Melanoma symptoms

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Melanoma is treatable when detected early. Moles or other spots on the skin should be self examined each month. Look for any changes in the existing areas and look for new moles.

When doing a self examination, you need to look at all areas of the body. It helps to have a mirror to view all parts of the body. Look for any changes to color, shape, and size to any freckle, mole, blemish or reddened areas. It is helpful to know the ABC's of skin cancer. The ABC's stand for Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diamter and Elevation.Sometimes these areas may be itchy, scaly, or even have a crusty appearance.

If bleeding or oozing comes from a mole or spot, it is imperative that it be examined by a physician. This is often indicative of advanced melanoma and needs to be evaluated.

Sometimes, it is difficult to discern between an ordinary mole and a melanoma. If you have any doubt, it is important to have it checked out by a physician. Skin should be examined for any suspicious areas by a physician on a yearly basis, if skin cancer has never been diagnosed.

Melanoma symptoms

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What changes in moles or freckles can indicate cancer?
Melanomas may form from an existing mole or freckle, or begin to grow from a normal-appearing area of the skin. Any change in a mole's appearance or the growth of a new mole may be a sign of skin cancer. Suspicious moles or freckles should be checked by a doctor.
Melanomas vs. normal moles:

• Moles and freckles usually are brown or black and have a defined edge or border.
• Melanomas usually are multi-colored. They may combine different shades of brown and black, sometimes with areas of red, blue, or white. They often have an irregular or uneven border.
• Be alert for moles or freckles that ooze fluid or blood, crust or clot over, and then ooze or bleed again and don't heal-they could be a sign of cancer.

Melanomas often show the ABCD symptoms:

• Asymmetry, when one half of the growth has a different shape than the other.
• Border irregular, when the growth has scalloped or uneven edges.
• Color varied, when the growth is more than one color. Melanomas may be black, shades of brown and tan, and even have specks of red, white, and blue.
• Diameter, when the size, measured edge to edge, is bigger than the diameter of a pencil eraser.

Squamous skin cancer

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The Causes of Squamous Skin Cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma, also known as SCC or squamous skin cancer, is a very common type of skin cancer. It is in fact the second most common after basal cell carcinoma. SCC attacks the upper layers of skin. Fortunately this is not necessarily a serious cancer if identified early and then treated immediately. Of the two hundred and fifty thousand cases diagnosed each year, ninety seven percent of these are easily treated ones. The remaining three percent are more worrisome since they are likely to be cases where the cancer has spread and so potentially is life threatening to the person dealing with this disease.

The primary cause of this type of skin cancer relates to excessive exposure to the ultra violet light of the sun. This would be long term exposure and take years before it resulted in the cancer, but nonetheless it is the likely cause. Squamous skin cancer is more likely to occur on the face. This is because the face is always exposed to the sun and is the part of the body that people are more likely to forget to protect on a daily basis. People going swimming or who plan to be outside for a long time are more likely to use sunscreen, but when going to catch a bus, taking a walk to the store or any of the more mundane daily activities people do not think to put sunscreen on their faces.

Fair haired, and so fair skinned, people are more likely to get this type of cancer. People with very dark skin tone almost never have to worry about getting squamous skin cancer. Those who have had treatment in some area for skin cancer may find another spot later since the area has already been damaged by the sun and so another cancer spot may appear. If this is going to occur it will happen within two years of being diagnosed. The best way to protect oneself from skin cancer is to use a sunscreen that is rated at least at thirty, to cover up when possible and stay out of the direct sun when it is not.

Types of skin cancer

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The Five Types of Skin Cancer

Many people will find it surprising to learn that there are five different types of skin cancer. The most common of these is called basal cell carcinoma. This skin cancer is diagnosed in nearly three quarters of all cases with over seven hundred and fifty thousand people treated yearly. Like the next most common cancer this one is caused by over exposure to the sun. That is why this cancer is often found on the face, scalp or the upper body. One good thing about this skin cancer is that it is not likely to spread to other parts of the body since it is a slow growing cancer and so can be cured. Nonetheless it is important to act on it quickly for the best results.

The next most prevalent kind of skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. The cancer is found in over twenty percent of cases. This type is also caused by too much exposure to the rays of the sun. It is a cancer more common among people who are middle aged or older and, unlike basal skin cancer, is first noticed as a crusty spot that might be red and irritated. If something like that is seen a quick visit to a health care provider is very important. That leaves the last few percent divided between three different types of skin cancer. This includes the most dangerous of the skin cancers which is melanoma. Most of the remaining cases will be this kind of cancer. It is the most life threatening but if found and treated early has a success rate of ninety five percent. But if it begins to spread then there is almost no hope for a cure. The key to this one is to watch for moles that seem to change.

The final two types of skin cancer are Paget’s disease and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Paget’s disease resembles a normal rash and is found around the breasts, genital area, the anus or the sweat glands. The sores are usually very itchy as well as being known to be quite painful. Kaposi’s sarcoma is a skin cancer that is usually associated with herpes and is commonly found in those suffering from AIDS. Any suspicious sores, rashes or moles should be investigated immediately.

Sunbed Firms To Tighten Up On Under 18 Useage

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Sunbed companies are gearing up for a fight, as they are warned they could face fines of up to £20,000 for under-18 sunbed use. One professional body says the new rules are not tough enough, while the tanning beds industry body says there is no scientific justification for the ban to be set at 18. Businesses in England and Wales which allow people under 18 to use sunbeds face fines of up to

Scotland's Skin Cancer Statistics Soar

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The number of Scots living with the skin cancer malignant melanoma has soared by more than 60 per cent during the past decade, newly released figures have revealed.

There were 1,141 cases of melanoma in Scotland 2010 – the most recently recorded year – compared to the 659 patients with the condition ten years earlier, official health statistics showed yesterday.

There was a dramatic increase in the number of melanoma cases between 2005 and 2009, with the figure rising from 858 to 1,192 in just four years, according to the figures published by health statistics service ISD Scotland.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon suggested that the increase in melanoma was partly due to an increasing over use of sunbeds, even though the Public Health (Scotland) Act 2008 banned their use by under 18s.

Ms Sturgeon said: “These figures are yet another stark warning of the dangers of unsafe tanning – either in the sun or using sunbeds.

“People need to realise how essential it is to wear sunscreen and cover up in the sun. Doing this and avoiding sunbed use really could save your life.

“Using sunbeds is dangerous and that is why Scotland led the way by being the first part of the UK to introduce legislation to address the health risks associated with sunbed use.”

The sharp rise of 62.8 per cent was described as an “epidemic” by senior Scottish Labour MSP Ken Macintosh, who demanded easier access to lifesaving medicines for melanoma patients as well as improvements on early diagnosis.

He said: “These figures show Scotland is experiencing a skin cancer epidemic and highlight the urgent need for further action from the SNP government. The sunbeds bill was only the start and there is so much more we need to do to raise awareness of the dangers of tanning.

“We need a public awareness campaign to ensure everybody, especially our children and young people, enjoy the sun safely both at home and abroad. For too long now, the government has relied on charities like Cancer Research UK to fund these campaigns. That is not good enough. This life-saving work should be a priority for the Scottish government too.

“There are also specific steps the government could take to improve the early diagnosis of skin cancer”

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw described the latest increase in skin cancer as “depressing” as he called on the SNP Government to increase funding to improve treatment.

He said: “However, given Scotland’s depressing record on cancer survival rates, we also need to ensure that we offer more hope to sufferers than in other countries and not less, as we do currently. Scotland needs a cancer drugs fund and these latest figures demonstrate just how urgent this need is.”

Dr Dean Marshall, Chairman of the British Medical Association’s Scottish GP Committee said: “Even taking into account improved awareness and diagnosis, the increase in reported cases of melanoma is startling.”

http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/skin-cancer-cases-soar-by-60-in-a-decade-1-2253742

Melanoma symptoms

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Often, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of an existing mole. Most melanomas have a black or blue-black area. Melanoma also may appear as a new mole. It may be black, abnormal, or "ugly looking."
If you have a question or concern about something on your skin, see your doctor. Do not use the following pictures to try to diagnose it yourself. Pictures are useful examples, but they cannot take the place of a doctor's examination.
Thinking of "ABCD" can help you remember what to watch for:

• Asymmetry -- The shape of one half does not match the other.
•