3 Types of skin cancer and the pictures

Generally skin cancer is divided into three main groups. They are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are more common and less dangerous than melanoma. In fact over 1,000,000 patients are diagnosed with two previous skin cancers each year. Melanoma is the rare and dangerous one. Without proper treatment, melanoma can cause in death.

Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) usually appears as a small, nodule or fleshy bump on the neck, hands or head. Commonly, the nodules appear on the trunk region, usually as flat growths. Basal cell carcinoma statistic report tell that more than 90% of all skin cancers in the United States. The good news is easy to detect and has an excellent record for successful treatment.

A basal cell carcinoma almost never spreads to other parts of the body. However, it can grow locally into any organ in its path. This means that if muscle, bone or nerves are beneath the skin with BCC, then it can grow into these structures and destroying them. For example, a BCC around the eye may grow into and destroy the eye.

Squamous cell carcinoma

A squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a skin cancer that may appear as a bump or as a red, scaly patch. It often is found on badly sun-damaged, fair skin, and because of this often develops on the rim of the ear, the face, and the lips. It is not as dangerous as melanoma, but still leads to an estimated 2,300 deaths every year. When properly treated the cure rate is 95%. SCC may spread to the lymph nodes in the area.

This type of skin cancer may develop in several circumstances as to how dangerous they are. Like cervical and colon cancer, they may be closer to pre-cancerous, highly malignant or somewhere in between. Most develop out of actinic keratoses (rough sun spots), some from old wounds, and some due to a weakened immune system.

Melanoma

Melanoma is a skin cancer that begins in melanocytes, the cells that produce the pigment melanin that colors the skin, hair, and eyes, as well as forms moles. Most of these melanocytes are found in the skin, it causing melanoma of the skin is the most often type of melanoma.

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer because it is more likely to spread to lymph nodes and other areas of the body compared to the other basal and squamous cell carcinoma.  Melanoma also can affect the digestive tract, eye, spinal cord, brain or other organs where pigment cells are found.