The days when people sent children outside to play to get a little color in their cheeks are now long gone. Parents now know too much about the dangers of unprotected sun exposure and the threat of skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common, and yet is the most curable form of cancer. Skin cancer is a deadly disease that alters the DNA of a skin cell and causes it to reproduce at a rapid pace. Research has found that most forms of skin cancer is due to sunlight, the exposure of ultra-violet rays.
There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. "Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, affecting 800,000 Americans each year". 1 Your basal cells, which are on the bottom of the epidermis, which is the outer skin layer, are affected. Cancer in the basal cell is called nonmelanoma cancer. This means that the cancer did not start in the melanocytes, located in the epidermis. 2 Basal cell carcinoma usually appears on the parts of the skin that have been exposed to the sun, although there have been a few that have appeared on unexposed areas. When checking for basal cell carcinoma you need to look for the 5 warning signs. The tumors will resemble: 1) an open sore, one that remains open for 3 or more weeks, 2) a reddish patch, it may hurt at sometimes, and be fine at others, 3) a shiny bump, it is often pink, red or white, 4) a pink growth, it has a crusty center and a slightly elevated border, and 5) a scar like area, can be white, yellow or waxy, with undefined borders.1 Because of the many things to look for, it is difficult to perform a self-diagnosion. The methods of treatment involve the use of cryosurgery, radiation therapy, electrodesiccation and curettage, and simple excision. Each of these methods is useful in specific clinical situations.2 Mohs micrographic surgery, a newer surgical technique, uses microscopic control to get rid of the tumor invasion.