Find Skin Cancer Facts With Grand Rapids Dermatologists.

Did you know that skin cancer is the most common among all forms of cancer? Well, this is just one of the many skin cancer facts that might surprise you. According to research, over a million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. This rate has put many individuals, government health organizations as well as non-governmental organizations dealing with health matters on high alert, considering that it is only one form of cancer among many others.

What is worrying is that skin cancer is diagnosed in people of all age groups; ranging from young school-going kids to the elderly. According to Grand Rapids dermatologists, just like any other kind of cancer, skin cancer is highly treatable if diagnosed early enough. In fact, skin cancer is the most preventable form of cancer if treated early.

There are a number of possible causes of skin cancer. However, the most common cause is excessive exposure of the skin to sunlight. Light from the sun contains ultra-violet rays, which are known to mutate the genetic composition of cells in the skin. Although light from other sources such as tanning booths, sunlamps and x-rays also produce ultra violet rays, Grand Rapids dermatologists believe they are not as dangerous as the direct rays from the sun.

At an early stage, symptoms of skin cancer are not distinctive. The most common symptom of skin cancer is change in the appearance of the skin. Your skin may start to darken in some parts while in some cases, a new growth or sore may develop. Such signs do not disappear quickly. If you find yourself with such a situation - a spot, a sore or a growth that is not healing - Grand Rapids dermatologists advise that you consult a physician immediately.

Grand Rapids dermatologists agree that there are three main forms of skin cancer.
They are the following:
1. Melanoma
2. Basal Cell carcinoma
3. Squamous Cell carcinoma

Skin cancer facts indicate that Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma are the most prevalent among the three. However, melanoma is the most dangerous as it spreads fast from one part of the skin to the rest. Also known as Basal Cell Epitheliomas, Basal Cell skin cancer develops in the upper layer of the skin but relatively deeper than other forms of skin cancer. This makes it quite difficult to detect. Persons with fair skin especially those from Northern European countries as well as Latinos are the most commonly affected by the disease.

According to the Grand Rapids dermatologists, Squamous Cell Carcinoma is also very common nowadays. It affects 20% of all skin cancer patients. Squamous Cell Carcinoma normally has an effect on the top layer of the skin. Different from Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma spreads quickly and is quite fatal, accounting for 5% of skin cancer deaths. Squamous Cell Carcinoma usually forms on the edge of the lips, ears, face or back of the hands.

Grand Rapids dermatologists advise that you can keep yourself from getting skin cancer by wearing sunscreen, hats and caps, using umbrellas to shield yourself from direct sunlight and staying in the shade whenever possible especially during sunny mid-days.