What do you know about Skin Cancer?
Type of skin cancer: Basal Cell Carcinoma- the most common Squamous Cell Carcinoma {These two known as non-melanoma skin cancer NMSC}
Melanoma: the most serious Others: a few rare skin cancers
How skin cancer develops:
Over exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light causes changes in the skin cells which cause the skin cells to overgrow in an abnormal way, forming abnormal cluster cells called cancer.
There are two types of UV light: UV B- the healthy light which is required by human skin to form Vitamin D. UV B cannot penetrate glass. UV A- is the harmful part which damages the skin and causes skin cancers. UV A can penetrate glass and it can cause skin damage even when you are sitting behind glass or in your car. Symptoms: link to cancer council website
Diagnosis of Skin cancer: Dermoscopy is the gold standard in diagnosing melanoma. It also helps in diagnosis of other skin cancers. Good light The gut feeling and the experience of the examining health professional
Treatment
Surgical removal of skin cancer in the gold standard and is the safest way to have a curable treatment. Skin cancer surgical removal requires excising in the healthy skin called safe margin. The dimensions of safe margin depend on the type, subtype and thickness of the skin cancer.
Thin (superficial) NMSC can be treated by:
Cryotherapy Creams- like aldara, picato or efudix creams Photodynemic therapy Radiotherapy Treatment of melanoma is almost always surgical
Prevention Link to Cancer council website Protect your child The more sun exposure in the years since infancy the more chance of moles appearing hence, the more possibility of developing skin cancer.
Source: http://duralmedical.com.au/know-skin-cancer/