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Skin Cancer Types
Skin cancer can form in any of the three layers of the skink
Tumors found on the skin
have been formed by what is an abnormal cell growth. Skin cancer sufferers
have tumors that have been diagnosed as malignant. Non cancerous tumors
of the skin are described as being benign. There are different types
of skin cancer, classed depending on their ability to spread to neighboring
tissues. Certain forms of skin cancer may spread and grow to reach other
areas of the body either through the lymph system or bloodstream. If
this occurs the cancer will inevitably form secondary tumors. These
are known as a metastasis. The two most common forms of skin cancer non-melanoma skin cancer are: Basal cell carcinoma This form of malignant skin cancer is the most common
in fair skinned people and is unusual in dark skinned people. Basal cell carcinoma is a growth of basal cells in the
skin. The cancer usually manifests itself in areas that are exposed
to the sun. The most common being the head and neck. Basal cell carcinoma
spreads slowly in the epidermis and very rarely spreads to other tissues. Untreated a basal cell carcinoma will grow slowly
and ulcerate, burrowing deeper into the layers of skin whilst causing
damage to nearby structures. Basal cell carcinoma occurring in the facial
region will erode and possibly cause permanent damage to the nose or
an ear, for example,
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinomas
usually occur where skin has suffered certain kinds of injury, in the
main sunburns, although there are a few lees likely causes. In their
development, squamous cell tumors have a thick and rough appearance
and of shallow depth. Occasionally the carcinoma will ulcerate, displaying
a raised border and crusted surface. The skin in the areas
around the squamous cell carcinomas will reveal signs of sun damage,
such as changes in pigmentation, wrinkling, and loss of elasticity,
This type of skin appears to be where a squamous cell carcinoma will
manifest itself, add weight to the argument that tumors will appear
on sun exposed parts of the body most frequently. Melanoma skin cancer
(malignant melanoma) Melanoma is an overgrowth
of melanocyte cells in the epidermis. When your skin is exposed to the
sun, melanoma cells produce a pigment called melanin. Less common than
the other two types of skin cancer, as it often spreads to other organs
or tissues, melanoma is regarded as the most serious form of skin cancer.
Treatment for skin cancer
can be varied and dependant on a number of factors. The age of the patient,
their general state of health, the form of cancer, if it has spread
and if so, how far.
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