Skin cancer is dangerous for your skin and your general health, and therefore it may be important to be observant of any unusual changes to your skin. It is thus advisable that you schedule skin cancer Kingwood screening as part of your preventive care routine. This will help eliminate the possibility of skin cancer advancing as early diagnosis calls for early treatment before your cancer spreads to other parts of your body.
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is a form of cancer that results from irregular skin cell growth. Most cases may be exposure to the sun, but may also occur where your skin isn’t through sunlight exposure. You may need to know the type of skin cancer to understand how it affects your body. The different types of skin cancer may include:
-
Basal cell carcinoma
This form may begin in your base cells and cause cancer to appear on your skin surface. It may fail to spread to other parts of your body and is rarely life-threatening.
-
Squamous cell cancer
This cancer may affect the outermost part of your epidermis. It may develop in the areas of your body that are exposed to UV light frequently. It may be life-threatening if not treated.
-
Melanoma
It may develop from cells responsible for your skin color, known as melanocytes. This cancer may be common on the legs for a woman and chest and back in men. It may spread to your other body parts but is treatable if caught early.
What are the symptoms of skin cancer?
You may need to be observant and notice any unusual changes to your skin for earlier diagnosis and treatment. The signs may include:
- Unusual growths, sore, bump that doesn’t disappear
- An irregular border that may have different colors
- Painful lesions
How can you prevent skin cancer?
You may protect your skin from cancer by following the tips below:
-
Avoiding the sun in the middle of the day
Doing this may help prevent sunburns that can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.
-
Wearing sunscreen
Sunscreen may act as sun protection, so you should apply generous amounts to your exposed skin.
-
Observe your skin
Regular checking of your skin may help detect any unusualness, which you may report to your doctor.
What is the treatment for skin cancer?
Your doctor may first have to conduct tests, including physical observation of your skin, then perform a skin biopsy. Your doctor may then carry out another test to determine your stage of skin cancer. Your treatment may vary depending on the type, location, and size of the lesions. Your options may include:
-
Freezing
Your doctor may recommend freezing early skin cancers with liquid nitrogen.
-
Excisional surgery
Your doctor may cut out the cancerous tissue or even make a wide excision to remove extra skin around your tumor.
-
Chemotherapy
This treatment uses drugs to kill the cancer cells, and systemic chemotherapy may treat skin cancers that may spread to your other body parts.
-
Radiotherapy
This treatment may effectively kill cancer cells, especially if surgery may not completely remove cancer.
Schedule your cancer screening at Elite Dermatology or request an online appointment.
