Three Types of Skin Cancers
The three types of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. what are the steps to how to detect skin cancer,how to spot skin cancer and identify the 3 types of skin cancer Basal cell carcinoma This type of cancer is a malignant tumor that develops from the basal cells of the skin. These cells are in the deepest layers of the skin and are the source that becomes squamous cells as they migrate to the skin's surface. This is the most commonly found cancer in the United States, accounting for 80 percent of all skin cancers. Although the incidence rate for this skin cancer is extremely high, it rarely causes cancer-related deaths. Once basal cell carcinoma develops, it tends to grow and invade locally very slowly. Left untreated, overtime it will attack local tissue but hardly ever spread to another organ. If not addressed early, it can become very destructive. Early detection is important because while the overlying skin appears normal, extensive reconstructive surgery might be necessary to correct any defects to underlying structures caused from BCCs. These lesions occur ordinarily on the upper body and face. They commonly start as a raised, red area on the skin surface. You may notice the tissue is shiny in the light and has a pearly texture. Often blood vessels present in the BCCs break, which results in blood within the lesion being visible. Squamous cell carcinoma Among the three types of skin cancers squamous is the second most common kind of skin cancer. Both basal and squamous cell carcinoma has an excellent recovery rate of nearly 100 percent if detected and treated early. The difference in the two carcinomas is that SCC can spread. Additionally, if left untreated, SCC has the potential to be deadly, especially in people with immune deficiencies. Squamous cell carcinoma characteristically starts as a scaling patch (the word squamous is Latin for scale). Often the area is hard, crusty. It is commonplace for the SCC to have a centralized sore on the skin that does not heal which results in the destruction of tissue. You will typically see red raised areas surrounding the sore. SCC is usually found on skin surfaces that are exposed to sunlight such as lower arms and face. Malignant Melanoma The next group of skin cancers is malignant melanoma, which is a cancer of the melanocytes. A melanocyte is a cell in the outer of the skin that produces the pigment melanin. This substance gives plants, animals, and humans their natural coloring. Melanoma is the third most common form of skin cancer. On the other hand, it causes the most cancer-related deaths. Unlike basal and squamous cell carcinoma that tend to attack locally, malignant melanoma spreads quickly to other areas of the body. It is this ability to metastasize that distinguishes melanoma from the other skin cancers. Malignant melanoma generally is initiated on sun-exposed surfaces of the skin. In rare instances, it can develop on a mucus surface such as the mouth. Lesions are typically colored, appearing in a shade of black or brown. Around 10 percent of malignant melanoma patients have red or pink colored sores that won't heal.
As a general rule of thumb, the darker your complexion, the less risk you have of developing one of the three types of skin cancers. However, less risk does not mean there is no risk! Although most people who develop one of the three types of skin cancers have fair skin, darker skinned individuals should still remain alert to any changing moles. Go to Signs-of-Skin-Cancer from Three Types of Skin Cancers |
