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People that have skin that burns easily in the sun should be screened for skin cancer by a professional at least once a year. The screening will identify any abnormal changes in the skin and diagnose any problems. However, even if you are screened once a year you should also monitor the condition and changes in your skin from time to time. You can identify potential problems if you know a bit about the disease. This article will detail the three types of skin cancer including the signs and treatment for each type. There are 3 types of skin cancers. The first two are the most commonly diagnosed types of the disease. They are also the most treatable because in most cases the disease does not spread but is localized to a particular part of the body. They are easily treated in most cases however on rare occasions they may spread making early diagnose all the more important. Basal Cell Carcinoma Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It will normally manifest as a waxy bump on the skin. It may also appear as a flesh or brown colored mark. It is typically found on the face, neck, chest and back but can occur anywhere on the body. Treatment of basal cell carcinoma is relatively straightforward as the carcinoma rarely spreads to other parts of the body. Treatment involves removing the bump or blemish. This is normally done by cutting it out or freezing it. This is a simple process that can be done in the doctors surgery in about thirty minutes depending on the size and number of carcinoma. Squamous Cell Carcinoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma is treated in the same way as basal cell carcinoma although it is more common for it to spread. Normally it only spread to surrounding skin cells so it can still be treated successfully. Squamous cell carcinomas are noticeable as a red nodule or bump that can appear on the face, neck, hands or arms. On rare occasions it can appear on the lips or ears. The bump is generally firm to the touch. In more advanced stages it may appear as a scaly, crusty lesion that will appear where the bump used to be. Again, provided it has not spread it can be cut out or frozen. Melanoma Melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer but it is also the most serious. Melanoma has the potential to spread to other parts of the body. It could move to the lymph nodes which accelerates the spreading of the disease to other areas of the body including vital organs. If it is not treated, melanoma can lead to death. This is why screening and self examination is important to treating skin cancer. You should be aware of any changes to your skin and mention them to the doctor when you are screened. They can make a professional diagnosis or take a biopsy. Knowing the signs and characteristics of the three types of skin cancer will help you to diagnose and treat the disease however prevention is a far better solution. Always put sunscreen on exposed parts of the body when in the sun. Wear a hat and sunglasses. Wear clothing like a long sleeve shirt to cover the arms and torso.
By: Adrian Fletcher
Get more information on the symptoms of squamous cell skin cancer at symptomsofskincancer.net. The site deals with treating skin cancer of the nose and sun creams to use.
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