Skin Cancers

Most skin cancers are locally destructive cancerous (malignant) growth of the skin. Except for a variety named malignant melanoma, majority of these sorts of skin cancers rarely spread to other parts of the body (metastasize) and become life-threatening. The common risk factors for development of skin cancers include, ultraviolet exposure, ionising radiations like X rays, immunodeficiency like HIV / AIDS, and certain types sexually acquired wart infections. The three types of skin cancers are

(i)                 Basal Cell Carcinoma

This is the most common type of skin cancer. As it grow slowly, most are curable and cause minimal damage when caught and treated early. But if allowed to grow, these lesions can be disfiguring and dangerous and become locally invasive. Therefore it is extremely important to seek medical advice at the earliest.

(ii)               Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. It commonly occurs on sun-exposed skin including the head, neck, chest, upper back, ears, lips, arms, legs, and hands. Long term exposure to chemicals and long term irritation also are predisposing factors. Unlike some other types of skin cancer, it can spread to the tissues, bones, and nearby lymph nodes, where it may become hard to treat. When caught early, it’s easy to treat.

(iii)             Melanoma

Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that begins in cells known as melanocytes. Even though it is less common in coloured skin types like that of Indians, it is more dangerous because of its ability to spread to other organs more rapidly if it is not treated at an early stage.