Skin Deep? - skin cancer information

American Fitness, May, 2001

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that about one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in his or her lifetime.

Left untreated, skin cancer can cause disfigurement or death. However, when detected and treated early, the two most common skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, have a 95 percent or greater cure rate. Three types of cancer account for more than 95 percent of all skin cancers:

Basal cell carcinoma (the most common skin cancer) is generally found on people with light hair, eyes and complexions. It usually appears as small, fleshy bumps or nodules on the head, neck and hands or as fiat growth on the trunk of the body. Basal cell carcinoma grows slowly and may take many months or even years to reach one-half inch in diameter. Without treatment, the tumor will bleed, crust over and then bleed again. While this type of cancer' rarely spreads to other parts of the body, it can extend below the skin to the bone and cause considerable damage.

Malignant melanoma (the most dangerous skin cancer) usually begins as a mottled light brown or flat black blemish with irregular borders that may turn shades of red, blue or white. It can spread to other organs, most often the lungs or liver.

Squamous cell carcinoma is rarely found on dark-skinned people. It appears as nodules or as red or pink scaly patches, typically on the rim of the ear, lips, mouth or face, that can develop into large masses. Squamous cell carcinoma does occasionally metastasize (spread to other parts of the body).

Overexposure to sunlight is considered the principal cause of skin cancer. It is advised to limit exposure to the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunscreens with at least 15 SPF should be used and reapplied every two hours and after swimming.