Skin Cancer Essay

Those who may spend the vast majority of their week indoors but go to the beach on the weekends or outside on vacations are much more likely to develop a skin cancer than those who spend regular time outdoors. There are also risk factors that put some people at a higher risk for developing skin cancers, as well. These include:

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

Caucasians have the lowest amount of melanin in their skin cells when being compared to other cultures. Melanin is crucial to protecting our skin from UV rays, and so someone with a darker skin tone is better protected.

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.

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

Melanoma is a malignant condition arising from melanocytes in the basal layer of the skin. Melanocytes are the cells that produce melanin, which gives skin its pigmentation and shields the deeper layers of skin from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. When skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, melanocytes increase their production of melanin, which generates darker pigmentation of the skin. Ultraviolet radiation stimulates malignant changes within the melanocytes by mutating DNA, stimulating cutaneous growth factors, decreases immune defenses, and promotes species of melanin that cause DNA impairment and suppress apoptosis. The abnormalities caused by ultraviolet radiation in the melanocytes predispose it to

Problematique Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and is an ever increasing threat, accounting for over forty percent of cancer cases in the world. In the United States alone, over two million people will be diagnosed with skin cancer each year and one in every five Americans will develop it in their lifetime. Australia and New Zealand have some of the highest cancer rates in the world which is four times that of the US, UK and Canada. This disease is mainly due to UVB exposure from the sun but also from other sources of UV like tanning beds. Ultraviolet radiations come in three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC.

Melanin is the pigment in the skin that absorbs ultraviolet light and protects the skin from sun damage, so the less pigment in a person’s skin the less protection they have

There are different types of skin cell cancer. Bell cell carcinoma (BCC) involves slow growing, malignant epidermal tumors that develop from hair follicles. These tumor infiltrate surrounding tissues and invasively destroy vulnerable areas, such as skin that is chronically exposed to the sun. The sun-exposed areas of the neck and head are at highest risk, where small white or translucent lesions will likely appear. Squamous cell carcinoma is a cancer that is caused by too much UV exposure or from excessive use of sunbeds. It is technically caused by uncontrolled growth of abnormal squamous cells and medically treated through safe dermatology

Melanoma is a very serious type of skin cancer and can be extremely dangerous if it’s not taken care of properly. Melanoma usually develops in the melanocyte cells when the skin has been exposed to ultraviolet radiation from tanning beds or from being outside in the direct sunlight for too long or over a long period of time. When unrepaired skin DNA becomes too damaged, it can trigger a mutation in the cells which leads to the skin cells to rapidly multiply, turning into the cancerous growths. In some cases, melanoma can form in the eyes, nose, mouth, genitals and, in rare situations, form in the intestines (Mayo Clinic).

In addition, the risk factors of contracting skin cancer are likely to be on the increase particularly due to the effects of the Green House Effect resulting from global warming due to the high levels of industrialization currently being experienced around the world (Moy, R., & Famenini, S. (2013). This therefore means it will be inevitable for the relevant public health authorities to come up with effective skin cancer prevention strategies.

CAUSE: Melanoma is caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and external factors such as ultraviolet exposure. Heavy exposure to the sun is the most important factor in development of the disease. UV radiation causes damage to the DNA of cells, typically thymine dimerization, which when unrepaired can create mutations in the cell 's genes. Genetic analysis has shown that 92% of all melanoma are caused by this indirect DNA damage. This however does NOT mean that sunburn is the cause of this cancer. It is one of the rarer types of skin cancer but causes the majority of skin cancer related deaths especially if it is found late. At this time, the causes are not fully understood.

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.

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