Skin Cancer Facts

You need skin cancer facts if you're going to understand what's going on in your body. The more you know about your disease and the situation you're in, the better your chances of handling it will be.

Cancer can seem like it's such a big problem you'll never be able to get through it. After all, the fight ahead of you is a big one and you have to talk to doctors, insurance companies and all kinds of other people.

This is why learning more about your disease can help. You can make better decisions when you know about your options and understand the real risks you're facing.

Information is the best thing you can have when it comes to dealing with cancer. Here's a look at some of the skin cancer facts you're going to need to know.

What causes Skin Cancer?

The first step in learning about your disease is understanding what cancer really is and what's going on in your skin. You see, our skin cells will divide a certain number of times over the course of our lives. There's a limit on how many times these cells can do this. Your body will tell a cell to stop when it's done.

Cancer cells don't listen. They keep on dividing even after your body tells them it's time to stop making new cells.

In fact, cancer cells can even start growing faster than they should. This type of fast growth causes a lump of cells where they shouldn't be. That's a tumor. This tumor can get in the way of all kinds of important functions. It can even start spreading to cells outside your skin.

When this happens, you can get brain cancer, lung cancer, bone cancer, or a number of other kinds of dangerous diseases. That's how a lump in your skin can actually be deadly.

Skin cancer starts out in the upper layer of skin. This is called the epidermis. Skin cancer is confined to this layer in the early stages. It's not until it has time to grow and spread that it can pass through the upper layer of skin and into the lower layers.

This advanced skin cancer is the kind that's most likely to be deadly. Once a tumor has become deep enough to reach the lower part of the skin, it can spread through your body. Your prognosis for melanoma depends on how far the cancer has been able to get.

Early Symptoms Of Skin Cancer

Most people notice skin cancer as an unusual looking mark on their skin, or a mole that doesn't look the way it should. These cancerous spots can be found on your own, or they can be discovered by a doctor during a physical exam.

Checking out your skin or having your spouse or a relative do it for you can help you catch skin cancer early on. All types of skin cancer are easy to treat in the earliest stages. They can often be completely removed, leave very small scars, and have a low chance of coming back.

You're in more danger the longer you wait. Here are a few skin cancer symptoms:

1. An unusually large mole or other pigmented spot on your body

2. A scar or other colorless area that wasn't there before mole or mark with uneven edges, shape or color.

3. A mole that sticks up over the surface of the skin and has a rough or textured surface

Pay close attention to the way your skin looks and feels. Take the time to think about whether anything has changed since the last time you looked.

Anything different could turn out to be a problem. That's why you need to talk about it with your doctor. She can perform a biopsy to determine if the area really is cancerous. Your doctor can also help you get the skin cancer facts and information that you need.

Statistics About Skin Cancer

You may wonder if you're at risk for developing skin cancer. Many new cases occur every year. Fifty thousand people will be diagnosed with malignant melanoma this year in the United States alone. Many others will have less dangerous forms of skin cancer.

Some risk factors will increase your chances of getting skin cancer. Here are a few:

1. Skin cancer in the family - When a close relative, like a parent or sibling, has had skin cancer you have a higher chance of getting it.

2. A history of cancer - If you have ever had skin cancer or if you've had any other kind of cancer, you may be at a higher risk for getting this disease.

3. Age - Older people are much more likely to get skin cancer than younger ones.

4. Sun exposure - You have a greater chance of developing skin cancer when you've spent much of your life working or playing in the sun without any kind of protection.

5. Skin and hair color - Light eyes and hair and fair skin mean that your risk goes up a lot. Dark hair and skin mean a lower risk of skin cancer.

Related Pages

Types of Melanoma - Information on the types of melanoma.
Moles and Skin Cancer-Moles and Skin cancer are linked together
Melanoma survial rates-Melanoma survival rates are improving with early detection
What is malignant melanoma-Described simply and clearly to help understand this stage of skin cancer
What is basal cell carcinoma-Described simply and clearly to help understand this stage of skin cancer
Intraocular Melanoma-Information on Intraocular Melanoma
Basal Cell Melanoma-All about Basal cell Melanoma.
Basal Skin Cancer-Basal Skin Cancer Information.
Eye Melanoma-Eye Melanoma More Dangerous than you think.
Desmoplastic Melanoma - Important Information about Desmoplastic Melanoma.
History of Skin Cancer - A short history of Skin Cancer.
Stage of Melanoma - Describes the stages.
Nodular Melanoma - Describes another type of Skin Cancer.
Stage 1 Melanoma - Talks about Melanoma Stage 1.
Stage 2 Melanoma - Talks about Melanoma Stage 2.
Stage 3 Melanoma - Talks about Melanoma Stage 3.
Stage 4 Melanoma - Talks about Melanoma Stage 4.

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