be in a high risk category. Keeping an eye on every mole you have for changes is essential, as it can help you notify health professionals in plenty of time.

Whether you're at greater risk than others or you've just noticed a change in your skin that you're suddenly concerned about, contacting the right professional help is an absolute must to diagnose and treat this condition early.

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Stages of Skin Cancer

It seems to me that most people don't really know very much about skin cancer. There are those who definitely fear it and may even overreact in protecting themselves.

But there are a large number of people who see some changes in their skin and just figure it will go away, in time. So they ignore it and in time it may just go away.

But the next time a change occurs on their skin, it may not go away. Still yet they may just live with it until it starts to become a matter of big concern.

And even then they may need some pushing from their spouse or a true friend to go have it checked out by a dermatologist and/or a qualified doctor of alternative medicine. You may even want to work with both.

Some skin cancers are slow growing and some can start to grow and spread quickly, even internally without you ever noticing a thing. All you ever notice is that small bump, crusty or discolored spot or lesions on the surface of your skin, not knowing what skin cancer stage it could be.

So in an effort to make you react right away when you see ANY little changes occur on your skin, I want to make it clear what the stages of skin cancer are.

Non-Melanoma Stages

• Stage 0: This is when cells are starting to form abnormally. They are precancerous, but have the potential to become cancerous. This is the very best time to react, when you see something Abnormal.
• Stage I: The abnormal cells have now become cancerous and the diameter of the lesion is less than 2 cm. (about the diameter of a pencil eraser). At this point it has not spread beyond the surface of the skin.
• Stage II: Now the cancerous area is greater than 2 cm. (about the size of a marble +). It still has not spread beyond the surface of the skin.
• Stage III: It has spread to other adjoining areas and you may not even be able to notice it. The regional lymph nodes now could be involved.
• Stage IV: The cancer has spread to other distant areas of the body and it could be involving internal organs.

Melanoma Stages

• Stage 0: Abnormal discolored cell will start to show up. It could be as simple as a dark colored mole.
• Stage I: Cancerous cells are now present. At this point they are less than 2 mm. thick. This is about the thickness of a quarter.
• Stage II: The cancerous spot is now between 2 and 4 millimeters in thickness (between 1 and 2 quarters placed together). They are still only confined to the skin.
• Stage III: The melanoma skin cancer has spread beyond the skin and now involves the lymph nodes.
• Stage IV: It has now gone even beyond the lymph nodes and reached such vital organs as the liver, lungs and brain.

So as you can see skin cancer is something everyone needs to be aware of and it's something you should take seriously. The skin cancer warning signs are there to tell you something.

Don't be afraid!...Just be aware!...and then react!

This may be copied in it's entirety, however you must include my website information.

I am a 20 year survivor of stage III squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer. So, much of what I say comes from my own experiences. If you want to learn more about skin cancer visit

http://www.skin-cancer-experiences.com/skin-cancer-warning-signs.html

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Skin Self-Examination - What Does Skin Cancer Look Like?

Skin cancer is a common form of cancer which can usually be successfully treated if caught in an early stage of development. It's important to detect skin cancer early, because even melanoma, the most difficult form of skin cancer to treat, has a high recovery rate if treated before metastasis. What does skin cancer look like? Only a doctor can tell you if you have skin cancer, but there are some warning signs you can look for to let you know when you need to ask for a doctor's opinion.

The first symptom of skin cancer is a tumor on the skin. Since these tumors appear on the skin, they are easily detected at an early stage, making rapid treatment a possibility. While it is less known than a breast exam, people can do their part to detect skin cancer early by doing a skin self-examination. Instructions are available on how to do a thorough examination, but the basic idea is that you check your entire skin area for anything unusual. This includes your scalp, between your toes, and every part of your skin.

It is important to be familiar with your body so that you notice any differences. Nevi or moles are extremely common, and the average person has 10 to 40 of them. Even having some dysplastic nevi, irregularly-shaped moles, is common. These are benign growths and they are nothing to worry about. However, you should be familiar with your moles and their appearance. New moles and changes in the appearance, texture, or color of old moles could be a sign of a cancerous tumor developing, and you should consult your doctor if something like this occurs.

Basal cell and squamous skin cancer can appear as a new, strange-looking mole, or as an area resembling a rash or a sore which does not heal normally. The key to detecting these cancers early is to do skin self-examinations, and consult a doctor if there are any such irregularities.

Melanoma has an appearance which may be more striking and obvious. This is a deadlier form of skin cancer, affecting the melanocytes which lay beneath the epidermis. These cells give pigment to your skin, and these are the types of cells which form nevi. If you discover a new dysplastic nevus that was not previously on your body, you should see a doctor. Early detection and early treatment are necessary to prevent the cancer from spreading. A discolored mole, a mole which has increased in size or is surrounded by discolored or broken skin, or an asymmetrical mole may be a cancerous tumor and should be examined by a doctor.

Regular skin self-examinations can help you detect irregularities which should be evaluated by a medical professional. What does skin cancer look like? Looks can be deceiving, and only your doctor can tell you for sure, but there are some warning signs which can help you detect and eliminate skin cancer in its early stages.

To learn much more about the different types skin cancer, visit http://www.SkinCancer-101.com where you'll find this and much more, including skin cancer signs.

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First Signs of Skin Cancer - Early Warnings

Skin cancer, a disease in which cells lose the ability to grow in normal healthy ways, is a rising concern for many people. Every year, 1.3 million American people are diagnosed with some kind of skin cancer, and almost half of everyone in the country will have had some form of skin cancer by the time they are 65. It seems like a bleak picture, but the good news is that modern medical technology can cure almost every known form of skin cancer as long as it is detected early and given the proper treatment, which means that knowing the first signs of skin cancer and being aware of the symptoms can save millions from this disease.

Skin cancer often takes the form of a sore or a pimple that won't heal, typically appearing as an abnormal growth on the skin. The first sign of skin cancer is if these sores or growths either appear out of nowhere, or significantly alter their shape. They might also ooze fluid or crust and scab over, and will simply not heal over or reduce in size, regardless of over-the-counter treatment. The growths might change in size or color, marking them as an area for concern, you should tell your doctor anytime that you develop a new growth on the skin, or a mole, sore, or other spot on the skin significantly changes in size or shape. The outward signs of skin cancer usually appear on parts of the body that are most often exposed to the sun, such as the v-shaped area of the chest, the face, the neck, and the upper back. Remember that only a doctor can tell if a skin growth is benign or cancerous.

Something that's important to know while you're looking for the first signs of skin cancer is how to do a self-examination and see if there is anything that you need to ask your doctor about. You can give yourself a regular check-over for any new growths or to monitor if one might be changing, to look for sores or moles. In particular, you want to look for signs of melanoma, the most malignant and dangerous forms of cancer. To look for melanoma, you want to look for things like the growth being asymmetrical, where one side has a different shape than the other. When the growth has scalloped or uneven edges or has more than one color is another sign of a possible melanoma, they may be black, have colored specks in them, or be shades of brown. Also, if the size measured edge to edge is bigger than a pencil eraser on a new growth, it could be a melanoma.

Skin cancer can be a frightening thing, however it is almost always extremely treatable and can be cured with a minimum of damage to the body if it is discovered early enough. Doctors and medical associations constantly stress the importance of knowing the first signs of skin cancer and being able to check yourself for melanomas, and now, you can.

Katie Appleby is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about first signs of skin cancer: early warnings [http://healthtopicssite.info/first-signs-of-skin-cancer-early-warnings], please visit Health Topics Site [http://healthtopicssite.info] for current articles and discussions.

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The Dangers of Skin Cancer

Regardless of what cancer you are talking about, they truth is they are all frightening. While there is no method of prevention that is surefire, there are behaviors and actions you can take to increase your likelihood of not getting cancer. While each cancer is its own entity and has different causes and symptoms associated with it, the fundamentals of each have some similarities. Therefore, there are some methods of prevention that are affective for cancer in general.

For instance, having a healthy diet and exercising regularly are important for prevention no matter what cancer you are referring to. However, as far as skin cancer is concerned, doing as much as you can to protect your skin from getting over-exposed is far more critical.

Should Not Be Taken Lightly

Despite constantly hearing about how awful skin cancer is, many people out there still don't take it seriously enough to involve preventative measures to avoid it. The common feeling that many have is that it won't happen to them. As a result, many aren't aware of the signs and symptoms and don't realize they have cancer until its too late.

Because more types have been identified now more than ever, learning about the dangers of skin cancer has become even more critical. Of course, even more important is knowing all of the measures that can be taken to get protection from the sun and avoid getting skin cancer.

Different Types

Before learning more about prevention, you should probably take a step back and take the time to know more about the various kinds of skin cancer that can affect the human body. To put into perspective, there are approximately twenty different types out there. However, there are three that occur most often. One of the most dangerous types is melanoma, even though it only represents about 4% of all skin cancers.

You can detect melanoma fairly easily most of the time. One warning sign in particular is a spot that resembles a freckle, while being flat and brown with asymmetrical or irregular edges.

As mentioned, this is a very important issue that you should not taken lightly. The best measure is always prevention, so learn and put into action all the ways that will help you avoid getting cancer to begin with. By visiting your doctor or even a dermatologist, you can learn more about it and all the things you can do in order to prevent it.

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How to Find Out If You Have Skin Cancer

The method of discovering skin cancer, the most widespread kind of cancer in the US, may be practiced by a once a month personal evaluation coupled along with an annual trip to your physician. Fast detection is important due to the fact, if identified quickly enough, skin cancer is nearly always curable.

At this time there are 3 primary kinds, most of which are generally noticeable if an individual knows exactly what to look for. Melanoma, one of the major types of skin cancer, is actually the most serious. This type of skin cancer is by far the most difficult to get rid of once it has propagated through the body, that is the reason why fast detection and therapy are essential. Skin cancer, of any type, may normally be addressed with success in it's earlier phases.

Almost everybody has got freckles, birthmarks and moles. These types of skin conditions are observed within the majority of us and you are used to looking at them, yet you might not really see minor changes right now and that's exactly what one will need to be watching for. Any kind of transformation in a mole's form, edges, dimensions or even colour ought to get examined by a doctor. If a mole gets greater as compared to that of a pencil eraser or perhaps if it's colour is several tones of brownish instead of a solid colour, these tend to be possible warning signs of skin cancer. A mole's edge ought to be nicely outlined and, if that's not the scenario, inform your physician. Furthermore, any kind of sore which won't mend or even a mole that develops much larger at a quick speed ought to get examined right away.

Choosing to find medical treatment can be tough. Because of this, It's ideal to select a doctor which you're relaxed with, like a family physician. Your chosen doctor can certainly have a look at your skin and send you to your dermatologist if required. The presence of skin cancer can be confirmed by extracting all, or even a portion, of the area in question and examining this using a microscope. Surgical procedures are frequently utilised for the elimination of the cancer and, if performed in the earlier stages, may end up being a really fast procedure. There will probably be scar tissue, however the dermatologist may very well have the option to fully eliminate all cancerous tissue using just a really small incision.

If your cancer seems to have spread, or is quite significant within the identified region, further surgery might end up being needed. If so, chemotherapy or even radiation therapies could be required to make certain the cancer can be totally eliminated. Your doctor may be able to answer just about all inquiries which you might have and ought to do this with no hesitation. Whenever meeting with a physician, request for a good description of all treatment plans, such as their probability for success with your specific situation. Determining to look for medical treatment is a huge step and one in which the patient should get emotionally prepared for.

If you want to see some examples of skin cancer check out my blog for skin cancer pictures.

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Skin Cancer Signs and Symptoms

Skin cancer is a very dangerous and common diseases which can have many different causes. It can occur anywhere on the body, but it is most common in skin that has been exposed to sunlight, such as the face, neck, hands, and arms.The most common skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma.

This disease represents the most commonly diagnosed malignancy, surpassing lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer but unlike other cancers only a very small number of people die from it. There are a variety of different symptoms and different types have different symptoms.

• ulcering in the skin
• changes in the skin that do not heal
• changes in existing moles
• discolored skin
• Areas of the skin that are:
  • Scaly, bleeding, or crusty
  • Flat, rough, red or brown, and scaly.
  • Small, raised, smooth, shiny, and waxy.
  • Similar to a scar and firm

Signs of possible actinic keratosis are: Cracking or peeling of the lower lip and a rough, red, pink, or brown, raised, scaly patch on the skin. It is impossible to completely eliminate the possibility of skin cancer, the risk of developing such a cancer can be reduced significantly with the following steps:

• avoiding sun exposure during the day
• wearing protective clothing
• reducing exposure to ultraviolet radiation
• reapply sun block every 2 hours and after swimming
• using a broad-spectrum sunscreen

Basal cell carcinoma

It is the most comon type of this disease and it occurs on areas of the skin that have been in the sun, most often the nose. Often this appears as a small raised bump that has a smooth, pearly appearance. Basal cell carcinoma may spread to tissues around the cancer.

Squamous cell carcinoma

It occurs on areas of the skin that have been in the sun, such as the ears, lower lip, and the back of the hands. Squamous cell carcinoma may also appear on areas of the skin that have been burned or exposed to chemicals or radiation. Often this cancer appears as a firm red bump.

Actinic keratosis

It is a skin condition that fortunately is not cancer but can change to squamous cell carcinoma. It occurs in areas that have been exposed to the sun, such as the face, the back of the hands, and the lower lip.

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Skin Cancer Warning Signs - Understanding Detection Methods

It is necessary for you to know the warning signs if you want to detect skin cancer before it grows beyond control. You should look closely at your body, paying special notice to any changes that might be happening to any discolorations or moles on your skin.

If you find a growth on your skin that suddenly appears or changes in its size you ought to have it checked out by your GP. This is particularly true if it is translucent, tan, pearly, brown, black or has multiple colors. This could be one of the early signs of skin cancer and you should have it checked as quickly as possible so you can get it treated and dealt with while it still is in the initial stages.

If you notice signs of cancer instantly contact a physician in order to deal with the condition in its earliest stages. During a self exam you should concentrate on areas of your skin such as moles that have been present for a long time. A warning sign of skin cancer is change in color or shape of moles and colouration. You should always consult a physician before self-diagnosing skin cancer.

Keep an eye on wounds or cuts which will not heal. This is one of the early warning signs of cancer that should be observed. You possibly notice if you've got a cut on your skin that is just not healing. Have your GP take a look and if they feel there is a reason they're going to test for skin cancer.

Being mindful of the signs of skin cancer is your responsibility and only you can watch your own health. To make sure that you fight the battle against cancer, do all you can to protect yourself including consulting a doctor and using sun lotion when out of doors.

You should cover as much skin as feasible, and apply sun lotion to all exposed skin. Between 10 AM and four PM, when the sun is brightest, avoid sunlight when possible. Wear a wide-brimmed hat if you want to venture outside during this time.

Take the time to learn the skin cancer warning signs and protect your skin and you should be ready to do your part to prevent cancer or catch it in an early enough stage to fight it successfully.

When it comes to your health, you do not want to take any chances. You want genuine information and you want it now. Want to learn more? Go to http://theskincancersymptoms.com/article to get advice and videos on skin cancer.

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What Are Common Skin Cancer Warning Signs?

At one point in time, many considered a golden sun kissed body a sign of beauty. Yet, along with this beauty, it has since been learned, can come a very costly price. Overexposure or prolonged exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer. However, being able to recognize skin cancer warning signs is a valuable skill whether or not you consider yourself to be at high risk or not from sun exposure. This form of cancer is not always directly related to UV rays. Other factors contribute to cancerous growths on the skin
.
Like most other cancers, the quicker that skin cancer is detected and treated the better. Therefore, it is essential to examine your skin periodically for any new or unusual blemishes, moles, freckles or sores. One of the earliest skin cancer warning signs includes a mole or freckle that grows, changes color, or changes shape. These growths can vary from brown to black to translucent. Another alert are any wounds that do not heal or remain irritated. These should be checked by a doctor immediately. Brown or red spots that are often dismissed as skin pigment discoloration can also lead to cancer of the skin. Watch for scaling or rough textures in these areas.

Early skin cancer warning signs are often dismissed due to the fact that most people have multiple different types of moles, birthmarks, and freckles. Many contribute these to aging rather than skin cancer. They typically do not follow up with medical consultation early. They either fear hearing the worst and put off the doctor visit, simply do not take time to make an appointment, or are ashamed of visiting the doctor resulting in over reaction to a blemish.

It is always best to have a spot checked and learn that it is benign than to wait and later discover that you have cancer on your skin. Skin cancer comes in many different forms. It is impossible to diagnosis a spot as malignant or begin based on your other spots or the spots of friends. Never let skin cancer warning signs go unattended or unchecked thoroughly by a doctor before dismissing them as a common freckle, mole, or sign of aging.

Although some spots may not be actual cancer on your skin, they can be indications that one should be more cautious about watching for other skin cancer warning signs. For example, dysplastic naevi, larger irregular moles, are not cancerous but they do often mean that you are more prone to melanoma. Sunspots are also indicators that a person could be at higher risk for cancer on the skin.

Skin cancer is a serious disease that needs immediate attention by a specialist. However, if caught early enough, this cancer can be successfully treated. The key to containing and ridding your skin of cancer is recognizing the skin cancer warning signs that indicate you may have more than a common skin blemish

My name is Jesse Sbicca and I want to share the rest of my life influencing and helping others. My website http://visionpotion.com/ is designed to educate and inform you on the subjects of health, diet, beauty and self improvement. Furthermore, I have decided to recommend different products throughout my website that have helped me to personally balance my mental, spiritual and physical health. Thanks for stopping by and for just information on skin cancer warning signs, check out my site at http://skincancer-warningsigns.blogspot.com/

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Skin Cancer Warning Signs - Five Signs and How to Prevent Skin Cancer

Why is it important to know the five signs of skin cancer? It is important to know them because once you know the skin cancer warning signs, you can save yourself from getting worse. And if you do not have the signs, you should learn how to prevent it. This article will tell you what the five skin cancer warning signs are and how to prevent skin cancer.

The Five signs:

1. You see a sore or spot on your skin for more than a month straight without healing

2. You see a spot or experience a sore that itches, hurt, scab, crust or bleeding more than a month

3. You see or experience an area of the skin that ulcerates or broke down without any obvious cause and does not heal in a month

4.You see a shiny pink or red lump on your face, scalp, ears, hands, shoulders or back

5.You see pink lumps that may bleed easily and ulcerate. It is often found on the face, neck and limps

These are some skin cancer warning signs and when you know it, you should really get a treatment. However, if you are NOT seeing any signs that you are having cancer, it is always important to prevent it and save yourself and decrease the likelihood. We all know that prevention is better than cure. Read on to learn how to prevent yourself from cancer.

What can you do to prevent cancer?

Studies have shown that those who take Resveratrol have better skin health. Resveratrol is a food supplement that has helps many people in achieving a healthier and better health. It can also help one to lower their blood sugar level significantly. Resveratrol has also been featured in the Oprah program and on other TV programs as well. It is also perfect for anyone who wishes to lose weight. Read below to find out more about what are the health benefits of Resveratrol.

What are health benefits of Resveratrol:

>Increase lifespan
>Prevent likelihood of having cancer
>More athletic nature
>Radiation protection
>Reduce Neurodegenerative Disease

These are just some of the benefits of Resveratrol. Its ability to cure sickness and prevent cancer has made it really popular in the market. Do not wait for the skin cancer warning signs to show up, prevent it as soon as possible with the help of Resveratrol.

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Don't Ignore Skin Cancer Warning Signs

As we move toward beach season, we'll all be spending more time outdoors and raising our chances of joining the ranks of the 1 million people the American Cancer Society tells us are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, which is why it's vital not to ignore skin cancer warning signs.

Experts firmly believe many of these cancers are sun related, which means there are things you can do, even in the summer or at the beach, to protect yourself and those you love from this most common of cancers.

Our skin is actually the largest organ of the body, covering the internal organs, protecting them from harm and offering a barrier against infection. Skin also helps regulate your body temperature and gets rid of extra water and salts.

Some skin cells are known to communicate with the brain to help sense temperature, touch and pain.

When it comes to skin cancer, there are three classifications - basal cell, squamous cell, or the more serious (and deadly) melanoma.

Both basal and squamous cell cancers are found mostly on parts of the body regularly exposed to the sun - the head, neck, earlobes and such.

They happen most often in those who spend, or have spent, lots of time in the sun.

While these forms of skin cancer aren't fatal, you still need to have them taken care of because they can invade, and disfigure, nearby tissues.

Melanomas are another story.

These cancers can show up anywhere on the body - more likely on the trunk and legs.

Those with darker skin tones can have this form of cancer on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands where the pigment is lighter.

The danger of this form of skin cancer is that it often goes too long undetected, and so has a chance to spread.

Your best bet when it comes to avoiding skin cancer is to stay out of intense sunlight for long periods, and be sure to practice sun safety no matter what season it is.

This doesn't mean you can't enjoy time out in the sun, but avoid the most intense hours from 10:00 in the morning to well after 2:00 (some say as late as 4:00) in the afternoon.

A bit of sun is fine and needed to boost your levels of vitamin D, but too much is when trouble can start.

When it comes to sunscreen or lip balm, look for SPF of 15 or more, and use a generous amount when you first apply. Be sure to reapply your product every 2 to 4 hours, or after you go swimming, towel dry or sweat profusely.

Experts warn that you should never skip sunscreen on hazy or overcast days - UV rays go right through clouds.

When you're considering sunscreen products, look beyond the SPF number at the expiration dates of any product you buy and make sure you follow the application directions.

If you'll be in the water a lot, the waterproof formulas are better than water resistant brands. And remember, a higher SPF number relates only to UVB rays and can work just as well as a lower number, applied properly.

You may see products that claim to provide both UVA and UVB ray protection, but according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, "At this time there is no standard system for measuring protection from UVA rays."

Beyond wearing sunscreen and avoiding the most intense hours of sunlight, here are some other helpful suggestions for protecting yourself from skin cancer.

- Wear sunglasses to shield your eyes from cataracts, as well as melanoma of the eye or skin caner at the temples. Look for UVA/UVB protection of 99 to 100%.

- Look for shade that casts a shadow, or cover up with a tee or sweats.

- Consider sun protection clothing that's tightly knit and is typically coated with substances able to absorb UV rays.

- Do a skin check once a month that covers your whole body and look for anything skin change, or a mole that's Asymmetrical, has irregular Borders, Color or Diameter. Being familiar with the blemishes of your body helps you spot changes, and get treatment early, when cure rates are high.

- Stay away from using tanning beds (or sun lamps) on a regular basis, the lamps used in the beds send out UVA (and UVB sometimes) rays in concentrated doses, accelerating the total UV radiation. What happens is that you end up with skin cancer at an earlier age. This increases the risk of getting skin cancer at an early age.

If you're determined to have that sun kissed look, self tanners are a safe, effective way to get it.

These products often contain SPF as well, so you get a bronzed glow that has you looking thinner and healthier, while also offering good protection for your skin, and hopefully keeping you and your loved ones free of skin cancer warning signs.

Next just head on over to the Daily Health Bulletin for more information on how to recognize and avoid skin cancer warning signs, plus get 5 free fantastic health reports.

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What Are the Early Warning Signs of Skin Cancer?

Symptoms of Skin Cancer

There are a number of skin afflictions that may happen to an individual in an entire lifespan. However, none is more serious than the advent of skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer among humans. It was appraised that about 1 in 10 people will develop malignancy at least once in a lifetime.

Despite these facts, skin cancer is easily detectable mainly because it manifests itself at the skin exterior. Knowing how to distinguish between typical skin disorders and cancers is essential in enhancing one's value of life.

What does it look like? Medically speaking, there are three major conditions and each one has its own set of symptoms.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Basal cell carcinoma cases make up about 80% of all skin cancers. It frequently appears on sun-exposed areas of the skin. On limited occasions, it may develop even on areas that are usually shielded from sunlight. BCC may present itself in different forms.

1. Open sore that intermittently bleeds and heals.

2. Translucent growth with rolled pigmented edges and visible small blood vessels

3. Hard flat lesions or slight depressions with indistinct edges that may be yellow or white in color

4. Skin or yellow colored waxy scar

5. Small clusters of shiny red or pink lesions that easily bleed and are scaly.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Squamous cell carcinoma or SCC incidence make up about 16% of skin cancer in the U.S. Areas of the body that are openly exposed to the sun's rays are commonly affected. This includes the face, neck, ears, scalp, arms and hands.

Signs of Squamous Cell Carcinoma includes: scaly portions on the skin with a red inflamed base, non-healing bump or coagulated skin on the lower lip, plaque or wart-like enlargements, non-healing sore, and red scaly bumps or patches.

Squamous cell carcinoma has the propensity to advance to other organs and if left untreated it can be fatal. The tumor tends to develop into large masses. If the patient has a weak immune system and the tumor begin on the lip or ear it can spread to the internal organs or lymph nodes.

Melanoma

Melanoma is the least common among the skin cancer but is the most serious type. Only 4% diagnosed skin cancer of this type has been reported. Melanoma cancer should be diagnosed early while the cure rate is about 95%.

It is typically found on the buttocks, legs, back, scalp, neck and behind the ears. However it can exist anywhere on the body like the soles, palms, mouth, genitalia and under the nails.

Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma

When a pre-existing mole begins to change its appearance a melanoma might develop. It is significant to be familiar with the moles on your body because 20% to 40% of melanoma arises from a typical mole.

Doctors recommended ABCDE's of melanoma detection are:

A - Asymmetrical.
B - Borders irregular.
C - Color varies.
D - Diameter greater tan 6mm.
E - Evolving.

Take good care of your skin. Consult your doctor immediately if you notice sudden alterations on its appearance.

Don't Fall Victim to Cancer, Identify the Early Warning Signs and Find out about Symptoms and Treatment Options Today. Visit Symptoms-of-Cancer.com today and find more information about how to identify Skin Cancer Symptoms.

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Early Signs of Skin Cancer Can Be Inherited

To protect against the early signs of skin cancer, we all know to wear sunscreen and stay out of the sun between those peak hours, but a pair of recent studies both suggest a genetic component to this form of cancer that we cannot escape.

Earlier work in this area suggested that melanoma and other skin cancers might run in families, but researchers often find it hard to distinguish between genes and the environment, and so the question remained unanswered.

An Australian study out of the University of Queensland attempted to address this challenge by looking at twin pairs where one twin had been diagnosed with melanoma. Using 125 twin pairs (27 sets of identical twins, 98 sets of fraternal twins) the researchers found that having an identical twin who had melanoma increased a person's own risk of developing the same disease nearly ten fold.

Having a fraternal twin with this form of cancer nearly doubled the other twin's risk of being diagnosed as well.

This suggests that some of the increased melanoma risk can be attributed to your genes, in particular the interaction between genes. The Australian researchers estimate that genetics account for about half of the difference in skin cancer risk between two people.

The second study, conducted by a team out of the University of California, Los Angeles used the Swedish Family-Cancer Database to look at the risk of several types of skin cancer among the brothers and sisters or children of those diagnosed with the condition.

They found that a person's risk of cancer (of various types, not just the ones a family member had) increases if they have a sibling or parent with a non-melanoma skin cancer.

It may well be that your family history can be used to assess your own risk of developing cancer of the skin.

This year, an estimated one million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. alone. What's more, it can happen to anyone, at any time, even if you're free from risk factors (fair complexion, family history, severe sunburn early in life or age) which is why you should always, always talk to your doctor about any growth on your skin that change shape, bleeds or doesn't heal.

If you have a close family member who has (or had) skin cancer, your best weapon is your awareness of the increased risk you may carry. Be extra-careful about the sun, limiting your exposure during peak (10:00 am - 2:00 pm) hours and using sunscreen or protective clothing year round.

Look over your own skin on a regular basis (using a mirror as necessary) for any mole, sore or skin growth that appears or changes. Watch for...

Asymmetry - one half of the area is different than the other.

Border - the outlines of the area are irregular

Color - can vary from one area to another in shades of tan, brown or black, sometimes even white, red or blue

Diameter - almost always bigger than 6 mm (the size of a pencil eraser)

Remember, a family history is only a risk factor according to these latest findings - the genes you carry don't guarantee you anything, good or bad. Your best bet if you're worried about the early signs of skin cancer is to make changes to limit the risks you can control, be aware and stay informed.

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Skin Cancer Warning Signs

What are the skin cancer warning signs and what can be done to help prevent skin cancer?

In recent years, a lot of attention has been focused on the prevention of skin cancer. Of course, skin cancer is not a new disease but as scientists have learned more about how to prevent it, they realized that early detection is the key. It is important, therefore, that people are aware of what they can do to prevent skin cancer and what to keep an eye out for so that they can catch the cancer in time.

There are two main risk factors for skin cancer. The first is sun exposure. People who live in sunny areas, people who are continuously exposed to the sunlight, or people who were badly sunburned as children are all at a higher risk. Fair-skinned people are high risk as well. It is important that everyone be protected when they go out in the sun. Sunscreen should be worn all the time, even if the day seems cloudy or not that hot. This is especially important for those with fair skin and for children.

If you are going to be exposed to the sun for a long period of time, you should try to cover up as much skin as possible with hats, long pants, or jackets. Young children should always wear a wide-brimmed hat when playing out in the sun. The second component of skin cancer risk is genetic. Some people are just more apt to get skin cancer than others. There is nothing you can do about this, but if you know you are at a greater risk because of your family, you should be even more vigilant in checking for skin cancer warning signs.

There are several types of skin cancer, and they all present slightly different. Melanoma is one of the rarer skin cancers, but it is also the most deadly. Catching melanoma early is important, so everyone should make checks of their bodies on a monthly basis, just like a monthly breast exam is recommended for women. One way to remember the warning signs of melanoma is the mnemonic "ABCDE." The A stands for asymmetrical. Check any moles on your body. Asymmetrical moles could be malignant. B stand for border.

If the border of the mole or mark looks irregular, then get it checked out. C stands for color. Moles that are multiple colors could be cancerous. D stands for diameter. If you have a mole that measures more than 5 mm, it is at greater risk for being a melanoma. E can stand for evolution or elevation. Evolution means how the mole has appeared over time. Has it changed color, shape, or size? This is a sign that cancer might be developing. Elevation means that mole is raised up above the skin. If you have any of these warning signs, you should make an appointment to see your doctor right away.

Skin cancer can present in different ways and a doctor will need to examine you to determine if a mole or area of skin needs to be checked further. A biopsy is usually done and the sample is checked for malignancy.

Early detection of skin cancer is important. Many doctors are including skin checks during yearly physicals. If you are concerned about an area of your body, discuss it with your doctor. They can let you know if more testing should be done.

John Grimes is with AllTerrainco.com - makers of natural sanitizer products for skin care.

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What Causes Skin Cancer ?

Skin cancer is deemed any malignant growth that may appear on the skin. There are three major forms of skin cancers which include melanoma, basal cell cancer and squamos cell cancer. Because the tumours will usually develop on the epidermis or the outermost layer of the skin, finding the cancerous growth is relatively easy. Skin cancer is very widespread and is the most apparent cancer in human populations. However it has a noticeably lower incidence of death because of the likelihood that it will be discovered in the early phases of the disease. Melanoma is the worst kind of skin cancer but is less prevalent than the two other forms of this disease. In many instances of the disease, the cancer does not always spread immediately or at all.

What causes Skin Cancer?

There are quite a few established causes of skin cancer. The most widely accepted cause is over exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays or sunlight. The list below discusses some of the main causes:

o Suffering from any deficiency of the immune system, that is having a disease that subjects you to lessened immune system function, will elevate the risk for developing skin cancer. This decrease in the ability of the immune system to function may also be as a result of consuming drugs to fight an autoimmune disease or after having an organ transplant. These drugs will be used to lower the immune system response in the case of autoimmune diseases that prompt the immune system to attack its own cells and organs, for example in people with lupus. These drugs are also used after an organ transplant to make certain that the body will not reject the newly transplanted organ.

o Being exposed to abnormally high levels of X-rays may induce the development of skin cancer.

o Using tanning booths to get an artificial tan has been broadly accepted as a probable cause of the disease.

o There are some chemicals that have been found to trigger the development of skin cancers. These will usually include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and arsenic. It is speculated that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons may possibly be inhaled because of low levels of contamination in the air, consumed in foods and by making contact with any surface that is saturated with the chemical.

o Some people are said to be at a higher risk, such as lighter skinned people, people with blond or red hair and green or blue eyes. Having freckles or being prone to sun burn may also elevate a person's risk for developing this type of cancer.

o Having a genetic abnormality that does not allow the development of pigment can increase the risk for the disease. These disorders include albinism and xeroderma pigmentosum.

o If an individual has already had skin cancer the risk is much higher.

o If you had at least one very extreme case of sunburn in childhood the risk for developing this type of cancer is greater.

o Having a family history of the disease is also a well known risk factor.

o If you have several moles these can become cancerous growths on the skin's surface. Some individuals choose to have any moles removed to decrease the likelihood that they will develop into cancerous growths.

Please visit this link for more information: http://www.whatcausesskincancer.org and http://www.whatcausescancer.org.

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Skin Cancer: The New Silent Killer

Mary Katherine Grant was a successful 68-year-old career woman who managed hospitals with hundreds of people, traveled the world, enjoyed golfing, and loved spending time in the sun.

The latter is what took her life.

We've heard it all before: Don't talk to strangers, be careful when alone at night, smoking isn't good for you... but never "the sun can kill you!" Our family, like thousands of other families, learned the hard way: it can. And now, with all the talk about the disappearing ozone layer and environmental/global warming, there is a desperate need for much more awareness of the dangers of the sun, and skin cancer.

I wish my aunt realized the dangers before skin cancer cut her life short.

When we think of the effects of the sun's rays on our skin, we usually think about the exposed areas of our bodies and our face. Those dreaded signs of aging we begin to see in our 30s, as well as the pain of a good sunburn, immediately come to mind. But the effects of the sun on the scalp are rarely considered, if at all.

This easily overlooked area of skin, hidden by a full head of hair, is where it started for my aunt.

After her hairdresser told her of a small, irregularly-shaped mole hidden by her hair, my aunt visited her dermatologist for a checkup. The news was grim: cancerous melanoma. After more visits to her dermatologist, and then many more skin experts, my aunt was diagnosed with STAGE 4 skin cancer - the final stage immediately before the terminal phase, Stage 5. There was little all those specialists could do. She had no previous symptoms. No pain. No weakness. My aunt felt great, looked even better and traveled the country weekly. But, she was rapidly dying.

After multiple surgeries over three years, various expensive medications and treatments, the cancer spread deeper into her skin, into the dermis. The specialists tried to stay ahead of the aggressive cancer by removing the cancerous areas, including a four inch by four inch plate of her scull, but by then the cancer had spread throughout her body. It attacked her lymph glands, her bone, her brain. She suffered a stroke that rendered her left side unusable. On a Wednesday afternoon, my aunt took herself to the hospital complaining of a headache. She slipped into a coma. Three days later, my aunt died from a silent killer - that started from a small, almost unnoticed mole. She died from skin cancer.

My aunt was one of the estimated 10,710 people in 2006 who passed away as a result of skin cancer.

Once she was diagnosed, there was nothing I could do to help my aunt, but I can help my clients, others, and myself by bringing this subject to the forefront. As a professional esthetician, I make it my business to look and make suggestions to my clients. Along with a qualified dermatologist, I can help in the prevention of skin cancer one person at a time.

Don't wait until your hairdresser finds a mole. Visit a qualified dermatologist today. They will check you for irregular skin conditions, and instruct you how to do the same at home - it could save your life. Make an appointment to see a dermatologist and have your entire body checked regularly. Learn the ABCD's of melanoma and spread the word (A-Asymmetry, B-Border, C-Color, D-Diameter). Awareness, education and early detection are our best defense. Most importantly, ALWAYS WEAR SUNSCREEN!

For more information and to make a donation, please check out the skin cancer foundation at: www.skincancer.org

Michelle G. Bouse, celebrity make-up artist & licensed esthetician. For more information call 877.691.8647 or go to http://www.michellebouse.com

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