Skin Cancer Essay

     There are three main types of skin cancer. These are malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. While melanoma is the most life-threatening of the three, it is also the most

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.

Often times , most people do not think twice about the dangers of skin cancer . The leading cause of skin cancer is too much exposure to the sun. Skin cancer can be prevented , as well as treatable with the help of suns

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).

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.

A tanning bed is a faster way to tan, but is it good or bad? This leads to our topic, Do tanning beds cause skin cancer? So yes or no, some people would say no, but the truth is that a tanning bed has the same harmful rays like the sun, or even worst. Both tanning beds and sun, harm your integumentary system with UV rays. Associated with these rays cause three major skin cancer: are Basal Cell Carcinoma (BBC), Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), and Melanoma the main one.

United States. Skin cancer has been the most popular form of cancer that is growing especially since the invention of tanning beds. Sun exposure and radiation exposure increase the risk of skin cancer. The definition of cancer is abnormal cell growth or behavior. Studies have shown that sun and radiation exposure damage the cells in your body. Richard Wagman is the author of this article; he is a doctor who specializes in internal medicine. The publication is from The New Complete Medical and Health Encyclopedia, which is a book written by M.D. Richard

This skin cancer isnt as dangerious oas others but this can move to other parts of you body if you dont see a doctor to be treated. When your skin is exposed to the sun is can grow over months. This cancer can be in a scaly, redish,crusty, or thickend.

Then next you have the Squamous Cell Carcinoma This type of skin cancer is not as dangerous as melanoma but may spread to other parts of the body if not treated. It grows over some months and appears on skin most often exposed to the sun. It can be a thickened, red, scaly spot that may bleed easily, crust or ulcerate.

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. You can get melanoma from the sun, it can be genetic or from tanning beds. Melanoma is mostly on skin, but also found in eyes, under nails, and sometimes found in organs. It’s increasing to a lot of people under the age of 40, especially women. Melanoma can be in many places. Next, the sun and tanning bed increase your chances

Skin cells normally push the new healthy cells toward the top to replace the old cells that need to be replaced but, in some cases, when the cell DNA is too damaged then the new skin cells start to grow rapidly which turn into cancerous growths. Doctors believe that the main lead cause of melanoma is too much exposure to UV rays that comes mostly from sunlight and tanning beds (Cancer Research UK). The Melanoma Research Foundation says that, “approximately 90% of melanoma cases can be linked to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays…” Having blistering sunburns during early childhood can increase the chances of getting melanoma, along with getting sunburns and excessive exposure later in life can increase risks as well. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, people who live in places that have more sunlight like Florida, Arizona and California have a higher chance of getting skin cancer. Lighter skinned people who live in the colder northern states can also get skin cancer and some locations actually have a higher number of skin cancer patients. The healthy amount of exposure to the sun is about 20 minutes to be able to get the right amount of Vitamin D required by the body, after 20 minutes or so it would be smart to use sunscreen in order to avoid getting a sunburn. It is also smart to avoid using a tanning booth or bed since it increases the risk of getting

The most serious type of skin cancer is melanoma. Melanoma begins in the melanocytes and forms tumors that are usually brown or black. Any skin on the body can develop melanoma. The common places for melanoma to start are the back and chest of men and the legs of women while the neck and face are also common spots. Although it is uncommon, melanoma can also be found in the eyes and mouth. The skin is the main organ affected by melanoma but its is possible for the cancer cells to spread to internal organs. If melanoma is spread to the immune system, it can trick it to not destroy the cancer cells by use of immune cell proteins. Melanocytes are cells with pigment in them, that give the skin its color and are also the cells that become melanoma.

Thesis: The knowledge of understanding what skin cancer is and what to look for can

Squamous cell carcinoma is second most common type of skin cancer, after basal cell carcinoma. Squamous cell cancer spreads faster than basal cell cancer, but still is usually relatively slow-growing. It can spread (metastasize) to other locations, including internal organs.

The scariest fact found when researching the effects of exposure to the sun’s harmful rays is that ninety present of skin cancer is caused by it. Doesn’t knowing the facts make you want to shield yourself and your children by never going outside again? Unfortunately, that is just imposable but educating our youth is the first step to prevention since most sun exposure is achieved before the age of eighteen. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one out of every five American’s will develop skin cancer. The three main types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and malignant melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common