Turn on the news, pull up the web or grab a magazine and you will find the same thing. Story after story about various health threats. Skin cancer is one of the major health risks that does not get much attention.
Skin cancer is unique in that it is so deadly and yet so treatable if caught early. Unlike a hidden tumor in the abdominal area, skin cancer is readily apparent. So, why does it go untreated? Most people simple do not know what to look for.
Like many health problems, skin cancer is not actually a single illness. There are really three different types of the cancer. They are basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma. Each has varying degrees of seriousness.
While everyone knows of melanoma, basal cell is actually the most common form of skin cancer. In fact, it comprises the vast majority of cases with roughly 90 percent of all skin cancer cases being basal cell.
So, why is basal cell not front and center in skin cancer conversations? It is considered the least dangerous of the skin cancers. It grows slowly and does not spread except in the rarest of cases.
Squamous cell carcinoma is the next step up in seriousness. As long as it is diagnosed early and treated, it is not deadly. If you let it go for years without care, however, it can spread to the internal organs and cause death.
Melanoma carcinoma is not only the third form of skin cancer, it is the deadliest. Fortunately, it is also the rarest version. That being said, this is a disease you want to have treated as soon as humanely possible.
Why is this form of skin cancer so deadly? Once again, it comes down to the issue of spreading. Simply put, it spreads quickly through the lymph nodes and blood to the internal organs.
Things are bad once cancer gets into the organs. This is how skin cancer, and more importantly melanoma, kills. The tremendous news is melanoma is also fairly rare, consisting of less than five percent of all skin cancer cases.
If you are going to get skin cancer, basal cell is definitely the type you want. Melanoma, on the other hand, should be avoided. Make sure to see a medical professional to get you skin checked out from time to time.
About the Author:
John Grimmes is with AllTerrainCo.com - offering natural products for the outdoors such as sunscreen for sun protection.
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