Cancer is a very general term used to describe a potentially devastating disease. There are actually more than 100 conditions that are considered to be "cancer". All of these ailments are related to diseased cells in the body.
Those cells that are healthy and comprise the body's tissue grow before dividing and replacing themselves. This is how the body grows, maintains its health and in good repair. However some of these cells can lose their ability to perform these tasks, limiting their growth and progress. They may divide themselves too rapidly or grow without organization. Some times too much tissue can be produced, resulting in tumors being produced. Tumors may be benign or malignant.
Benign tumors are those which do not lead to cancer. When a tumor is benign, it's not life-threatening and it won't extend to the rest of the body. Once these types of tumors are removed via surgery, they usually won't return. Benign tumors are typically more of a nuisance than a threat.
Malignant tumors are those that can lead to cancer. These cancerous tumors cause further illness in the body by invading nearby organs and destroying healthy tissues. Malignant tumors can metastasize or spread to other organs, causing new tumors to grow throughout the body.
Skin cancer comes in two main forms: basal cell carcinoma and Squamous cell carcinoma. A "carcinoma" is a type of cancer that begins in the cells that cover or surround an organ.
More than 90 percent of skin cancers in the United States are basal cell carcinoma. This type of cancer grows slowly and rarely spreads to other areas. It's crucial, however, that all types of skin cancer are found and treated as early as possible to prevent them from invading and destroying nearby tissues.
Basel cell carcinoma and Squamous cell carcinomas are often referred to as nonmelanoma skin cancer. A melanoma is another form of cancer that can occur in the skin, which begins in the melanocytes.
The most common types of cancer in the United States are skin cancers. It's estimated that 40 to 50 percent of people who live to be 65 or older in the United States will develop skin cancer at least once in their lifetime. Even so, people of all ages and every nationality are at risk of developing skin cancer. People with blue or light colored eyes, those with freckles or fair skin, and people with blond or red hair present a higher risk of developing skin cancer.
The sun's UV (ultraviolet) radiation is the most common cause of skin cancer. The sun creates two types of ultraviolet radiation: UVA and UVB. Tanning booths and sun beds create artificial UV radiation, and will also cause skin cancer.
Skin cancer affects a greater number of people living in certain areas of the world. Those who live under the hot Texan sun are particularly at risk. Skin cancer rates are also higher in Australia and South Africa, where people are exposed to excessive amounts of the sun's UV rays every day. Those living in these, and other areas where UV exposure is high, are more likely to develop skin cancer.
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