Types of Skin Cancer:

Skin cancer can be classified into basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and malignant melanoma. The first two has a slow growth rate and can be treated easily but malignant melanoma is very dangerous and it grows very fast.

- Risk Factor: Too much exposure to ultra-violet rays increases your risk of getting skin cancer. If you have lots of moles on your body or have a very fair skin you are more prone to develop skin cancer. Family history also increases your risk. Your risk of skin cancer also increases if you are exposed to radiation or chemicals like coal tar, asphalt, or arsenic.

Basal cell carcinomas affect the face. A small round or oval spot may grow into an ulcer that harms the skin and tissue beneath it if treatment is not done. It grows very slowly. Even if it is detected late, it can be completely cured.

Squamous cell carcinomas affect limbs, head and neck. Irregular in shape, they are soft. Though they spread quickly they are not too dangerous. If diagnosed early, this type of skin cancer can be treated.

Melanoma cancer affects head, neck, arms and back. This is the most dangerous type of cancer. They change shape and color while growing and spread to surrounding tissues. It cannot be cured if it is diagnosed late.

- Causes of Skin Cancer:
Ultraviolet rays is the main cause of skin cancer as it can damage the DNA.

- Treatment:
In case of non-melanoma skin cancers and those patients who have melanoma but was diagnosed early, cancerous cells and tissues surrounding it are removed through surgery.

If a melanoma has spread, chemotherapy can be used along with surgery and radiotherapy. In case of advanced melanoma, treatment will only add some years to the patients’ lives and cannot completely cure it.