Skin Cancer

What is Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer, also known as melanoma, is the cancer of the skin and involves the abnormal growth of skin cells in your skin tissues. The skin is the body’s largest organ and protects it against sunlight, heat, injury, and infection. It also helps control body temperature and has several layers. The two main layers are the upper or outer layer called the epidermis, and the lower or inner layer called the dermis. The epidermis is made up of three kinds of cells, the squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes that make melanin.

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun causes abnormal cells to develop in the epidermis where cancer starts. When these cells multiply at a faster rate, they form malignant tumors. Skin cancer usually develops on skin exposed to the sun but can also occur in areas not exposed to sunlight. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma are the three main types of skin cancer.

If left untreated, this cancer can spread to other organs and can lead to disfigurement and death due to metastasis.

What are the symptoms of Skin Cancer?

The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change on your skin, such as a new growth or changes to an existing mole. Skin cancer symptoms include:

• Brown spot with darker speckles
• Firm, red nodule
• Flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion
• Flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface
• Itchy and painful lesions
• Mole that changes in color, size or that bleeds

What does Skin Cancer look like?

How Skin Cancer looks like will defer based on the type of Skin Cancer. When considering what to look out for, remember ABCDE:

• Asymmetry: Irregularly shaped moles
• Border: Blurry or irregularly shaped edges
• Colour: Mole with more than one colour
• Diameter: Moles larger than 6 millimeter 
• Evolution: Moles that get larger, change in shape, colour or size. This is the most important sign to look out for.

What are the risk factors of Skin Cancer?

Factors that may increase your risk of Skin Cancer include:

• Fair skin
• A history of sunburn
• Excessive sun exposure
• Living in sunny climates or in high-altitude
• Moles
• Family history of skin cancer
• A weakened immune system
• Exposure to radiation

How is Skin Cancer diagnosed?

Biopsy
A skin biopsy is done to check the skin for signs of cancer.

Skin Exam
A skin exam is done to identify suspicious moles, growths, and other changes on the skin.