Do you have skin cancer?
August 28, 2008
Our skin is a mask against natural and man-made hazards. However, we don’t seem to take enough care of it considering the careless visits in the sun, non-usage of sunscreen and undergoing tanning on the beach. Have you ever wondered that you may be in danger of contracting skin cancer by just going out in the sun everyday?
People with fair skin and light coloured eyes are more prone to getting skin cancer. That does not mean that dark complexioned people are free to tan their skins till eternity. All those persons, whose skins burn easily, have a lot of moles and freckles and also those having a family history of skin cancer are prone to it.
So, once you get skin cancer can it be treated? Definitely. Unlike other cancerous diseases that require you to undergo a lot of pain and discomfort during treatment, skin cancer can be easily treated. Out of the three types of skin cancer, melanomia (the third type) is the most difficult to treat as it spreads to other parts of the body. The first type (basal cell carcinomia) and the second type (squamous cell carcinomia) are easy to treat, as they don’t spread much. Skin cancer can be treated via surgery, Moh’s technique (shaving off layer by layer until the tumour is removed) and curettage and electrodessication that scrapes the skin and then treats it with an electric current.
But how do you know that you have skin cancer? That’s a tricky question. Most of the cases of skin cancer go undetected till it becomes too late to treat. So, the best way is to be on the lookout for any skin growth that keeps increasing in size and colour (brown, black or multicoloured). And also any moles or birthmarks that change size shape and colour and do not heal.
Prevention is always better than cure more so when the symptoms for this disease are so vague and difficult to see. So, the next time you venture out be sure to dab on some sunscreen, wear sunglasses and try and avoid the sun during peak hours (10am – 3pm). Then, skin cancer will run miles away from you.
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