Skin cancer
Skin cancer is one very important type of cancer which has gained exceptional importance lately by people across the world. The skin cancer mainly initiates from the cells of the skin which are also known to be the building blocks of the skin. In the normal conditions, the skin cells grow and multiply to form new cells. To balance the ratio of the cells, the old cells die giving space to the new cells. But, a small change in this ordered process causes the disease which we call it as skin cancer.
In Skin cancer, the new cells multiply even when they are not needed while the old cells don’t die within the expected duration that they should. This causes a mass of tissue which is called as a tumor. These growths can either be benign (not exactly cancer and are not a threat) or malignant (cancer which is life threatening) in nature.
There are various types of skin cancer which are named in accordance to their types of cells which later become cancerous in nature. Amongst the several types of skin cancer, the Basal Cell Cancer and the Squamous Cell Cancer are the most common types. These two types of cancer are more commonly seen across the region of the neck, face, hands and the arms. Or in simple words, it is more commonly seen in the regions that are largely exposed to the sun. But, one should not forget that the skin cancer can occur at any part of the body.
- Basal Cell Skin cancer: they grow slowly and don’t spread to the other parts of the body. They are seen to occur in the areas that are largely exposed to the sun.
- Squamous cell skin cancer: This type also occurs in the regions that are exposed to the rays of the sun more often. The squamous cell skin cancer is seen to spread sometimes to the lymph nodes and the other organs also.
Thus, the best way to avoid skin cancer is by preventing the unprotected exposure of our body to the harmful rays of the sun. But, once diagnosed, the basal cell and the squamous cell cancer can be treated in the early stages. The symptoms of the skin cancer include:
- Any kind of change on the skin is the most primary symptom of skin cancer.
- Check the new growths on the skin to find out something that is not normal. For instance, a small shiny pale lump, red lump, a bleeding lump with a crust, a rough dry skin with itchy feeling that is also scaly, or even a red patch on the skin, are a few of the visible symptoms of skin cancer.
Once you notice any kind of above mentioned irregularity in the skin, take the guidance of a doctor and undergo a biopsy. Once the cancer is diagnosed, you should undergo the suitable treatment such as surgery, topical chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and radiation therapy. So, protect yourself from skin cancer rather than falling as a prey to the disease.