People that spend a lot of time outdoors for work or other activities or have a skin type that is sensitive to the sun are advised to be screened for skin cancer at least once a year. During this screening they will be checked out for any changes in the skin that look suspicious. Along with supervised screening it makes sense to screen yourself from time to time for any moles or blemishes that have appeared. Your chances of identifying potential problems are improved if you know a bit about the disease. This article will cover the three types of skin cancer detailing the characteristics of each and possible treatments.

There are three types of skin cancer. The first two mentioned are considered to be benign most of the time so they are easy to treat. However it is still important to identify and treat them as soon as possible as they may spread and lead to a more serious problem.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It will normally manifest as a waxy bump on the skin. It may also appear as a flesh or brown colored mark. It is typically found on the face, neck, chest and back but can occur anywhere on the body.

Treatment of basal cell carcinoma is relatively straightforward as the carcinoma rarely spreads to other parts of the body. Treatment involves removing the bump or blemish. This is normally done by cutting it out or freezing it. This is a simple process that can be done in the doctors surgery in about thirty minutes depending on the size and number of carcinoma.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This is another common type of skin cancer and is generally treated in the same way as basal cell carcinoma. However, squamous cell carcinoma has a tendency to spread to other areas of the body, normally the surrounding tissue to the problem area.

A Squamous cell carcinoma is typically noticeable as a red bump or nodule. It can appear on the face, neck, or arms. On some occasions it will occur on the ears or lips. The nodule will be hard to the touch. As it develops it may become scaly or have flaky skin on the surface. It will continue to develop to become a crusty lesion where the nodule used to be. It is usually treated by cutting or freezing.

Melanoma

Melanoma is the most serious of the three types of skin cancer. If it is left untreated it may spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes. This will increase the chances of it spreading throughout the body including vital organs. This will ultimately prove to be fatal unless treatment is started. Diagnosing melanoma early is the best chance of treating it successfully thus it is important that you get screened by a professional from time to time. Mention any lumps or unusual skin conditions that you may have noticed during self examination and let the professional examine them.

Being aware of the three types of skin cancer is important during self examination and can help alert you to any potential problems. However, when it comes to any disease, prevention is much better outcome than needing to treat it. Prevention of skin cancer involves covering up in the sun and avoiding exposure to other forms of ultra-violet radiation.