Skin Cancer Care, Skin Cancer Surgeon, Skin Cancer Detection, Skin Cancer Prevention, Melanoma Cure

and treatment, Skin Cancer Information, Skin Cancer Treatment Warning Signs

 

Skin Cancer

 

Carcinogenesis

Repeated intense ultraviolet (UV) light exposures, especially multiple sunburns, are a major risk factor for skin cancer, including malignant melanoma, the most deadly form.  Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S.  Sunlight plays a role in the formation of atypical nevi, which also are considered a risk factor for melanoma. A changing mole is the most common sign of malignant melanoma. It is estimated that 2000 cases of melanoma develop in Michigan every year.

 

Physicians use the ABCDE criteria for the signs of early melanoma, which are as follows:

 

Asymmetry
Border irregularity
Color variation with black, brown, red, or white
Diameter (large size – greater than 6 mm)
Evolving moles that change in size, shape, shades of color, surface features
(such as bleeding) or symptoms (such as itching or tenderness)

 

Actinic keratoses result from sun damage and 10-15 percent evolve into skin cancer. Of the three most common types of skin cancer, the most common is basal cell carcinoma (85%). The most strongly linked to sun exposure is squamous cell carcinoma (10%).  The most likely to metastasize and the most deadly is malignant melanoma (5%).

 

 

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