skin cancer
Skin Cancer
Introduction
“Skin cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells are found in the outer layers of the skin. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S., affecting more than 1 million people each year.” (Health scout 2001-2006 1). Many people don’t take the risk of skin cancer seriously and continue to lie out in sun regardless of the consequences. The consequences of lying out in the sun can be the development of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and/or melanoma.
Basal Cell Carcinoma “Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a type of skin cancer. It is a malignant epithelial cell tumor that begins as a papule (a small, circumscribed, solid elevation of the skin) and enlarges peripherally, developing into a crater that erodes, crusts, and bleeds. Metastasis is rare, but local invasion destroys underlying and adjacent tissue. In 90 percent of all cases, the lesion is seen between the hairline and the upper lip.” (Health scout 2001-2006 1). BCC is the most common type of skin cancer. It is also the least lethal form of skin cancer of the skin cancers. In the United States this accounts for 97 percent in the south and 47 percent in the north (Health scout 2001-2006). The cancers usually don’t spread to other parts of the body, but can cause damage by growing and invading nearby tissue (Rockoff 1996-2006). Basal cell carcinoma is a skin cancer that may not be taken seriously; this maybe do to the fact that not that many people are aware of it. The awareness begins with knowing the causes, symptoms, and treatments. Basal Cell Carcinoma may have many causes. Prolonged sun exposure and/or sunburns may be one cause of basal cell. The repeated exposure to the sun causes skin damage which may lead to basal cell (Skinsite 2005-2006). The more fair-skinned a person is the more prone they are to getting basal cell than a person of a darker ancestry (Skinsite 2005-2006). According to the Skin Cancer Foundation (2006), chronic
Introduction
“Skin cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells are found in the outer layers of the skin. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S., affecting more than 1 million people each year.” (Health scout 2001-2006 1). Many people don’t take the risk of skin cancer seriously and continue to lie out in sun regardless of the consequences. The consequences of lying out in the sun can be the development of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and/or melanoma.
Basal Cell Carcinoma “Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a type of skin cancer. It is a malignant epithelial cell tumor that begins as a papule (a small, circumscribed, solid elevation of the skin) and enlarges peripherally, developing into a crater that erodes, crusts, and bleeds. Metastasis is rare, but local invasion destroys underlying and adjacent tissue. In 90 percent of all cases, the lesion is seen between the hairline and the upper lip.” (Health scout 2001-2006 1). BCC is the most common type of skin cancer. It is also the least lethal form of skin cancer of the skin cancers. In the United States this accounts for 97 percent in the south and 47 percent in the north (Health scout 2001-2006). The cancers usually don’t spread to other parts of the body, but can cause damage by growing and invading nearby tissue (Rockoff 1996-2006). Basal cell carcinoma is a skin cancer that may not be taken seriously; this maybe do to the fact that not that many people are aware of it. The awareness begins with knowing the causes, symptoms, and treatments. Basal Cell Carcinoma may have many causes. Prolonged sun exposure and/or sunburns may be one cause of basal cell. The repeated exposure to the sun causes skin damage which may lead to basal cell (Skinsite 2005-2006). The more fair-skinned a person is the more prone they are to getting basal cell than a person of a darker ancestry (Skinsite 2005-2006). According to the Skin Cancer Foundation (2006), chronic