SKIN CANCER
As soon as people hear the word cancer they become very fearful. Various types of malignancies affect the skin, many of which can be successfully treated if diagnosed early. In most of these skin conditions sunlight plays a major role. If you have spent much of your time in the sun because of your work in the outdoors, or if you were for many years in the habit of sunbathing for hours on end, for many weeks or months of the year, you may be at higher risk for the development of certain skin malignancies.
Most of the different kinds of skin cancers can be well treated if brought to medical attention early. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are examples of usually slow-growing skin cancers that can be cured if found early. They most often occur on sun-exposed parts of the body, especially the head, face, and neck areas. Malignant melanomas are less readily curable but if found early may respond very well to treatment.
If you find an area of the skin or a mole that changes its appearance (shape, texture, consistency, or color) very rapidly, bring it to your doctor’s attention. Many skin changes occur quite normally in older persons, and in general you do not have to be worried about all those darkish, slightly raised spots, or little red dots on your skin that have gradually occurred and have been around for many years. It is areas of skin or moles whose appearance changes quickly that should be identified for medical evaluation. You may be sent to a dermatologist (skin specialist), who will treat the problem or take a skin biopsy (remove a small sample of skin for laboratory tests) to make an accurate diagnosis.
Raised or Darkened Areas of Skin As one ages, one’s skin may develop problems that are cosmetically unappealing but not usually dangerous. Most of the dark, raised areas on the skin, called seborrheic keratoses (referred to by one dermatologist as “barnacles of the skin”), are not cancerous and not dangerous, but they may be unwanted. These may exist in many numbers all over the skin and may be removed safely and easily if you so desire. Likewise, actinic keratoses are lightly pigmented, raised, roughened areas on sun-exposed parts of the skin which also can be safely and easily removed at any age, usually by a dermatologist.
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