What Is Skin Cancer?

• Skin cancer is a serious type of cancer that can affect everyone, regardless of skin color. Skin cancer is called melanoma because it affects cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes create melanin, which is how skin acquires its color. Everyone has different melanocytes, thus the varying skin colors within people of the same nationality. The melanocyte cells work harder when the skin is exposed to sunlight or artificial sunlight such as a tanning booth. This overactive response of the melanocytes can cause their abnormal growth, which can result in cancer.
  
  

Is Skin Cancer Contagious?

• Skin cancer is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from one person to another, even with direct contact of the cancerous area. Skin cancer, or melanoma, resides within the cells of the affected individual and can spread through some of the body's fluids such as the blood and through a process somewhat like cloning. Cancerous cells multiply as each cell divides, and when this happens the new cancer cells enter areas adjacent to them. Skin cancer can also travel to different areas within the body through fluids of the lymph nodes once the cancer invades the lymph nodes. Melanomas are very troubling due to the fact that a person can have skin cancer without having any warning signs or symptoms. In some cases, melanoma can invade regions and develop into tumors. This process is called metastasizing, meaning that the cancer is in an advanced stage and a secondary cancer is present.
  
  

Signs/Symptoms of Skin Cancer

• Skin cancer does not always present itself with any signs or symptoms. However, individuals are encouraged to check their skin frequently for moles, growths, freckles or lumps that suddenly occur or change in shape or size. Additionally, areas of the skin with obvious pigment variations should also be monitored.
  
  

Prevention

• The best method of avoiding skin cancer is protecting the skin from overexposure to the sun, either naturally or artificially via the use of tanning booths or beds. When out in the sun for extended periods of time, the use of sunscreen is highly recommended. SPF 30 or greater sunscreen provides adequate protection from the sun's harmful rays.
  
  

Treatment

• Individuals diagnosed with melanoma must have the area surgically removed. Depending on how invasive and whether the cancer has metastasized to other areas of the body, further treatment may be necessary.