Skin Cancer :: Skin Cancer Essays

Gone are the days when people sent children outside to melt down to get a little color in their cheeks. They know too much about the dangers of unprotected cheer exposure and the threat of skin malignant neoplastic disease. Or do they? Despite the fact that 58% of parents remembered hearing about the importance of protecting their children from the sun, children are still playing in the sun without sunscreen or protective clothing (3., p 1). Sunburn is the most preventable take chances factor of skin cancer. Skin type and family history cannot be changed. Protection from the sun and education of the potential hazards of the sun need serious attention. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 1,000,000 cases of skin cancer will occur in the get together States this year. Of those cases, they predict that over 10,000 will end in death (4., p 1). Apparently, Americans still do not have an adequate amount of prevention breeding to help centralize the disfigurement and morta lity from this cancer.Exposure to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the most frequently blamed source of skin cancer. Due to the diminution of ozone in the earths atmosphere, UV radiation is higher today than it was several years ago. Ozone serves as a filter to screen out and reduce the UV light that reaches the earths surface and its people. Very simply, sunburn and UV light can damage the skin and lead to skin cancer (1., p 1). The American Cancer Society also faulted repeated exposure to x-rays, artificial forms of UV radiation like tanning beds, and contact with chemicals like sear tar and arsenic as other causes of skin cancer (4., p 1). Additionally, if there is a history of skin cancer in the family, an individual whitethorn be at a higher risk (1., p 1). Individuals who have experienced only one serious sunburn have increased their risk of skin cancer by as much as 50% (1., p 4).There are three main types of skin cancer extremist cell carcinoma, squamous cell car cinoma, and malignant melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma usually imposes itself on areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun. It usually appears as a small brocaded bump with a smooth shiny surface. Another type resembles a scar that is firm to the touch. Although this specific type of skin cancer may cattle farm to tissue directly surrounding the cancer area, it usually does not spread to other areas of the body (9.