The other day, I was taken by the hair coloring of a clerk at the local store. I commented on how beautiful it was, with the dark base and the natural-looking streaks, as if the sun had touched her alone; and we began a conversation of how when we were younger we would not have to use any hair dyes: we just sprayed SunIn on our hair and laid out in the sun for an hour or two. This, of course, led us to discussing the near impossibility of doing that now, as we have blasted the ozone layer(s) so hard we have created a direct line between us and the harsher, more deadly, rays of the sun.
But you probably didn’t come here to read about hair coloring techniques that are sun-free or chemical free, for that matter…at least not specifically. You came looking for information on the different types of skin cancer
. The speculation and theory does hold some evidence against chemicals in—ahem—health and beauty products; and it does point to the sun’s “damaging rays” as a possible cause, etc., but here, since we aren’t medical professionals, specialist, or experts, the info on the types of skin cancer is going to be basic and absent of finger-pointing, if you will:
There are three types of skin cancer: Basal Cell Carcinoma (a.k.a. non-melanoma skin cancer); Squamous Cell Carcinoma; and Melanoma.
Melanoma (also, Cutaneous Melanoma, Malignant Melanoma) – Cancer cells are growing in the melanocytes, the cells that are responsible for skin pigmentation. According to University of Maryland medicine and other experts, of all of the types of skin cancer, Melanoma is “the rarest and the most virulent….” It is typically found in people with fair skin, light hair, and/or light eyes, though it is possible in others with different complexions, and as the experts above also assert, does not exempt those with dark brown or black skin. Identifiable symptoms include, most commonly, a mole changing color, size, shape, or state (starts oozing or bleeding), or a mole that UMM notes “feels itchy, hard, lumpy, swollen, or tender to the touch.”
Squamous Cell Carcinoma—Also called non-melanoma skin cancer, Squamous Cell Carcinoma usually begins as a red-looking, scaly patch or patches of skin, or can appear as nodules. Of the three types of skin cancer, Squamous, affecting Caucasians, usually fair-complected, is the second most common and shows up, typically, on the ears (ear-rims), face, lips, and mouth.
Basal Cell Carcinoma – The second of the types of skin cancer, Basal Cell Cancer, typically starts as a “small, fleshy bump or nodule,” most commonly found on the head, neck, and/or hands. Of the three types of skin cancer, Basal Cell Carcinoma, which is typically found in Caucasians, say those at UMM, make up “more than 90 percent in the U.S..
My mother had the second most common of the types of skin cancer, on her lip, and while we at first teased her that it was herpes, she was smart enough to know it was a “sun blister” and quick enough to catch it by going to a specialist. That’s the good news, to give you hope when you bemoan the loss of days picnicking, swimming, and “bathing” under the wonderful sun.
Not to long ago, I stood in a Doctors office waiting for a routine exam. For some reason, I was drawn to a skin cancer chart (similar to the one on this page). Several days later, as my wife and I were getting ready for work, I noticed an unusual mole in the center of her lower back. The skin was raised and it looked translucent with light and dark borders that were not symmetrical. Normally, I wouldn’t have thought anything about it, but the pictures from the doctors office were fresh in my mind. I told her that the strange mole looked very suspicious and she should get it checked out.
My wife went to the doctor several days later and the doctor performed a biopsy on the mole. Two days later, the results came back positive – melanoma. A few days after that, my wife had a very large, silver dollar size chunk of skin removed from her back and seems to be fine now; thank goodness for early detection!
In summary, have someone check your back every now and then and get those suspicious looking moles looked at by a doctor. Early detection is the key to beating cancer; when it doubt – get it checked out!
