It is generally advised that one should carry out a head-to-toe examination at least twice a year, and should be extra-careful post they have identified the first signs of cancer. After all, cancer is an epidemic these days. You should check out for any new moles or if any pre-existing warts have grown abnormally. Why? Because that could very well be the most common cancer type, Skin Cancer.
Skin cancer happens when the cells inside human skin are triggered into growing abnormally. Skin cancer can be broadly divided into two categories – Melanoma, and Non-melanoma. Melanoma is the most fatal variant of skin cancer and also happens to be the rarest version. Two examples of nonmelanoma skin cancer are the Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. They are most likely to appear on the face, neck, and head.
A Basal Cell Carcinoma can be spotted by a firm, pale or yellow growth on the skin, quite similar in appearance to a scar, or it could also be a rosy, itchy, and slightly elevated patch on one’s skin. It is a now and then bothersome patch of skin, with glossy pink or red translucent knocks, which can have dark-coloured or pink developments that have raised edges and a lower focus. Also distinguished by a patchy grid of anomalous veins, which may spread from the development like the spokes of a wheel, this skin cancer variant can also lead to wounds that may overflow from the outer layer of the skin, and don’t recuperate or mend on their own and sometimes, even post-treatments, these warts or moles or the abnormal growth may continue to bleed.
An unpleasant or textured red fix that may be covered may bleed, a raised development or lump with a lower centre, open sores that may overflow or outside layer which may or may not heal, a wart-like growth- these can be symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma.
However, not all cancers show pre-determined symptoms. One must watch out for any sign that is out of the ordinary, a sore that does not cure, redness, and fresh inflammation outside the mole’s boundary or irritation and tenderness in the mole, scales and bleeding in the mole.
A doctor usually extracts small fragments of the suspiciously behaving tissue to examine the potential basal cell or squamous cell cancers. This method is called a biopsy and is often used to remove the cancerous cells too after their detection and the decision to surgically operate them is made.
When a person is unable to undergo surgery, radiation therapy is an alternative treatment. Medication may also be prescribed by a surgeon if the cancer is in a position that would make the removal challenging, such as eyelids, eyes, and neck.
Treatment for melanoma would depend largely on the cancer stage and where it is located. The best way to prevent skin cancer is by staying safe from excessive exposure to the harmful UV rays present in the sunlight.
Most Basal Cell Carcinomas can be treated if detected early. The different types of treatments are excisional surgery, Mohs surgery radiation therapy, photodynamic therapy, curettage and electrodesiccation (electrosurgery), cryosurgery, laser surgery along with medications. Treatment for squamous cell carcinomas that goes beyond the skin requires chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted drug therapy. Peripheral cases can be completely removed by minor surgeries and with an application of prescribed medicine on the skin. To know more about the treatments, visit website.
In the event that melanoma has spread past the skin, treatment alternatives may include a surgery to expel influenced lymph hubs. If melanoma has spread to the surrounding lymph hubs, your specialist may expel the influenced hubs via chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, or some other form of targeted chemical therapy.
These treatments can involve side effects that may vary from appetite loss, constipation, edema, fatigue, diarrhea, bleeding and bruising. The intensity of the side effects can be mild to severe. Experts in the field of health care inform individuals to check for signs with respect to skin disease carefully. Early identification and detection could save lives.
