Skin Cancer Essay

Many people think that is it possible to achieve a “healthy tan,” but this thought has been proven wrong. Overexpose to UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun lead to premature aging of the skin, as well as the possible formation of skin cancer, know as melanoma. An appearance of a tan is actually a stage of burning and damage to the skin. Although a tan may be desirable to many, the fact remains that more people need to be educated on the dangers of the sun’s harmful rays, and the possible health complications of overexposure.

Skin cancer is a condition where cancerous cells form in the epidermis. The epidermis is the first layer of your skin. Melanoma can be on any part of the body (Egan 23-24). This form of skin cancer can be treated in the early stages of formation. Basal cell cancer is one of the most common types of skin cancer, this cancer may also happen on the sun exposed skin and on the face (Egan 10).Squamous cells are the second most common form of skin cancer. Squamous cells form on sun exposed skin (Egan 11). For example, it could potentially form on the shoulders, neck, or hands (Egan 10-11). Each stage of skin cancer may vary depending on the person.

Some causes of skin cancer are over explosion to UV light, moles, as well it can be passed on hereditarily.

Now that we know different types of skin cancer, it is important to know the causes for this disease. The first one is the environmental pollutants that we are exposed to such as coal, tar, and radium. Exposure to ionizing radiation such as x-rays also cause skin cancer (“Theoretical Causes”, 2000, P.6).

The largest organ of the human body is your skin. It is your body’s first line of defense against infections, injuries, heat, and sunlight. It also helps in controlling the temperature of your body and getting rid of the excess water and salt by sweating it out. Skin cancer is also known as cancer of the sun. Excessive amounts of ultra violet lights affect your skin in negative ways, possibly leading to Melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer there is and can often times be fatal (McClay).

These brown coloured cancerous growths develop when unrepaired DNA has committed damage to the body’s skin cells. It is known that it is the most commonly triggered by vigorous amounts of sunshine, over excessive use of tanning bed and UV lights which result in making mutations in the skin that produces the skin cells to over multiply at a quick rate which can eventually form nasty tumours.

Although there are several types of skin cancer, the most aggressive form is melanoma. This cancer of the skin involves mass replication of the pigment producing melanocyte cells, which are located in the epidermis, below the basal layer. There are several factors involved with the onset of melanoma including, exposure to ultraviolet rays, genetic predisposition, numerous nevi (moles), immunosuppression, and environmental exposure to carcinogens.

EXCESSIVE SUN EXPOSURE AND SKIN CANCER IN AUSTRALIA Genet Degfaw Student ID No. 4559316 20 October 2017 Table of content 1. Introduction------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 2. Background-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3-4 2.1 The importance of sunscreen in preventing skin cancer------------------------------------3 2.2 The Australian population at greater risk of skin cancer------------------------------------4 3.

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It develops when unrepaired DNA damage to your skin cells trigger genetic defects that lead you skin cells to multiply at a fast pace and form tumors. Melanoma can often resemble moles and some can come from previous moles. These melanoma moles can range in color from pink, red, brown, purple, white, blue and skin-colored, but more mostly seen as black or brown. It’s said that consumers who use indoor ultraviolent tanning devices are seven-four percent more likely to develop melanoma compared to someone who has never used a tanning bed before. Melanoma is usually caused from intense and over exposure to UV radiation. It has be estimated to kill around 10,000 individuals in the U.S. each year. The lifetime risk of melanoma is 1.5 times higher in males than in females. Melanoma is curable, if it is recognized early and

Melanoma is a dangerous invasive cancer which starts in melanin producing cells (melanocytes) usually located at the bottom of the skins epidermal layer. Although certain individuals have a genetic propensity for melanoma, it is usually triggered by excessive UV exposure from sunlight or tanning beds (Mayo Clinic, 2016a). At early stages it is relatively easy to treat, however, recurrences are common. At later stages melanoma treatments are less effective since it tends to metastasize and spread easily through the lymphatic system (Mayo Clinic, 2016a).. The root cause of malignant melanoma is due to mutations in the p53 gene protein which invariably leads to further mutations.

It is likely that the melanoma cell can be treated, when it reaches then passes through the lymph nodes and the bloodstream, and it can be removed but will reoccur. When melanoma passes through the lymph nodes it’s likely that it has already affected the organs like the liver, lungs, or brain. This is how the cancer is spread to the organs of the body in a tumor form to become a deadly disease. This disease affects people of all ages and it can be detected by age 16. It can occur on any skin surface. In men, melanoma is often found on the trunk (the area between the shoulders and the hips) or the head and neck. In women, it often develops on the lower legs. Melanoma is rare in black people and others with dark skin. When it does develop in dark-skinned people, it tends to occur under the fingernails or toenails, or on the palms or soles. This cancer disease is metastasis and will move to the other organs of the body. Melanoma cancer is different than the squamous and the basal cell carcinoma because it will spread. This can be passed on through genes, the gen can hide and looks like a normal gen in the early stages. Melanoma may feel like an existing mole, or appear as a new mole, it has a black or blue-black area. It may be black, abnormal, ugly looking. This can be treated by radiation, biological therapy, and chemotherapy. These treatments can be combined and used at the same time.

In the medical world, there are two types of skin cancer- melanoma and nonmelanoma (“Skin Cancer Treatments” 2016). Things that can increase the chance of having skin cancer are known as “risk factors” (“Skin Cancer Treatments” 2016). They can be different for the 2 types of skin cancer. Nonmelanoma skin cancer risk factors can include “fair skin that freckles and burns easily, does not tan, or tans poorly, blue or green or other light-colored eyes, or red or blond hair” (“Skin Cancer Treatments” 2016). Also, risk factors can include “past treatments with radiation, a weakened immune system, and certain changes in genes” (“Skin Cancer Treatments” 2016). Melanoma tends to be “ more aggressive than most other types of skin cancer” (“Skin Cancer” n.d.). To decrease the risk of skin cancer, we can stay in the shade and wear longer clothing that will fully protect our body. Also, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, we can decrease the risk by putting on sunscreen, which will protect our skin from harmful UV rays. Skin cancer is a problem, but with the right tools and safety precautions, we can protect our skin from UVA and UVB rays that are emitted daily by the

Cancer is a disease that affects the lives of so many people. Everyone probably knows a person that is or has been afflicted by this monster, whether it is a family member, friend, or neighbor. There are many different forms of cancer including breast cancer, leukemia, lung cancer…the list goes on. One form of cancer that hits home for myself and my family is skin cancer as we have had some family members and other family friends taken away from skin cancer. There are many different forms of skin cancer; it can be minor or very aggressive depending upon which type one has. Specifically, this paper will focus on discussing the most dangerous form of skin cancer, melanoma.

C. Melanoma Skin Cancer is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, it kills one person per hour, these cancerous growths are most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds. These tumors originate in the pigment-producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Melanoma is caused mainly by intense, occasional UV exposure (frequently leading to sunburn), especially in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease. Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color or feel of a mole.

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