Skin cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. Because of this, much research is being done to offer sufferers the best possible hope for survival. Nearly all of these malignancies are curable if diagnosed and treated in the very early stages. Therefore, doctors recommend early, aggressive treatment for skin cancer patients.

Doctors consider a cancer treatment to be successful if the patient is alive and shows no signs of having the cancer present in his or her body five years after the date of diagnosis. The likelihood of successful treatment depends greatly on which type of skin cancer a person has.

Persons who have basal cell cancer, for example, are most likely to survive and experience successful treatment. Basal carcinomas grow extremely slowly and do not typically spread. In fact, the treatment success rate for these persons is higher than 99 percent. In comparison, those who have been diagnosed with squamous cell have a success rate just a bit higher than 95 percent. It can, however, metastasize to other organs through the bloodstream and lymph nodes if it does not get treated early.

People who have been diagnosed with a malignant melanoma have about an 88 percent chance of treatment success if they are treated before the cancer spreads. Approximately 80 percent of those diagnosed with melanoma are fortunate to find their cancers at this time. If their cancers have begun to spread to other body organs, only about 10 percent of these patients will live for as many as five years after being diagnosed.

Many different skin cancer treatments are available. Those cancers that have not spread can be treated with surgical removal, and this method of treatment is usually successful. If the cancer has spread, however, people may require other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation.

Melanoma is extremely difficult to cure. Therefore, doctors typically resort to combinations of medicines, radiation, and chemotherapy. Sometimes other investigation treatments are attempted. Current procedures being trialed include photodynamic therapy, as well as some types of biological therapies.

How successful a treatment for skin cancer is depends largely on the amount of time the cancer has been present before it is found. Nearly all skin cancers can be cured if treated early. For this reason, it is important to be able to recognize the signs of skin cancer and see your doctor at once if you suspect anything at all unusual.



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Most people get skin cancer after frequent sun exposure over long periods of time. In fact, nearly 75 percent of the people diagnosed with skin cancer each year have histories of frequent sun exposure. Although it can occur after a severe sunburn, it is usually the result of many years of being in the sun. If it is a result of long-term exposure, you may be surprised to learn that you are at risk for skin cancer on your nose.

Do you think that spot on your nose might be cancerous? There are three main ways in which cancerous sores differ from other skin growths or marks. First, however, if you even think that this spot could be cancerous, schedule a visit with your doctor immediately! A definite diagnosis can be made only after a biopsy has been performed.

More than 99 percent of people diagnosed with skin cancer have one of three major types. The first of these is basal cell skin cancer. People who develop these sores find that a scab or pimple grows on their skin, drains or bleeds, and scabs over again. Rather than healing, however, it continues to repeat this cycle. In comparison, squamous skin cancer often looks much like basal carcinomas. They may also look like rough, scaly skin patches that do not disappear.

These first two types of cancer usually appear in areas, such as the nose, that frequently receive direct sun. The skin on the nose is very tender, and is at high risk for developing a nonmelanoma cancer. Both of these types are very treatable when removed surgically.

Usually, people develop nonmelanoma cancers on the face or nose, but sometimes a melanoma can occur on a person's face. Because this type of cancer spreads rapidly, it can be deadly if not detected and treated very early. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between the two types. This is why seeing a doctor as soon as you notice something wrong is so important.

If you believe you might have skin cancer on your nose, schedule an appointment with your doctor right away to get it checked. Skin cancers are almost always treated successfully if you are able to catch it in the very early stages. Your life may depend on early detection and diagnosis of that bothersome sore on your nose, so don't delay!



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Today, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer than any other malignancy. While there are several types of skin cancers, three forms are much more common than any of the other types. This article focuses on the three main types of skin cancer, and how a person can learn to distinguish among them.

Each of the three primary types of skin cancer is associated with a different type of skin cell. The severity of the cancer varies depending on which type of cancer a person is diagnosed as having. These three cancers include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

The first of these, basal cell carcinoma, is a nonmelanoma. This neoplasm initiates in the skin's basal cells. It is this type of cancer with which 90 percent of persons living in the United States who have skin cancer are diagnosed. Most experts consider basal cell carcinoma to be the least serious type of skin malignancy, because it grows very slowly and does not spread. It is usually found on areas of the body most frequently exposed to sunlight.

Squamous cell carcinoma is also considered a nonmelanoma. It begins in the outer layer of the skin known as the epidermis, in cells referred to as keratinocytes. Although it is more serious than the first, the chances of a cure are high if it is caught and treated before it spreads to other organs. Squamous cell carcinoma is also typically found on body parts that receive the greatest sun exposure.

Malignant melanoma is the most serious skin cancer. This type of malignancy begins in cells called melanocytes. These produce melanin, a chemical that gives color to the skin. The amount of this chemical determines how light or dark a person's skin color will be. Melanoma can appear anywhere on the body, but is most often found on areas of the body that do not receive frequent sun exposure.

This cancer can quickly spread to other body organs and tissues. Therefore, people diagnosed with melanoma have a much lower overall cure rate. Most people who are successfully treated for melanoma are diagnosed very early in the stages of this disease.

People who work in the sun or are frequently exposed to sunlight have a higher than normal risk of developing skin cancer. If you are at risk, be aware of the symptoms of this malignancy and report any changes in your skin to your doctor. Knowing these symptoms just might save your life!



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Skin cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in the United States. The good news is that nearly 100 percent of all skin cancers are curable if they are treated early. For this reason alone, it is important to be aware of skin cancer symptoms so that you can get treatment as soon as possible if you are diagnosed with a malignancy.

Frequently, skin neoplasms, or cancers, begin growing on the skin's surface. Skin growths that have been a part of a person's skin tissue from birth are usually not malignant. If the appearances of these moles, marks, or growths change, however, they may have become cancerous, and it is essential to have them examined as soon as possible by a physician.

Much of the time these cancers start out appearing like a sore or pimple. These sores may begin bleeding or draining fluid. Although they may scab over, they later begin to bleed or seep once more. Nonmelanoma cancers are usually less severe, and are found most often on areas of the body often exposed to the sun. In contrast, malignant melanomas, which are more deadly than the other forms of skin cancer, typically grown on the legs or torso (trunk).

Frequently, basal cell carcinomas are colored a pale grey. If you look closely, you may see miniscule blood vessels inside these skin tumors. In comparison, squamous cell carcinomas are often painful. These growths are reddish in appearance, and the surface skin is often scaly. These frequently drain or bleed, develop scabs, and begin draining once more.

Unlike these other cancers, which are slow-growing and appear very different from the tissue around them, malignant melanomas often develop unexpectedly from previously normal skin tissue. These neoplasms typically appear in a variety of colors, including white, red, brown, blue, or even black.

Except for the changes in skin tissue, people who develop skin cancers rarely show other symptoms unless the cancer has spread to other organs. Most of the time, persons with basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma are diagnosed before their malignancies have spread. This, however, may not always be the case with individuals who develop malignant melanomas. The symptoms these persons develop depend on the organ to which the cancer spreads.



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