Skin Cancer is becoming more and more common these days, as we continue to expose ourselves to the harmful rays of the sun, it is only going to increase. 1 in 5 American's will develop skin cancer throughout their lifetime, meaning that you will probably know someone that will get skin cancer... it could even be you.
But, are you aware that there are several types of skin cancer? Read on to learn more.
Melanoma: Melanoma is a malignant tumor that originates in melanocytes, the cells which produce the pigment melanin that colors our skin, hair, and eyes and is heavily concentrated in most moles. The majority of melanomas, therefore, are black or brown. However, melanomas occasionally stop producing pigment. When that happens, the melanomas may no longer be dark, but are skin-colored, pink, red or purple. (Source www.skincancer.org)
Basal Cell Carcinoma: The most common form of skin cancer, are cells that line the deepest layer of the epidermis. An abnormal growth — a tumor — of this layer is known as basal cell carcinoma. (Source www.skincancer.org)
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The next most common form of skin cancer. Squamous cells are cells that compose most of the epidermis. An abnormal growth of these cells is known as a squamous cell carcinoma. (Source www.skincancer.org)
These are the most well known skin cancers that you hear about all the time... but how do they get to this stage without us knowing? It is because we ignore the early warning signs, such as skin growths, lesions, changes in moles or freckles, anything on our skins that doesn't look normal, these need to be checked into to ensure early detection.
Skin cancer is one of the most survivable, treatable and preventable cancer's out there.
So, be more aware of your skin and if you are going out in the sun, put sunscreen on, cover up and protect yourself, it is not worth the risk.
Ok, so you know that sitting out in the sun is bad for you, but you like to be brown and glowing for summer... solution? Self tanning or sunless tanning...
Thursday, October 22, 2009
A Couple of Facts About Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer that occurs in the United States. Over one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. In any given year, there are more cases of this cancer diagnosed than there are of colon, lung, prostate and breast cancers combined.
One in every five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lifetime. The most common type is basal cell carcinoma, which is rarely fatal, but which can be very disfiguring.
Sqamous cell carcinoma is the second most commonly-seen type of skin cancer. This type results in roughly 2500 deaths each year and more than 250,000 are diagnosed every year.
Basal and squamous cell types of carcinoma are the major two forms of skin cancer seen that are non-melanoma. About forty to fifty percent of people in America who live past age 65 will have one of these types of skin cancer at least once.
In the year 2004, the total cost that was attributed to treating non-melanoma skin cancers was higher than one billion dollars.
Nearly ninety percent of the non-melanoma types of skin cancer are associated with overexposure to the sun's UV rays. Nearly ninety percent of the aging effects seen on human skin are caused by sun exposure.
Most people used to believe that about eighty percent of a person's exposure to the sun came before the age of eighteen, but this is not true. At age 19, a person has only had about twenty-three percent of their lifetime sun exposure.
Although many of the more common cancers are not seen as often as they used to be, melanoma incidents are still rising, at a faster rate than any of the other seven most common cancers. About 62,480 melanomas are diagnosed in a calendar year, and almost 8240 will result in death.
Melanoma is found in roughly three percent of all skin cancer cases, but it causes higher than 75 percent of deaths due to skin cancer. The incidence of mortality among those with melanoma increased by almost thirty-three percent from 1975 - 1990, but since then it has stayed fairly stable.
The survival rate of people with melanoma increased from almost fifty percent between 1950 and 1954, and it improved 92% between 1996 and 2003. Still, over twenty Americans die every day from skin cancer, usually of the melanoma type. One person will die from melanoma nearly every hour.
The rate of survival of melanoma patients whose disease was found early, before the tumor broke through the skin, is almost one hundred percent. This rate falls to a dismal fifteen percent for those who have the advanced stages of the disease.
One in every five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lifetime. The most common type is basal cell carcinoma, which is rarely fatal, but which can be very disfiguring.
Sqamous cell carcinoma is the second most commonly-seen type of skin cancer. This type results in roughly 2500 deaths each year and more than 250,000 are diagnosed every year.
Basal and squamous cell types of carcinoma are the major two forms of skin cancer seen that are non-melanoma. About forty to fifty percent of people in America who live past age 65 will have one of these types of skin cancer at least once.
In the year 2004, the total cost that was attributed to treating non-melanoma skin cancers was higher than one billion dollars.
Nearly ninety percent of the non-melanoma types of skin cancer are associated with overexposure to the sun's UV rays. Nearly ninety percent of the aging effects seen on human skin are caused by sun exposure.
Most people used to believe that about eighty percent of a person's exposure to the sun came before the age of eighteen, but this is not true. At age 19, a person has only had about twenty-three percent of their lifetime sun exposure.
Although many of the more common cancers are not seen as often as they used to be, melanoma incidents are still rising, at a faster rate than any of the other seven most common cancers. About 62,480 melanomas are diagnosed in a calendar year, and almost 8240 will result in death.
Melanoma is found in roughly three percent of all skin cancer cases, but it causes higher than 75 percent of deaths due to skin cancer. The incidence of mortality among those with melanoma increased by almost thirty-three percent from 1975 - 1990, but since then it has stayed fairly stable.
The survival rate of people with melanoma increased from almost fifty percent between 1950 and 1954, and it improved 92% between 1996 and 2003. Still, over twenty Americans die every day from skin cancer, usually of the melanoma type. One person will die from melanoma nearly every hour.
The rate of survival of melanoma patients whose disease was found early, before the tumor broke through the skin, is almost one hundred percent. This rate falls to a dismal fifteen percent for those who have the advanced stages of the disease.
Getting a Tan - No Sun Involved
So, how do you achieve that perfect bronze colour that you want if you can't lay about in the sun?
You fake it. Sunless tanning is the way to go now. Forget sunbeds, they are just as bad, if not worse than lying in the sun for hours on end.
Technology is evolving and chemists have come up with formulas that colour our skin, giving us that glowing look without damaging our skin. But, which products to try and how do you know it is going to work for you?
The first step is to determine your skin type. There are 5 skin types, Dry, Sensitive, Oily, Normal and Combination. Once you know what type you are, it makes it easier to find the right product for you.
The underlying agent in most tanning products is DHA (Dihidroxyacetone), this is what you can smell in most tanning products, although a lot of them are getting very good at disguising this smell, as it is not all that attractive, but much better than the other option of getting skin cancer. DHA works with the skins pigments and creates varying shades of brown, depending on the product you have used.
You need to prepare your skin for self tanning, so make sure that you have washed, exfoliated and moisturized before applying your tanning product and ensure you apply moisturizer daily to extend the life of your tan.
You will need to remove your tan weekly to ensure you don't get patchy, scaly looking skin.
While all of this may seem like too much hard work, once you incorporate it into your daily routine you will find it quick and easy to do.
Of course, none of the above beats going to the beach and basking in the sun, and there is no reason that you still can't do this, just remember to have good protection, a good strong sunscreen applied a few times during the day, a good hat and some cover for when you are not swimming... common sense really, and you will be well on your way to enjoying summer, with a tan that didn't involve baking your skin!
Did you know that it can take years for Melanomas to appear on your body... so stop baking your skin now, you may have already done the damage. Learn Sunless Tanning tips and tricks at Faking It!
You fake it. Sunless tanning is the way to go now. Forget sunbeds, they are just as bad, if not worse than lying in the sun for hours on end.
Technology is evolving and chemists have come up with formulas that colour our skin, giving us that glowing look without damaging our skin. But, which products to try and how do you know it is going to work for you?
The first step is to determine your skin type. There are 5 skin types, Dry, Sensitive, Oily, Normal and Combination. Once you know what type you are, it makes it easier to find the right product for you.
The underlying agent in most tanning products is DHA (Dihidroxyacetone), this is what you can smell in most tanning products, although a lot of them are getting very good at disguising this smell, as it is not all that attractive, but much better than the other option of getting skin cancer. DHA works with the skins pigments and creates varying shades of brown, depending on the product you have used.
You need to prepare your skin for self tanning, so make sure that you have washed, exfoliated and moisturized before applying your tanning product and ensure you apply moisturizer daily to extend the life of your tan.
You will need to remove your tan weekly to ensure you don't get patchy, scaly looking skin.
While all of this may seem like too much hard work, once you incorporate it into your daily routine you will find it quick and easy to do.
Of course, none of the above beats going to the beach and basking in the sun, and there is no reason that you still can't do this, just remember to have good protection, a good strong sunscreen applied a few times during the day, a good hat and some cover for when you are not swimming... common sense really, and you will be well on your way to enjoying summer, with a tan that didn't involve baking your skin!
Did you know that it can take years for Melanomas to appear on your body... so stop baking your skin now, you may have already done the damage. Learn Sunless Tanning tips and tricks at Faking It!
Skin Cancer: The New Silent Killer
Mary Katherine Grant was a successful 68-year-old career woman who managed hospitals with hundreds of people, traveled the world, enjoyed golfing, and loved spending time in the sun.
The latter is what took her life.
We’ve heard it all before: Don’t talk to strangers, be careful when alone at night, smoking isn’t good for you… but never “the sun can kill you!” Our family, like thousands of other families, learned the hard way: it can. And now, with all the talk about the disappearing ozone layer and environmental/global warming, there is a desperate need for much more awareness of the dangers of the sun, and skin cancer.
I wish my aunt realized the dangers before skin cancer cut her life short.
When we think of the effects of the sun’s rays on our skin, we usually think about the exposed areas of our bodies and our face. Those dreaded signs of aging we begin to see in our 30s, as well as the pain of a good sunburn, immediately come to mind. But the effects of the sun on the scalp are rarely considered, if at all.
This easily overlooked area of skin, hidden by a full head of hair, is where it started for my aunt.
After her hairdresser told her of a small, irregularly-shaped mole hidden by her hair, my aunt visited her dermatologist for a checkup. The news was grim: cancerous melanoma. After more visits to her dermatologist, and then many more skin experts, my aunt was diagnosed with STAGE 4 skin cancer – the final stage immediately before the terminal phase, Stage 5. There was little all those specialists could do. She had no previous symptoms. No pain. No weakness. My aunt felt great, looked even better and traveled the country weekly. But, she was rapidly dying.
After multiple surgeries over three years, various expensive medications and treatments, the cancer spread deeper into her skin, into the dermis. The specialists tried to stay ahead of the aggressive cancer by removing the cancerous areas, including a four inch by four inch plate of her scull, but by then the cancer had spread throughout her body. It attacked her lymph glands, her bone, her brain. She suffered a stroke that rendered her left side unusable. On a Wednesday afternoon, my aunt took herself to the hospital complaining of a headache. She slipped into a coma. Three days later, my aunt died from a silent killer – that started from a small, almost unnoticed mole. She died from skin cancer.
My aunt was one of the estimated 10,710 people in 2006 who passed away as a result of skin cancer.
Once she was diagnosed, there was nothing I could do to help my aunt, but I can help my clients, others, and myself by bringing this subject to the forefront. As a professional esthetician, I make it my business to look and make suggestions to my clients. Along with a qualified dermatologist, I can help in the prevention of skin cancer one person at a time.
Don’t wait until your hairdresser finds a mole. Visit a qualified dermatologist today. They will check you for irregular skin conditions, and instruct you how to do the same at home – it could save your life. Make an appointment to see a dermatologist and have your entire body checked regularly. Learn the ABCD’s of melanoma and spread the word (A-Asymmetry, B-Border, C-Color, D-Diameter). Awareness, education and early detection are our best defense. Most importantly, ALWAYS WEAR SUNSCREEN!
The latter is what took her life.
We’ve heard it all before: Don’t talk to strangers, be careful when alone at night, smoking isn’t good for you… but never “the sun can kill you!” Our family, like thousands of other families, learned the hard way: it can. And now, with all the talk about the disappearing ozone layer and environmental/global warming, there is a desperate need for much more awareness of the dangers of the sun, and skin cancer.
I wish my aunt realized the dangers before skin cancer cut her life short.
When we think of the effects of the sun’s rays on our skin, we usually think about the exposed areas of our bodies and our face. Those dreaded signs of aging we begin to see in our 30s, as well as the pain of a good sunburn, immediately come to mind. But the effects of the sun on the scalp are rarely considered, if at all.
This easily overlooked area of skin, hidden by a full head of hair, is where it started for my aunt.
After her hairdresser told her of a small, irregularly-shaped mole hidden by her hair, my aunt visited her dermatologist for a checkup. The news was grim: cancerous melanoma. After more visits to her dermatologist, and then many more skin experts, my aunt was diagnosed with STAGE 4 skin cancer – the final stage immediately before the terminal phase, Stage 5. There was little all those specialists could do. She had no previous symptoms. No pain. No weakness. My aunt felt great, looked even better and traveled the country weekly. But, she was rapidly dying.
After multiple surgeries over three years, various expensive medications and treatments, the cancer spread deeper into her skin, into the dermis. The specialists tried to stay ahead of the aggressive cancer by removing the cancerous areas, including a four inch by four inch plate of her scull, but by then the cancer had spread throughout her body. It attacked her lymph glands, her bone, her brain. She suffered a stroke that rendered her left side unusable. On a Wednesday afternoon, my aunt took herself to the hospital complaining of a headache. She slipped into a coma. Three days later, my aunt died from a silent killer – that started from a small, almost unnoticed mole. She died from skin cancer.
My aunt was one of the estimated 10,710 people in 2006 who passed away as a result of skin cancer.
Once she was diagnosed, there was nothing I could do to help my aunt, but I can help my clients, others, and myself by bringing this subject to the forefront. As a professional esthetician, I make it my business to look and make suggestions to my clients. Along with a qualified dermatologist, I can help in the prevention of skin cancer one person at a time.
Don’t wait until your hairdresser finds a mole. Visit a qualified dermatologist today. They will check you for irregular skin conditions, and instruct you how to do the same at home – it could save your life. Make an appointment to see a dermatologist and have your entire body checked regularly. Learn the ABCD’s of melanoma and spread the word (A-Asymmetry, B-Border, C-Color, D-Diameter). Awareness, education and early detection are our best defense. Most importantly, ALWAYS WEAR SUNSCREEN!
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