| The most common form of skin cancer diagnosed in | | | | exposure. There are other causes of this type of |
| the USA is basal cell cancer (BCC). This typically | | | | cancer though including radiation or chemical burns. |
| appears on the face and usually in patients over the | | | | You are most at risk from this particular form of skin |
| age of 50. It can affect young people as well so | | | | cancer if you are already being treated for another |
| always get any unusual symptoms checked out by | | | | form of cancer such as leukemia. Your immune |
| your doctor. | | | | system is lower than normal and so cannot fight it. |
| Typically, BCC starts as a lump and grows very | | | | You should avoid sun bathing completely. |
| slowly over time until it looks rather like a small | | | | Squamous cell cancers are normally picked up very |
| doughnut with a central depression. This central pit | | | | quickly. They tend to grow very fast and also |
| can become an ulcer. Some men complain that they | | | | present themselves as a spot that just won't cure. It |
| have a small crusty area on their cheek that bleeds | | | | is very important that you see your doctor as soon |
| when they shave. They need to see their doctor. | | | | as possible if you suspect this form of cancer as it |
| The good news is that basal cell cancer is the least | | | | can spread very quickly. The size of the tumor will |
| lethal of all three forms of skin cancers. This doesn't | | | | determine the likelihood of it recurring. The treatment |
| mean you can afford to ignore any spot or lesion | | | | is to remove the entire growth and any secondary |
| though as the ulcer can eat into the bone and may | | | | spread near the site of the tumor. The success rate |
| become infected. For this reason any suspected BCC | | | | for beating this form of skin cancer is very good |
| will be removed. Usually once removed that will be | | | | with today's cure rates well above 90%. |
| the end of the problem. However, some people can | | | | The worst and most lethal form of skin cancer is |
| suffer from recurrent basal cell cancer and it can be | | | | melanoma. Depending on the site and stage of this |
| dangerous for those patients with a compromised | | | | form of cancer, treatment can include surgery and |
| immune system such as aids victims or transplant | | | | chemotherapy. Treatments for skin cancer are |
| patients. | | | | improving all the time as we learn more about this |
| Squamous cell cancer is the second form of this | | | | form of disease. |
| condition and is most typically related to sun | | | | |