skin cancer overview

Skin cancer is the most common of all human cancers. Some kind of skin cancer diagnosed in more than one million people in the United States each year.

Cancer occurs when normal cells change is made, during which they grow and multiply without normal controls.

As the cells multiply, they form a mass called a tumor. Tumors of the skin is often referred to as lesions.

Tumors are cancerous only if they are malignant. This means that invade and invade neighboring tissues, because of their uncontrolled growth.

Tumors may also travel to distant organs through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

This process of invasion and spread to other organs is called metastasis.

Tumors overwhelm surrounding tissues by invading their space, and takes oxygen and nutrients they need to survive and function.

There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma.

The vast majority of skin cancers are BCCs or SCCS. While malignant, these are likely to spread to other parts of the body. They may be locally disfiguring if not treated in time.

A small but significant number of skin cancers are malignant melanomas. Malignant melanoma is a very aggressive form of cancer that is spreading to other parts of the body. These cancers can be fatal if not treated promptly.

Like many cancers, skin cancers start as precancerous lesions. These lesions are precancerous changes in the skin are not cancerous, but may develop into cancer over time. Medical professionals often refer to these changes as dysplasia. Some specific dysplastic changes that occur in the skin are:

Actinic keratosis is a patch of red or brown, scaly, rough skin, which can turn into squamous cell carcinoma.

A nevus is a mole, and dysplastic nevi are abnormal moles. These can develop into melanoma over time.

Moles (nevi) are simply growths on the skin. They are common. Very few moles become cancerous.

Most people have 10-40 moles on her body.

Moles can be flat or raised, a few dishes and then begin to emerge over time.

The surface is usually smooth.

Moles are round or oval and no more than ¼ inch in diameter.

Moles are usually pink, beige, brown, or the same color. Other colors are sometimes noted.

Person's moles usually look pretty similar. A mole that looks different than the other should be reviewed with your health care provider.

Dysplastic nevi are not cancer but may develop into cancer.

People with dysplastic nevi often have a lot of them, perhaps as much as 100 or more.

People with many dysplastic nevi are more likely to develop melanoma, either in an existing nevus or a zone of normal skin.

Dysplastic nevi often irregularly shaped with toothed borders or discoloration.

Dysplastic nevi can be flat or raised, and the surface can be smooth or rough ("stone").

Dysplastic nevi are often large, ¼ inch across or even bigger.

Dysplastic nevi are generally of mixed color, including pink, red, beige and brown.