What is skin Cancer?
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/8/0/10801231/944331.jpg)
- Basal and squamous cell skin cancers are by far the most common cancers of the skin. They develop from cells called keratinocytes, the most common cells in the skin.
- Melanomas are cancers that develop from melanocytes, the cells that make the brown pigment that gives skin its color. Melanocytes can also form benign, such as moles, but these are non-cancerous.
Since these types of skin cancer are treated differently, it is important for doctors to tell them apart. Patients should learn what these cancers look like, so they can get it treated during the earliest stages.
CELL TYPES:
Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues make up the skin and other organs of the body.Normal cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When normal cells grow old or get damaged, they usually die, and new cells take their place.However, when this process goes wrong, new cells form when the body doesn't need them, and old or damaged cells don't die as they should. The buildup of extra cells often forms a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.
Growths on the skin can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Benign growths are not as harmful as malignant growths.
How can you tell if the growth is benign or malignant?
Benign Growth:
-usually look like moles on the skin.
-They are not life threatening
-It can be removable -won't grow back
-Does not invade other tissues around it
-It won't spread throughout the body
Malignant growth:
-This could be Melanoma, Squamous cell and Basal cell carcinoma
-Is life threatening.
-Can be removable, but will grow back
-Will invade other tissues and organs around it
-Will spread throughout the body