In the United States, more than a million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. Of these, the majority are non-lethal basal or squamous cell carcinomas, which when caught early have about a 95 percent cure rate. These two types of skin cancers are actually the most common form of malignancies diagnosed each year. They are serious and especially squamous cell can become a problem if not caught early, but melanoma is the one that causes the majority of deaths due to skin cancer. Though melanoma is much more rare, accounting for four percent of skin cancers diagnoses, it is can be very serious if not caught and treated early enough.
Types
There are cutaneous and non-cutaneous melanomas. Cutaneous melanomas are in the skin. They usually manifest themselves as a new mole or freckle that is atypical in appearance, or as a marked change in a pre-existing mole or freckle. Non-cutaneous melanomas are usually found in areas like the inner nose or retina of the eye.
Significance
Melanoma in situ means that the melanoma is in the original place or site. It has not spread and has been caught early enough to be considered stage zero. In this stage, intervention causes an almost 95 percent cure rate. After being treated for melanoma in situ, it is important to continue the recovery process by avoiding the sun and using sun block procedures when in the sun, performing regular skin examinations, and having regular dermatologist appointments as prescribed by your doctor.
Features
It is important to know the ABCDs of checking your skin for melanoma or other skin cancers. Look for moles or freckles. A is for asymmetry, which basically means that both halves of a problematic mole are not similar. B is for borders; the borders should not be ragged or irregular. C is color; if the color is not uniform and there is more than one shade, you should get it checked out.. Last is D, which stands for diameter; your mole should be no more than six millimeters, or about the size of a pencil eraser. If any of the ABCDs are noted, you should see your medical provider.
Considerations
While melanoma can be lethal, if caught early and especially in situ, it can be treated. The treatment consists of excising the mole and skin around the mole in an attempt to remove all of the cancer. This procedure can sometimes take place during the actual biopsy of the mole or atypical freckle.
Prevention/Solution
Since a majority of skin cancers can be traced to sun exposure, the one thing you can do to help prevent them is to avoid prolonged sun exposure without sun block. The risk factors include fair skin, tendency to freckle or burn and not tan, frequent sunburns as a child, blue eyes, family history of melanoma and prior history of melanoma. This does not mean that dark-skinned people should not do regular skin scans, because there are still incidences of skin cancer in other phenotypes. With some preventative actions, you and your loved ones can avoid most skin cancers.
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