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Non Melanoma Skin Cancer

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INTRODUCTION Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer; over 3.5 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer cases are diagnosed each year and over 73,000 melanoma skin cancer cases are expected in the year of 2015.1 Skin cancer is commonly caused by the sun’s ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. UVA and UVB rays can damage one’s DNA, significantly increasing the risk of skin cancer.2 Skin cancer, for the most part, can be easily prevented. By avoiding excess sun exposure, the chance of being diagnosed with skin cancer is greatly reduced. Specifically, the use of broad-spectrum sunscreen protects the skin against the harmful UVA and UVB rays. So, in a hopeful attempt to reduce the high volume of skin cancer cases, the question is raised: can the use of mobile text messaging promote sun …show more content…

So, the fact that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer is not shocking. There are two main categories of skin cancer: non-melanomas (also referred to as keratinocyte cancers), which include basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, and melanoma. Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common, but melanoma is the most dangerous form. In 2006, a NMSC study showed over 3.5 million diagnosed cases in about 2.2 million people. Over 73,000 cases of melanoma are predicted for the current year of 2015.1
Of NMSC, the two main types are basal cell skin cancer and squamous cell skin cancer. They grow from the basal cells or the squamous cells, hence the name, on the skin’s outer layer. The common cause of basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers is from sun-exposure. The NMSCs are commonly found on the areas of the skin exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck, face, ears, neck lips, and backs of hands. These cancer cells can be easily treated when found small and contained. Basal cell cancers are rarely found to spread, whereas squamous cell cancers are more likely to spread than basal cell

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