Basal Cell Carcinoma…The 411

What do the words “skin cancer is a lifestyle disease” mean to you? Quite simply, a lifestyle disease is associated with the way you live…and spending time in the Utah summer sun is definitely a lifestyle choice for many. Being up to speed on the topic of skin cancer is a first step in keeping it at bay.
Skin cancer is common. One in five Americans will develop it in the course of their lifetime. About 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Skin cancer is highly treatable when detected early, but may be deadly if allowed to grow. Read on to learn more:
Basal Cell Carcinoma is just one of several types of cancer and is the most frequently occurring form of all cancers. More than one out of every three new cancers is a skin cancer – the vast majority are basal cell carcinomas.
Basal cell carcinomas almost never spread beyond the original site. But they shouldn’t be taken lightly, because they can be disfiguring and possibly deadly if not treated promptly.
Basal cell carcinomas are abnormal, uncontrolled growths that usually develop on sun-exposed parts of your body, especially your head and neck. They can occur on any part of your body – even those that are rarely exposed to sunlight. They arise in your skin’s basal cells, which line the deepest layer of your skin. Although a general warning sign of skin cancer is a sore that won’t heal or that repeatedly bleeds and scabs over, basal cell carcinomas may also appear as:
A flat, scaly, brown or flesh-colored patch on your back or chest.
A pearly white or waxy bump on your face, neck or ears. The bump may bleed and develop a crust. In darker skinned people, this type of cancer may be brown or black.

A full-body check is the best way to screen for basal cell carcinoma. And wearing sunscreen that is 30 SPF or greater is crucial and highly recommended, especially during the Utah summer. We have many suggestions and treatments to help keep your skin looking youthful and fresh. Call to schedule an appointment, today: (801) 277-7000.
 
 

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