Skin cancer is more common in people with white skin. But this doesn’t mean it cannot affect dark-skinned ones. It is also possible, but less chance than fairer skinned people. So whether you’re white or not, it’s important to know what this cancer is and how to prevent it.
The Symptoms to Be Aware Of
People get skin cancer from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. In the long run, there’ll become a bad change in the skin’s appearance when overly exposed to UV rays. Sores that do not easily heal in the skin are one of the signs of this cancer. It’s advisable that people must avoid the sun from 10am to 3pm. These are the times in which the heat of the sun is at its greatest. It means it’s fairly dangerous to the skin. If you want to get some sun tan, make sure to go earlier before 10 or after 3 at noon.
Another sign to look for that indicates skin cancer is red bumps in the skin on the neck, shoulders, and arms. Some can have it around their eyes, too. These bumps can deform on their own, but if not, they must be treated immediately. If one stays long, there’s a high tendency to cause blurriness of vision. This is true, most especially when the cancer on the affected skin is already malignant. It can really make you lose sight if not attended immediately.
Direct or indirect exposure to some chemicals is another cause of skin cancer. Chemicals like tar, oil, nicotine, and acid can cause damage to the skin. Long exposure with such harmful chemicals can certainly result to cancer.
Sometimes, skin cancer may be due to family history. It can be hereditary at some cases. Parents or grandparents that have had skin cancer may affect one of their children. This can happen either if the child’s been contaminated during pregnancy or at the early stage of childhood.
Skin Cancer Treatment to Count On
Proper diagnosis and early detection really help in the treatment and recovery of skin cancer, once the patient is positive. It’s difficult to treat this kind of disease if it’s already in its later stage.
Chemotherapy is a good treatment of this disease. An oral chemotherapy procedure is taking the medicine by mouth to help heal skin that is affected. This kind of treatment will decrease the possibility of spreading the disease into other parts of the skin.
Aside from oral pills, there are chemotherapeutic medicines that can be applied on skin. These are ointments and creams that you can easily spread on and around affected parts of the skin to help kill the cancer. But beware of some inflammation that may occur. Hair loss, vomiting, and nausea may be also some side effects of chemotherapy treatment.
Radiation therapy is another effective treatment. Internal and external radiations are processes that must be conducted. The amount of radiation depends on the degree of skin cancer. A much longer radiation procedure is most recommended for malignant case. Like chemotherapy side effect, hair loss is also a possible result when undergoing this treatment procedure.
Lastly but not the least, surgery may be also conducted. This is a procedure wherein the surface layer of the affected skin is removed. Simple removal of the top layer of the skin through laser is how it’s done. The tumour is also removed, wherein the cancerous cells are destroyed. But be very aware of a scar or scratch that may result from surgery. The scar would be permanent, and visible.
Human skin cancer can be curable if treated at once while still it’s benign, or at its early stage. And with the best treatment procedure conducted by an authorized physician, there’s a high possibility to get cured.
If one or more of the signs and symptoms mentioned above are felt or found, please seek the advice of a physician right away. Stay away from the sunlight if you have skin cancer to prevent the spreading of the cancer in your skin. Make sure to also have a regular medical check-up if you are suffering from any of the symptoms. Of course, have a healthy lifestyle and diet as it’s the golden rule to remain healthy and live longer.