Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, affecting millions of people yearly. Like many cancers, however, it comes in multiple varieties. Of the three primary skin cancers-basal-cell carcinoma, squamous-cell carcinoma, and melanoma-only melanoma is typically lethal. Knowing what type of skin cancer is crucial both for treatment and for paying for your medical bills.

The most common skin cancer is also the least deadly: basal-cell carcinoma. It rarely spreads or causes serious health issues, but doctors remove it to be on the safe side. The removal procedure is far less complex and expensive than treatment for serious cancers. If you have insurance, your insurance will likely cover the treatment. If you do not, and if you are eligible for health or retirement benefits from Social Security, you may be able to receive help for your medical expenses.

Squamous-cell carcinoma is less common than basal-cell and slightly more dangerous. Although it has been known to spread through the patient’s body, that happens very rarely and is still much more easily treated than many other cancers. Even when it spreads, squamous-cell carcinoma is not as aggressive as many cancers.

Melanoma, by far the most lethal kind of skin cancer, is the rarest. Yet when it does develop, it can be one of the most difficult to treat and deadliest cancers. If it is caught early, melanoma can be removed surgically and medications can prevent it from spreading. But if a patient wants too long, it can spread and quickly become terminal. For melanoma, as with all cancers, early detection is key.

If you believe you have developed skin cancer, see a doctor immediately for a diagnosis. If you have melanoma, you are eligible for assistance with your medical bills from the Social Security Administration. The experienced Indiana social security lawyers of the Hankey Law Office can help you ensure you receive the full benefits you need.

Skin is our largest organ and one that is not immune to developing cancerous cells. Skin cancer develops when damaged cells start growing and dividing uncontrollably in the skin. This form of cancer is the most prevalent with more than one million cases in the United States diagnosed each year. Here we will cover some of the commonly asked questions.

What Are The Different Forms of Skin Cancer?

There are different types of skin cancer with three forms accounting for almost all of the diagnosed cases. They are:



o Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)- Accounting for nearly 80% of skin cancer, BCC develops in the basal cells which are located in the lowest layer of the epidermis. It is commonly found on areas of the body regularly exposed to the sun such as your face, head and upper body. Signs of BCC include skin that appears as a sore that repeatedly heals and re-opens, a slightly elevated pink growth, patch of irritated skin that is red in color and/or shiny translucent skin. This type of cancer does not commonly spread but should be treated to protect surrounding tissue.

o Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)- Found in the uppermost layers of the epidermis, SCC cancer affects squamous cells. Long term exposure to the sun can result in this form of cancer in middle to elderly aged individuals. The skin may appear to have an inflamed base with a crusty or scaly area over the base. While this cancer is most commonly found on areas of the body exposed to the sun, it can be found anywhere. Early detection and treatment can prevent this form of cancer from spreading.

o Melanoma- The most dangerous and lethal form of skin cancer, this form accounts for only 4% of diagnosed cases. Melanoma readily spreads to other areas of your body such as your lymph system or other internal organs. Most commonly found in moles either pre-existing or new, melanoma has a 95% cure rate if caught in time for treatment. It is important that you are aware of any moles on your body and what they look like so you can spot changes in existing moles or the appearance of new moles. Undetected and untreated, melanoma becomes very difficult to treat and can result in death.

Who Gets Skin Cancer?

To be quite honest, anyone can get any type of cancer. There are however certain individuals who are at a higher risk than others. The following factors play a role in the likelihood of developing skin cancer:

o Individuals who are fair-skinned or burn easily.

o People who use tanning devices.

o Genetics or family history of the disease.

o Certain occupational exposures, i.e. coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic or radium.

o Excessive exposure to UV radiation.

Exposure to the sun is the leading cause of cancer which makes protecting your skin from sun exposure vitally important.

Can You Prevent Cancer?

Yes, you can take precautions that lower your risk of developing skin cancer. Take all effort to reduce your exposure to sun and other controllable risk factors. This includes wearing SPF 15 or higher sunscreen everyday in addition to sunglasses and brimmed hats to shield your face from the sun. If at all possible avoid exposing your skin to sunlight during the peak of the day (10am-4pm) and give up tanning beds as they can also damage your skin.

For more information on cancer you can visit the American Cancer Society or National Cancer Institute.

Receiving a diagnosis that you have skin cancer is usually taken very hard. You probably do not know what you can do next as decisions are hard to make in such a worrisome time. Luckily, the chance of you surviving skin cancer is usually very good so long as it was detected early.

The best chance of keeping cancer under control is to be aware of your skin and notice any changes early enough to catch it before it progresses. Your odds of beating it seriously improve if you are active and catch it early.

In the initial phases of skin cancer you will learn if you have a non-melanoma or a melanoma cancer. The skin cancer early signs for these two cancers carry a very good prognosis for survival. It is reasonably uncommon for a basal cell carcinoma to advance past the second stage so that the diagnosis is fantastic if this is the form of cancer you’re dealing with.

If it is not stopped, melanoma cancer will advance quickly past stage I and into stage II. That’s why it is important to take immediate steps if you have got a diagnosis of melanoma. If it is uncovered during stage I or II, melanoma has a virtually a hundred percent survival rate over 5 years. If spotted at stage III, the survival rate decreases to 60 percent. This is sort of a drop and makes it clear that early detection makes a big difference in success of treatment of melanoma cancer.

It’s fully urgent to check your skin on a regular basis at least one time each month for signs of skin cancer. You must also see a doctor regularly so that your skin can be inspected as a part of your routine physical. If you detect anything suspicious on your skin you want to get it inspected by a doctor immediately, especially if you have got a discolouration or mole that seems to be changing shape and or color.

If you’ve a wound that doesn’t heal, be certain to let your physician know about it. Ask your doctor what melanoma skin cancer looks like. Armed with this data, you will know what to search for when you do self examinations. It is vital that you be in a position to identify any skin cancer you find.

Skin cancer early signs can be relatively small in size, about the size of a pea, and gradually grows larger. Eventually other organs will become involved as the cancer moves forward through the body. Once this occurs the survival rate will drop and other forms of treatment, aside from removal of the cancer, will be necessary.

Are We Overusing Sunscreens? For a long time now, we’ve been warned to cover ourselves with sunscreen every time we go out in the summer sun as a protective measure against skin cancer. However, despite the increasing use of sunscreens, skin cancer rates are still rising.

The truth is that while sunscreens can help protect against sunburn, they haven’t been shown to prevent skin cancer or premature skin aging, according to the FDA.

At the same time, researchers are discovering that deficiencies of vitamin D are climbing to epidemic levels. Sunlight is our primary source for this vital nutrient, and sunscreens severely limit your body’s ability to manufacture vitamin D from sunlight.

In light of these facts, you have to ask yourself some common sense questions:

• If the sun is really that dangerous, how did the human race survive while living primarily outdoors for thousands of years?
• Why would the human body have a mechanism for generating vitamin D from sunlight if it’s supposed to be harmful to you?
• If sunlight is so dangerous, why is virtually every living thing on earth dependent on sunlight for survival?

If you really think about it, avoiding the sun exposure completely just doesn’t add up.

Sunscreen Facts: When Should You Use Sunscreens?

There are only two scenarios where I’d recommend the use of sunscreen:

1. When you’re forced to be in the direct rays of the sun for a longer time than is safe. This time limit will vary from one person to the next.
2. When you take a winter vacation to the tropics and don’t get the opportunity to gradually build up your sun exposure.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to not let yourself get sunburned. If you just keep your exposure at moderate levels, you’re far better off leaving the sunscreen behind.

Sunscreen Facts: The International Agency for Research on Cancer recommends clothing, hats and shade as primary protection. Sunscreens should not be the first choice for skin cancer prevention, it says, and should not be used as the sole agent for protection against the sun.

Basic Sunscreen Information: Types of Sunscreens

There are two basic types of sunscreens: physical barrier and chemical barrier.

Physical barrier sunscreens create a surface on the skin that reflects UV light off of the skin’s surface. These types of sunscreens are very effective in blocking both UVB and UVA sun rays and are considered to be safer. The active ingredients in these sunscreens are either zinc oxide or titanium oxide.

Chemical barrier sunscreens contain ingredients that absorb UV light before it can cause any skin damage. These sunscreens (which includes most commercial brands) can be very effective at this, but the chemicals they contain have never been tested and approved for safety. Several studies show that many sunscreen ingredients have toxic properties that are absorbed through the skin and end up circulating in your bloodstream.

Sunscreen Facts: To get “broad spectrum” protection with chemical barrier sunscreens, you need a product with more than one active chemical ingredient. However, the more chemicals present in the sunscreen, the more potentially hazardous they become.

For the safest protection, stick with physical barrier sunscreens that use zinc or titanium oxide as their active ingredients. Avoid products with a list of chemical ingredients that you don’t recognize.

You can read more about recommended sunscreen products here: Best Sunblocks

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

Taking care of your skin is important though some people do take it too far and become constantly focused on it. Nonetheless, it is helpful for a variety of reasons. Skin cancer is something that can be prevented and watching one’s sun exposure as well as sun protection factor will go a long way. Aside from skin cancer, why not try to maintain one’s youthfulness as well as nourish the skin. Since some forms of nourishment require vitamins and supplements, this will also help the body and one’s immune system.

Baby boomers do focus on the skin more than their parents. Cold cream and Vaseline were the main advertised products when I was a child. Now, there are hundreds of skin care products available in drug stores, department stores and of course on infomercials that play at two in the morning.

Some of the supplements that are good for the skin such as flax seed oil and olive oil can be useful as well for dealing with cholesterol and inflammation issues.

Try to remember that the skin is the largest organ and it often isn’t covered. Remember that you can protect it when it’s very hot and very cold. In the summer, use sunscreens, stay out of direct sunlight except for brief exposure and moisturize the skin frequently. When it’s the winter, use a humidifier, remember to moisturize and drink lots of fluids.

To cleanse the skin, use mild soaps or dermatology tested ones. Some people use the loofah too much and it’s important to judge how much exfoliation is necessary.

Avoid smoking and you’ll also preserve the integrity of your skin. You won’t get that puckered look around the mouth. Drink some natural fruit and vegetable juices, add natural oils to your diet and cut back on sugars and fatty foods.

Non-melanoma skin cancer is something that no one wants to have. However, it is a highly curable cancer if caught in the early stages. That is why it is so important to recognize the symptoms so that you can get diagnosed and treated early. Non-melanoma and melanoma are the two types of cancers that can occur. Non-melanoma cancers are the easiest to treat and are much more common than melanomas.

Millions of people suffer from non-melanoma skin cancer each year and go for treatment because they have one or more of the following symptoms:

1.) A mole that has a smooth texture and is shiny, light in color and waxy.
2.) Reddish or brownish scaly patches on the skin surface.
3.) Rough skin patches.
4.) A sore that doesn’t heal.
5.) A small lump reddish in color that is firm to the touch.
6.) A strange new growth on the skin. Generally, most of these symptoms cause little if any pain, so it is sometimes easy to simply ignore them.

Often, skin cancer is detected at a routine physical exam. However, you can perform your own skin exams quite easily at home. Look closely at any changes or growths on your skin. If anything looks suspicious, go see your doctor immediately. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you have a personal or family history of cancer, then it’s better for you to see a dermatologist that specializes in skin disorders.

Anyone can get skin cancer, but fair skinned people with freckles are more at risk. If you sunburn easily or have been sunburned badly as a child, then you run a higher risk of getting the disease. Blue- and green-eyed people also are more susceptible as are “outdoorsy” individuals. While certain people run a greater risk, it is always advisable for everyone to use precautions any time they are out in the sun.

Skin cancer symptoms should never be taken lightly. Non-melanoma skin cancer is very common and is highly treatable. But, it must not be ignored. Always avoid UV radiation from the sun and limit your use of sun lamps and tanning beds. Do your routine skin exams and go see your doctor if you are at all in doubt.