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Article Series: Skin Cancer
Help Me Understand Skin Cancer
Basal
Cell Carcinomas (Skin Cancer)
- Causes, Symptoms, Treatments
Of the three major types of skin cancer -
basal cell carcinoma is the most common. For some reason it
seems to affect more men than women and its incidence increases
with people over forty to fifty years of age. It definitely
is focused amongst individuals who are lighter skinned and
who have fair or red hair. and who have a tendency to burn
when out in the sun too long.
The appearance of this particular skin cancer can take the
form of a lump that is flesh colored or slightly red and can
have a 'pearly' look to it. It can also appear as a pimple
like growth that does not seem to heal. It can also be a small,
red scaly patch. It is most often found on areas of the skin
that have been exposed to the sun's UV rays - such as the face,
neck, arms etc.
Around six weeks after it has appeared this lump will become
ulcerated, its center being moist while it maintains a harder
surrounding edge. Though a scab may form over it - it will
then fall off, and it never truly heals.
The causes of this type of skin cancer are varied. Typically
we think of it as being the result of some sort of exposure
to a carcinogenic source. That source may be the sun's UV rays,
either from constant exposure or having an excessive vulnerability
due to having had a severe sunburn as a youth. There is also
exposure to radiation from radiotherapy and some chemicals
such as arsenic.
Another possible factor for some individuals is a genetic
one. There are some syndromes that are inheritable such as
xeroderma pigmentosa that is basically a fault in the DNA that
affects the way a cell can repair itself. This is a condition
that can be associated with people who have extensive freckling
and who feel an extra sensitivity to the sun.
Having ulcerous wounds that come from an injury or another
type of thermal burn and which have a difficult time healing
may have a chance to develop this basal cell cancer. Or if
an individual is for some reason immune suppressed - as an
example there is immunosuppression used for recipients of certain
transplants to help them accept the new organ - and it may
leave them open to being susceptible to this carcinoma.
Treatment will depend on some factors such as: the size of
the tumor and where it is located, the age of the person and
whether this is a recurring cancer or an initial one.
Types of treatments that are open to someone with this type
of cancer may vary but the doctor or dermatologist involved
with first discuss with the patient what may be available.
In some cases it may entail a simple surgical removal followed
by a type of cauterization to seal the blood vessels surrounding
the site and/or to kill off any remaining cancer cells in the
area.
Ongoing research and progress is opening up the possibility
of some types of basal cell carcinomas to be treated with new
therapies and creams that would be less invasive. Currently
if a tumor is on the larger size, recurrent, or located near
vital sites such as an eye or nose there is a technique that
is used called 'Moh's Technique' where a surgeon takes the
time to shave off cancerous tissue one layer at a time, examining
it for cancer until he reaches healthy tissue. This can spare
damage done to healthy tissue.
This type of cancer is highly curable - especially when discovered
in its early stages.
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by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2009
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