Skin Cancer Symptoms:
Thousands of people are estimated to have skin cancer. The problem is that while it is highly treatable, it can become fatal if it is left for too long. Those who spend a lot of time in the sun and have fair skin and hair are most at risk of developing it. Skin cancer is divided into two types, being non-melanoma and melanoma cancer. The latter type is quite rare, but unfortunately, it is hard to cure. Non-melanoma cancer, on the other hand, has a good prognosis.
Skin Cancer Symptoms to Look For:
It is quite easy to detect the skin cancer symptoms. Whenever you notice any changes to your moles or other skin areas, you should have them checked out by a dermatologist. Some of the symptoms that you have to look out for are very clear and they can appear all over the body. They include:
– New moles, or changes in existing moles. It is important that you know where your current moles are, and what they look like. In many cases, regular moles suddenly start to get larger. If this happens, you must get it check out as soon as possible. The mole can easily be removed before further problems are caused.
– Other skin changes. Quite commonly, people have a growth or sore that doesn’t seem to heal. Sometimes, these look like lumps. The lumps are often reddish, shiny, and smooth in color. More rarely, a scaly, rough red spot appears on the skin, which can also be cancer. If you see any of these changes, a trip to a dermatologist is in order.
Not Necessarily Cancer:
Do remember, however, that just because you have a change in your skin, you don’t necessarily have cancer. Hence, even if you see a change in your moles that show all the characteristics of being cancerous, you don’t need to panic. And even if it is cancerous, it is generally highly treatable, so long as you do get the medical attention you need as soon as possible.
When understanding skin cancer symptoms, there are different types of skin cancer that you also need to be aware of. The most common is basal cell carcinoma, which appears as a waxy red bump or sore on the skin. Squamous cell carcinoma is a second form, which appears in very similar ways. These are both slowly growing cancers, but they can affect the tissues.
Catching It Early Is Important:
It is believed that, every year, some 65,000 people die as a result of skin cancer. And, perhaps more worryingly, is the fact that these numbers are rising quite rapidly. The disease is reasonably preventable by protecting yourself from the sun, and it is highly treatable if caught early enough. The fact that the number of skin cancer related deaths is rising suggests, therefore, that people are not taking warnings to heed and that they may require further education on what the disease is, how it is caused, how they can prevent it, and what they need to do. This is particularly true for people who are light and fair skinned, as they are at an increased risk of developing it.
