While it may be hard to believe, often times it's the areas of the body that aren't as exposed to the sun that are affected by skin cancer. Moreover, while this form of cancer may be prevalent, the number of deaths that result from it are actually insignificant. In the United States, it can be said that only around 10,000 or so will die each year from it. To put into perspective, an American is ten times more likely to die in an accident on the road than die from skin cancer.
Prevention
Despite these numbers and the fact that its not a serious health risk to most, it has not stopped some Americans from investing billions of dollars toward prevention. This is in spite of the fact that out of all the sunbathers in America, only one in three hundred are at risk for getting signs of skin cancer.
Also, it must be noted that because there are many different classifications of skin cancer, there are also a lot of symptoms and signs to be aware of as well.
Warning Signs
One type of skin cancer to look out for is melanoma. Typically, the signs and symptoms of this kind include cells that are small and round that will develop normally on your outer skin. The second you discover any signs, its important to contact your physician immediately so that you can properly get diagnosed and receive treatment as soon as possible while its still in its early stages.
In fact, you should be aware of all common cancer signs. Skin sores are one of the many signs that can possibly be cancerous. Another common sign of skin cancer are those that are asymmetrical, with borders that are irregular or not easily visible.
If you ever see moles or cancer growths that appear in different colors that you don't ordinarily see, such as black, white, blue, and red, then this is a symptom as well. What can be deceiving at times is the fact that these moles or growths don't always appear to be serious.
However, if you can learn what the common signs of skin cancer are based on their appearance, you will be able to quickly identify them and get help immediately so that the cancer can be taken care of much easier.
While there are some that are hard to see and vary from person to person, they usually appear on skin most exposed to the sun so you can watch out for anything abnormal in these areas. Your head, face, ears, neck, arms, and hands are the parts most at risk to over exposure to the sun.
