One out of five Americans will develop at least one skin cancer during his or her lifetime. In fact, there are more skin cancers in the U.S. population than all other cancers combined. People of all races and skin color can develop skin cancer. If that surprises you, you?re not alone.
Many people are under the notion that only Caucasians are at risk of getting skin cancer. However, skin cancer can also occur in African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and other non-Caucasian ethnic groups.
Most skin cancers occur from increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation from natural sunlight and other artificial sources, like tanning beds. While individuals with fair skin and light eyes are at increased risk of developing skin cancer, other factors exist that may increase one?s risk. Some of these factors include tanning lamp use, immunosuppression, previous treatment with radiation and certain chemical exposures.
The two most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. These cancers usually develop on parts of the body exposed to the sun, like the head and neck. However, they may also develop on areas of the body not ordinarily exposed to the sun. These types of skin cancers are unlikely to spread to other parts of the body if treated early. However, if left untreated, they can grow and invade nearby structures and cause disfigurement, loss of function and mobility, and rarely, may affect other organs.
Melanomas are not as common as basal cell and squamous cell cancers and can occur anywhere on the body. In men, they commonly occur on the chest and back. In women, the legs are the most common site of occurrence. Interestingly, in darker pigmented individuals, like African Americans and Asians, melanomas commonly occur on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Melanomas are curable if detected early. However, unlike basal and squamous cell carcinomas, they are much more likely to spread to other organs, and can be fatal if left untreated.
Skin cancers are often noticed by patients when they become symptomatic. Common symptoms include soreness, bleeding, or spots that just do not seem to heal. Though skin cancer may be symptomatic, often, there are no symptoms and the cancer is detected by dermatologists during routine skin examinations. Moreover, dermatologists are able to detect subtle skin changes that may be at risk of cancerous transformation and can easily treat such lesions.
You can minimize your risk of developing skin cancer by avoiding or limiting exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Protective measures include wearing appropriate sunscreen, avoiding tanning beds and wearing protective clothing.
Look for skin cancer screenings in your area and learn to spot the early warning signs of skin cancer. A free skin cancer screening will be offered from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at the Southwest Cancer and Research Center, 602 Indiana Ave. At this event, local dermatologists will perform skin examinations and educate patients on skin cancer prevention and screening.
Monitoring your skin for suspicious changes can help detect skin cancer at its earlier stages. It is important to remember that skin cancer can be cured if it is detected and treated early.
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KENNE OGUNMAKIN, M.D., IS A PHYSICIAN WITH TEXAS TECH PHYSICIANS ? DERMATOLOGY.
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ReplyDeleteNot only them but black Americans are also one of the people that are most susceptible to different types of cancer. It's sad that one person's color may be a hindrance towards his or her health conditions. Ask an advice from your Cancer Alternative Treatment center about it. Thanks for sharing!
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