Squamous Cell Skin Cancer
Staying out in the sun, they say, is bad for you.
While it may sound like an old wives' tale, a nt type of cancer which is not very easy to spot.
Squamous comes from the Latin word "squama,"possibly deadly skin cancer called squamous cell skin cancer is a very real result of staying out too long in the sun.
And when we say "too long," we mean prolonged exposure to UV rays.
A dangerous type of skin cancer, it affects healthy surrounding tissues, and if not caught immediately, may spread to the lymph nodes and prove lethal.
Also known as squamous cell carcinoma, it is a maligna which means scales, therefore defining squamous epithelium as skin with a scaly surface.
The earliest sign of squamous cell carcinoma is a tumor, which usually appears in different forms on your skin, sometimes a hard red bump, or a pale scab with a scaly surface.
On your more private parts, the tumor will resemble a sore.
Because they look so much like sores and raised patches of skin, it is hard to detect the early signs of this cancer.
These sores and bumps can be found also on your lips, inside your mouth, and even inside your anus, as squamous cell skin cancer is only one type.
This carcinoma can occur on different organs in your body such as your lungs, esophagus, bladder, cervix and vagina.
Of the different kinds of cancers of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common after basal cell carcinoma, but not as scary.
The damage done by squamous cell skin cancer occurs over time, accumulating the longer you expose yourself to sunlight, or even in a tanning bed, allowing your DNA cells to get damaged as well.
It is the deterioration of DNA that leads to this carcinoma.
Other causes include undergoing radiation therapy, exposure to chemical toxins and use of immunosuppressant medicine.
It is also found that those with fair skin, those who have been diagnosed also with squamous cell carcinoma previously, and heavy smokers increase their risk of developing this type of cancer.
While it is not easy to catch this carcinoma in the early stages, it's not all that difficult either.
To be on the safe side, if a bump or sore does not disappear after two weeks or so, do have it examined by your doctor.
If cancerous, there are many treatments to avail of.
Cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen may freeze off small tumors, laser therapy is used for surface tumors, or a doctor can simply cut out that bit of skin.
For larger tumors, Moh's surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are recommended.
Prevention of squamous cell skin cancer is still much better than catching it early and undergoing treatment, so protect yourself with sunscreen while outdoors and stay in during noon, which is the time the sun is the strongest in the sky.
You could also get your Vitamin D from food and pills instead of through the sun, and eat more green, leafy vegetables.
Additionally, avoid tanning beds entirely, if you can.
What good is a tan, when your skin has cancer?
While it may sound like an old wives' tale, a nt type of cancer which is not very easy to spot.
Squamous comes from the Latin word "squama,"possibly deadly skin cancer called squamous cell skin cancer is a very real result of staying out too long in the sun.
And when we say "too long," we mean prolonged exposure to UV rays.
A dangerous type of skin cancer, it affects healthy surrounding tissues, and if not caught immediately, may spread to the lymph nodes and prove lethal.
Also known as squamous cell carcinoma, it is a maligna which means scales, therefore defining squamous epithelium as skin with a scaly surface.
The earliest sign of squamous cell carcinoma is a tumor, which usually appears in different forms on your skin, sometimes a hard red bump, or a pale scab with a scaly surface.
On your more private parts, the tumor will resemble a sore.
Because they look so much like sores and raised patches of skin, it is hard to detect the early signs of this cancer.
These sores and bumps can be found also on your lips, inside your mouth, and even inside your anus, as squamous cell skin cancer is only one type.
This carcinoma can occur on different organs in your body such as your lungs, esophagus, bladder, cervix and vagina.
Of the different kinds of cancers of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common after basal cell carcinoma, but not as scary.
The damage done by squamous cell skin cancer occurs over time, accumulating the longer you expose yourself to sunlight, or even in a tanning bed, allowing your DNA cells to get damaged as well.
It is the deterioration of DNA that leads to this carcinoma.
Other causes include undergoing radiation therapy, exposure to chemical toxins and use of immunosuppressant medicine.
It is also found that those with fair skin, those who have been diagnosed also with squamous cell carcinoma previously, and heavy smokers increase their risk of developing this type of cancer.
While it is not easy to catch this carcinoma in the early stages, it's not all that difficult either.
To be on the safe side, if a bump or sore does not disappear after two weeks or so, do have it examined by your doctor.
If cancerous, there are many treatments to avail of.
Cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen may freeze off small tumors, laser therapy is used for surface tumors, or a doctor can simply cut out that bit of skin.
For larger tumors, Moh's surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are recommended.
Prevention of squamous cell skin cancer is still much better than catching it early and undergoing treatment, so protect yourself with sunscreen while outdoors and stay in during noon, which is the time the sun is the strongest in the sky.
You could also get your Vitamin D from food and pills instead of through the sun, and eat more green, leafy vegetables.
Additionally, avoid tanning beds entirely, if you can.
What good is a tan, when your skin has cancer?
Source...