Skin Cancer Can Be a Serious Aliment

"Of all the bad classes of cancer you have the worst." The surgeon said. "You have the dreaded squamous cell carcinoma.This type of cancer releases hundreds of "cancer seeds".

These seeds float around in the blood veins and the lymphatic system. They will find a new place to set up another cancer tumor."

This comment has been ringing in my ears ever since that terrible day.

Cancer has always been a word I dreaded.

My parents told me, "You should only talk about cancer in a whisper. Do not talk about it lightly. Don't make jokes about cancer or you will get it".

I found this spot on my cheek. It was a light brown color. It had an elevated point in the middle of the circle. My medical doctor said it was just a mosquito bite. The lesion continued to grow bigger.

So my wife and I went to check with our skin doctor.

He agreed that it appeared to be an insect bite. "But to be sure, let's do a biopsy," he declared.

He cut a small piece of the skin from the elevated area. The skin sample went into a glass receptacle and went to the cancer laboratory.

Dr. Hernandez told my wife, "Return next Friday".

I was calm, cool and collected. I had a certain lucky streak. The analysis always came back negative.

The next Friday I was confident. It could not be cancer. Doctor Hernandez motioned for us to sit down when we entered his office. He did not ask about the kids. He did not even complain about the hot weather.

He went right to the point, "You have cancer"!

I froze in my tracks. The first thing I thought of, "I have not made my Last Will and Testament". I was in shock. This cannot be true. There must be a mistake. I want a second opinion.

We made an appointment with the cancer surgeon, Dr Sanchez, for the next Friday.

The surgeon, with his long white jacket, entered the room and said, "Hi."

The doctor went right to work. He cleansed the area with some liquid that smelled like a hospital operating room. It burned my skin mildly. He made a circle around the area with a black crayon.

Then he injected anesthesia some twenty-five times around the circle area. Next, he grabbed his scalpel and started to cut my cheek. He removed the first layer of tissue and sent it off to the laboratory for biopsy.

I felt no pain, and there was little bleeding. Finally, the technician came back with the "all clear" sign.

I could not imagine how he was going to fill that hole left by the surgery. This doctor just kept sewing around the hole, pulling the skin together until the hole was all covered. My Mom did the same procedure when she patched a hole in my britches.

Dr. Sanchez gave my wife a solution to apply twice a day. "I will see you next Friday to cut the stitches," he added.

There were no antibiotics, no white bandage for the kids to put their auto gram, no prescription to be filled.

"Just wash the area with soap and water daily," was the surgeon's parting comment.

Find more information about the interesting experiences I and other Ezine authors have had with skin cancer. Skin cancer is not as simple as it may seem. My site fat-ape.org has more valuable information. [http://fat-ape.org]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Samuel_W._Metz/1383344

Determining Skin Cancer Moles

People nowadays are likely to develop skin cancer moles because of long exposure to sunlight. The good news is that this type of cancer is the most curable if detected at the early stage. But if it is not treated, can result to death.

Moles are growth on the skin that is clustered and often brown, black or flesh-color and appears anywhere on the skin. The normal average of moles is from 10 to 40. However, an individual who have more than 100 moles are at risk to acquire melanoma.

Listed below are types of mole cancer:

• Basal cell carcinoma that is developed on skin that is sun-damaged which is likely to affect Caucasian.

• Melanoma which is the rarest form of skin cancer and if not treated will spread to the other parts of the body and will then lead to fatality and is blue in color.

• Squamous cell carcinoma is targeting fair skinned people but affects men than women.it can destroy tissues and is invasive. Causing health problems and if untreated will lead to death.

• Actinic Keratosis can lead to squamous cell carcinoma if not cured early. It affects fair skinned people, eyes that are blue, hazel and green and individuals who have blonde and red hair. People who have weak immune system are also susceptible to acquire this type of skin cancer. This mole is typically rough, pink or red patches and.5 inch in size.

• Actinic cheilitis or commonly known as "sailors lip" or "farmers lip". The lower lip is affected and can lead to squamous cell carcinoma. People that are fair skinned, elderly, men and those that use tobacco are affected. The growth of this skin cancer is accompanied by cracking on the lips and dryness.

Here are the guides to be able to identify if the mole on your skin is cancerous. The ABCDE are vital in enabling you characterize the risky moles.

• A - Asymmetry. If the other half of the mole is not the same in size, color, thickness and shape.

• B - Borders. The edges are irregular, blurred, poorly defined and rough.

• C - Color. Uneven shades of brown and black or the mole has added colors of brown, red, black, blue and white

• D - Diameter. A mole that is greater than 6mm or the size of a pencil eraser.

• E - Elevation. Part of the mole is raised.

If you are suspecting that you have skin cancer moles, it is important to consult a dermatologist. They are the ones who are capable of examining the mole if it can cause health problems.

There procedures that can remove the moles that pose risk to your health. Don't get sun exposure when the sun is shining at its hottest (10am-3pm) and apply sunscreen. Be aware of the changes and have a skin check regularly.

Interested in learning more about Skin Cancer Moles [http://www.skincancermoles.net/] then visit my site and check out more information on Skin Cancer on Nose [http://www.skincancermoles.net/skin-cancer-on-nose/]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Paul_Benton_Jhonson/1003625

3 Types of Skin Cancer Explained

Skin cancer is a condition that develops as a result of prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light. This prolonged exposure then causes the skin cells to grow in a rapid, out of control way ultimately leading to the formation of a cancerous tumour on the skin. Approximately 60,000 people in the UK develop this condition each year. However, what many people do not know is that not all skin cancers are the same. There are actually three different types; Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Malignant Melanoma. In this article article I will be discussing these three in greater detail.

1) BASAL CELL CARCINOMA (BCC):- This is the most common form of skin cancer and accounts for 75% of all diagnoses. As the name suggests it begins when the process of cell division goes wrong in the basal cells of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin) and a cancerous tumour forms. This tumour often looks like a red ulcer on the skin which may bleed, crust or itch and is often given the nickname 'rodent ulcer'. Basal cell carcinoma typically appears on areas of the body that are exposed to the sun such as the arms, legs and face. Although it is the most common type of skin carcinoma it rarely kills. However, it can disfigure the skin if left untreated for a long period.

2) SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA:- This type of skin cancer accounts for between 15% and 20% of skin cancers. It begins when the squamous cells of the epidermis start to grow in a rapid and uncontrollable way which ultimately leads to the development of a cancerous tumour. This tumour often resembles a hard red lump or a flat, scaly, scab like area. Like BCC, squamous cell carcinoma often appears on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun and rarely kills. However, if left untreated it can spread to other areas of the body.

3) MALIGNANT MELANOMA:- This type of skin cancer represents less than 10% of diagnoses. It develops in melanin producing skin cells called melanocytes. Malignant melanoma begins when the process of cell division goes wrong in these melanocytes and they start to divide and multiply uncontrollably leading to the development of a tumour. This tumour has a large, brown mole like appearance and can appear on your arms, back, leg or face. Although it resembles a mole there are subtle differences, Malignant melanomas are often a different colour to normal moles and they are often larger and more uneven. Unlike BCC and SCC, this type of cancer is very dangerous if not treated quickly and accounts for the majority of skin cancer fatalities.

I hope this article has given you an insight in to this type of cancer. Whilst skin blemishes and odd looking moles may be non-cancerous they are a cause for concern. If you notice anything suspicious on your skin which does not disappear within a month then you should go see your doctor immediately. Early detection is a key element in the successful treatment of skin cancer and so it is far better to take the time and get yourself tested.

Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Skin cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.

Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about the various types of skin cancerand how improving your fitness can help you prevent cancer by visiting Free Fitness Tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Thomas_Parker/22148