Skin Cancer – What Is It and How Is It Treated?
Skin cancer or to use its medical term malignant melanoma is a tumour of the skin cells. Malignant melanoma is considered to be the most common type of skin cancer and also the most dangerous. There are 4 specific types of malignant melanoma with the superficial melanoma being the most prevalent. Although the skin tumours can appear on any part of the body certain types of the cancer can appear on certain parts of the body. For example, superficial melanoma can often appear on the lower part of the leg and calf area.
Skin cancer can also appear on the face and this is commonly linked to a form of skin cancer called Lentigo malignant melanoma. As well as the face the Lentigo variety can also affect the arms.
Skin Cancer – What Is It and How Is It Treated?
Compared to other cancers, skin cancer affects fewer people. However, there is a worrying trend that the levels of malignant melanoma is on the increase and is increasing rapidly. There is also a common trend that more and more young people are being affected by this type of cancer. Although, this cancer can affect all races it is more prevalent in certain races where the skin and complexion is fair. People with white and fair complexions burn more easily in the sun.
The rise can be attributed to the way society has changed especially in terms of people taking more foreign holidays in hotter climates. With the greater accessibility and cheap cost of air travel holidays abroad have increased enormously over the last 2 decades. This has resulted in many fair skinned people getting sunburned. Another link to this type of cancer is the use of tanning beds which have also being reported to cause damage to the skin. As well as long exposure to the sun there is also a risk that a genetic link can increase the chances of getting skin cancer.
Skin Cancer – What Is It and How Is It Treated?
The treatment of skin cancer is usually done by removing the affected area surgically. The good news is that the survival rate is high as long as it is identified early enough.
