Melanoma Skin Cancer

A cancer diagnosis is still a very frightening event in anyone’s life While fear can paralyse one’s will to survive, one should remember that with early detection and treatment, the cancer can be defeated.

There are several types of cancer, and even in a smaller subset such as skin cancer there’s more than one type.

Skin cancer can take either the form of a carcinoma or melanoma. Melanoma skin cancer is the cancer that starts from the melanocytes. Melanomas can metastasise (invade other parts of the body) unlike carcinomas, but luckily are rarer than the other types of skin cancer. The most prevalent forms of skin cancer are basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

So what are basal and squamous cells and melanocytes? The epidermis (top layer of the skin) is composed of three types of cells:
Squamous cells – An upper layer of thin, flat cells.
Basal cells – Round cells just under the squamous cells.
Melanocytes – The makers of melanin, the pigment that colours skin.

Factors that increase the risk of skin cancer include having fair skin, chronic inflammations or ulcers, scars or burns, having had radiation therapy and being exposed to a lot of either artificial (as in tanning booths) or natural UV rays. Remember that just because one of the risk factors applies to you, it doesn’t mean that you will certainly get skin cancer. However, there is a chance of forming a skin cancer in the absence of any visible risk factors.

Use of sunscreen is advised to prevent skin cancer caused by excessive sunlight. Also, the quicker a cancer is caught and treated, the higher the chances of success. Skin cancer looks different depending on which type it is, and a professional opinion can be invaluable in diagnosing the disease at its early stages.

If diagnosed with skin cancer, there are several organizations out there that provide support and information. An excellent source of information is the National Cancer Institute, which has a comprehensive and clear website, and reliable professionals available to assist by telephone, email, post or chat.