Basal Cell Cancer: Explained
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The annual rates of all forms of skin cancer are increasing each year, representing a growing public concern. Skin cancer is the most common form of human cancer. It has been estimated that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once.
The two most common types are basal cell cancer which almost never spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body however, cause damage by growing and invading surrounding tissue and squamous cell cancer which is found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is less common but most serious form of skin cancer because it tends to spread (metastasize) throughout the body quickly. The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change in the appearance of the skin, such as a new growth or a sore that will not heal.
Some of the Risk factors that cause skin cancer are; exposure to sun. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. The risk of developing skin cancer is also affected by where a person lives. People who live in areas that receive high levels of UV radiation from the sun are more likely to develop skin cancer; age. Most skin cancers appear after age 50, but the sun’s damaging effects begin at an early age. Therefore, protection should start in childhood in order to prevent skin cancer later in life; exposure to ultraviolet radiation in tanning booths. Tanning booths are very popular, especially among adolescents, and they even let people who live in cold climates radiate their skin year-round; therapeutic radiation, such as that given for treating other forms of cancer.
Avoiding sun exposure in susceptible individuals is the best way to lower the risk for all types of skin cancer. A good idea for people with higher risk of skin cancer is regular surveillance of susceptible individuals, both by self-examination and regular physical examination. People who have already had any form of skin cancer should have regular medical checkups.