Imagine sitting in a doctor's office and being told you have cancer. Although cancer treatment has come a long way, it would still be a devastating moment.



What would your reaction be to such news. Panic? Shock? What would it mean to your life, your family, your friends if you found out you had cancer. What if it is terminal?

A diagnosis of cancer carries a certain lotto factor. Getting cancer is bad enough, but the type of cancer is critical to your ultimate outcome. Fortunately, skin cancer is both treatable and preventable.

The layers of your skin, with the epidermis being typical, are where you will find skin cancer. In nominal terms, the cancer is an atypical growth in the cells of the particular layer.

Skin cancer is often associated with, surprise, exposure to the sun. Repeated sun burns can be one cause. So can extensive exposure over time. Our atmosphere is letting in more ultraviolet radiation as well, which is increasing the number of cases.

Cancerous skin growth is actually a catch all phrase. This particular cancer breaks down into three different types with each having its own outcome.

If you are particularly unlucky, you will be diagnosed with Malignant melanoma. It is a killer. If not treated early, it will spread and is fatal. Fortunately, it is the least common diagnosis.

Basal carcinoma is by far the most common form of skin cancer people are diagnosed with. Happily, it is treatable. Only a very small percentage of cases result in fatality.

Squamous cell can be a nasty form of skin cancer, but it can also be caused by things other than the sun. It is found on both the skin and internal organs. The skin version is treatable, but it can spread and be deadly

Getting cancer is a horrific thing, particular since there is often little you can do to prevent it. Skin cancer is a different story. If you take basic steps, you can prevent it.

Picture a warm, sunny day. What are people doing? They are lying out in the sun. They are going on walks. They are doing some landscaping. All of these things put them at risk for skin cancer.

Should you avoid being outside. Nope. All you have to do is take precautionary steps. First and foremost, wear sunscreen! How hard is that? It will protect you from the damaging rays of the sun and the potential of skin cancer.