Skin cancer

With more than a million reported new diagnoses each year, skin cancer has become the leading form of cancer in the United States today. While 90% of early detection of skin cancer is easily treatable, skin cancer has also become the deadliest. The single most common cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet light. These may be a result of exposure to sunlight, tanning booths and exposure to specific chemicals as an unfortunate consequence of work environment hazards. People who have fair complexions, light blond hair and blue eyes, albinism or generally with a large number of moles are most susceptible to skin cancer.

Tumors on the skin are termed lesions and may be malignant or cancerous, if they continue to grow in size and shape and invade other body tissues such as lymph nodes. They may also metastasis by spreading to other organs through the bloodstream.

Skin growths such as moles are very common but these moles rarely become cancerous. All moles generally look alike; some may be flat or raised, lightly colored or tanned depending on skin type and are round or oval but usually no more than a fourth inch in diameter. Any mole that is looks distinctively different from others should be checked by a doctor.