Skin Cancer Awareness Month
Skin Cancer Awareness Month
Did you know that skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world? May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, it is set aside to highlight the importance of protecting our skin and understanding the signs and symptoms of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells and is majorly caused by too much exposure to UV light from the sun or from the use of sunbeds. The types of skin cancer include: non-melanoma and melanoma.
Non-melanoma skin cancer is a type of skin cancer that develops slowly in the upper layers of the skin and is not connected to moles. They are more common than melanoma but are not as likely to spread to other parts of the body. Most non-melanoma can be effectively treated and cured if detected. The most common forms of non-melanoma cancers are Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC).
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops when cells called melanocytes grow more quickly than usual. While it is less common than non-melanoma, it does have the ability to spread deeper into the skin, and to other organs, if it is not treated at an early stage. Types of melanoma cancer include: Superficial spreading melanoma, Nodular melanoma, Letigo meligna melanoma, Acral lentiginous melanoma, and Amelanotic melanoma.
Staying safe in the sun is the most effective way to protect against skin cancer. For more information on the treatment and diagnosis of skin cancer click here
