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Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States.

Skin cancer has two main distinctions. Cancer that spreads through different organs and systems and can be fatal called melanoma. The other kind of skin cancer is non melanoma skin cancer. Non melanoma skin cancer is cancer anyway, just not usually fatal.

Types of Non Melanoma Skin Cancer

There are two main types of non melanoma skin cancer:

Basal cell carcinoma: This is most common form of skin cancer. The primary cause for this type of cancer is overexposure to the elements.

Squamous cell carcinoma: This is the second most common form of skin cancer. This type of skin cancer can cause fatalities.

Symptoms

The symptoms for non melanoma skin cancer include lesions that appear on the face, neck, lip, mouth, near the mouth, hands and legs and sometimes even on the back. The lesions are discolored and not necessarily raised. The texture of these areas can become waxy and they can look red in color.

The sore could bleed and will not heal fast. The sore might have a scab like rim along with ruptured blood vessels around it. Any warts or moles that are becoming larger can also be considered a symptom of non melanoma skin cancer.

Treatment

The treatment for non melanoma skin cancer includes different methods. The method is based on the size, color and location of the cancer.

• Excision of the lesion or surgery till the affected tissue is removed.
• One method of surgery is Mohs surgery where the affected tissue is cut out and immediately tested for cancer.
• Currettage or using electric implements to burn away the infected tissue
• Skin creams are also used to treat superficial non melanoma skin cancer
• Cryosurgery is also occasionally used to freeze and kill the growth of excess cells
• Radiation might be used if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs
• Skin grafts and wide excisions are also methods used to cut out and cute non melanoma skin cancer.
  

Prognosis

In the case of non melanoma skin cancer, the prognosis is that if you have any treatment, the chances of recurrence are about 10 per cent. If you have Mohs surgery, these chances reduce to about 1 per cent.

You should be diligent and check your skin closely every month and schedule regular checkups with your doctor.

Preventive measures like covering up and using protection on your skin are also a must.

Reference

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001827/
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001832/
• http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts