| Skin cancer is generally separated into two main | | | | cancerous. These cells are located between the |
| categories, melanoma and nonmelanoma. | | | | dermis and epidermis, and can form benign |
| Melanoma is the most severe form of skin | | | | growths known as nevi, or moles. This occurs |
| cancer. The nonmelanoma group encompasses all | | | | when the melanocyte cells reproduce too fast or |
| other skin cancers. The two most common | | | | fail to die, and accumulate into harmless growths |
| forms of nonmelanoma skin cancer, squamous cell | | | | which do not spread like cancer does. Most people |
| and basal cell carcinoma, are named for the | | | | have between 10 and 40 moles throughout their |
| squamous or basal cells which become cancerous. | | | | skin, but having a significantly higher number of |
| The top layer of skin, the epidermis, is made up | | | | nevi is a risk factor for melanoma, as is having |
| of basal and squamous cells. The surface of the | | | | dysplastic, or irregularly shaped, nevi. If new moles |
| skin is made of round, flat squamous cells, and | | | | form, or if changes occur in existing moles, |
| below these are the basal cells. Hair follicles and | | | | especially dysplastic nevi, you should see a doctor |
| sweat glands are in the dermis below the | | | | because this may be a symptom of melanoma. |
| epidermis. | | | | Watch for any changes in the skin surrounding a |
| Treatment of basal or squamous cell carcinoma is | | | | mole, or in the size, shape, or color of the mole. |
| usually very successful with no side effects if | | | | Generally, if you have a skin anomaly which may |
| caught early enough. Since symptoms first appear | | | | be skin cancer, your doctor will perform a biopsy. |
| on the skin, detection of skin cancer in its earliest | | | | If the possible tumor can be conveniently |
| stage of development is possible if you recognize | | | | removed, the doctor will remove it completely |
| it. These common cancers can be surgically | | | | and test it for cancer. No further treatment may |
| removed if they have not advanced, making | | | | be necessary; if the cancer has progressed, you |
| aggressive therapy unnecessary. The danger is in | | | | may need topical radiation or chemotherapy, the |
| not recognizing the symptoms and not going to a | | | | surgical removal of local lymph nodes, or more |
| doctor, or in contracting skin cancer in a place you | | | | aggressive treatment if the cancer has |
| wouldn't normally see it and failing to find it before | | | | metastasized. If it is not treated, wandering |
| it metastasizes. To avoid this, you should do | | | | cancerous skin cells can travel through the body |
| regular skin self-examinations, checking for any | | | | and create additional tumors in other organs or |
| possible skin cancer symptoms. If you find a small | | | | systems. |
| lump, rash, or sore which does not heal, you | | | | Any kind of skin cancer, squamous cell or basal |
| should ask your doctor if it may be skin cancer. | | | | cell carcinoma, or melanoma, should be treated as |
| Melanoma is named for the melanocyte cells | | | | soon as it is discovered in order to prevent |
| which give pigment to the skin and can become | | | | metastasis. |