More than 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer cases are diagnosed with the majority of the cases

found to be sun-related. Melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for at least 75% of deaths due to skin cancer in 2007. (American Cancer Society) There are several types of skin cancer. They are generally classified as either melanoma or nonmelanoma. To name a few: (American Cancer Society) Melanomas Basal Cell Carcinoma Keratinocyte Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma Merkel Cell Carcinoma Cutaneous (skin) lymphoma Melanoma, though the less common of skin cancers, is the most life threatening. They can develop from pigment-making cells of the skin, called melanocytes. Melanocytes are normally present in the skin, being responsible for the producing of the dark pigment melanin. Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common skin cancer form. This form of skin cancer may occur on various different organs such as the skin, lips, mouth, prostate, lungs, urinary bladder, vagina and cervix. Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. It will rarely kill but it is still considered malignant as it causes significant destruction and disfiguration. All three of these forms of skin cancer are caused by unprotected exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation. This type of radiation comes from natural sources such as sunlight as well as man-made sources like tanning salons or heat lamps. Prolonged and repeated exposure over the years increases a person s risk of skin cancer. Visual signs between BCC and SCC are similar. Both may display signs of what appears to be a small sore. The differences between the growths of the two are that the SCC grows at a much faster rate than that of BCC. (NetDoctor) Visual signs of melanomas start with knowing the ABCD rule of your freckles and moles. (Wikipedia)

A is for Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other. B is for Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. C is for Color: The color is not the same all over D is for Diameter: The spot is larger than about inch

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It would be safe to say that warning signs for all three types of skin cancer would be very similar to one another. Some of the more common signs being: (National Cancer Institute) Sores which do not heal; Sores that grow bigger, or turn into tumors; Coloring which darkens in color or goes red; Itchiness, tenderness or pain; Change in the surface on or around the sore Diagnosis procedures are the same for all three types of skin cancer. The doctor will perform a biopsy of the affected skin. Depending upon the type of biopsy method performed is relevant to the type of skin cancer you might have. A shave biopsy is the scraping of the top layers of the skin from the affected area. This particular biopsy method is often used for SCC and BCC candidates. Those with melanoma cancer will have to use the punch biopsy method because the shave method does not provide a thick enough sample to determine how deep the cancer goes into the skin. (Wikipedia) The more common treatment method used for BCC and SCC patients involve surgical removal of the cancerous cells and underlying areas. A few select cases are treated with topical medications or Chemotherapy. Treatment for those diagnosed with melanoma can vary. Surgery to remove the tumor is the primary treatment for all stages of melanoma. The dermatologist may choose to use chemotherapy, radiation or biologic therapy to treat the cancerous cells. In my case, I was diagnosed with BCC on my nose. My dermatologist had ordered a shave biopsy after taking measures of the affected area. Upon news that my cancer was benign, he scheduled me for surgery to remove the infected cell from my nose. He further advised me that he would take skin shavings from my cheek to graph over the incision area on my nose. This seemed like a relatively simple procedure so I agreed to have it performed immediately. Despite the scar that I now sport, I am happy to learn that Dr. Stewart had not only removed the infectious area and surrounding tissue but found where the cancer had grown beneath my skin, from my nose to my lip. Today, I can say that I am cancer-free.

Works Cited "Basal And Squamous Cell Overview." Basal And Squamous Cell Overview. American Cancer Society. Web. 28 July 20. <http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003075-pdf.pdf>. "Basal Cell Carcinoma." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 01 Aug. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal_Cell_Carcinoma#Signs_and_symptoms>. "Melanoma Skin Cancer Review." Melanoma Skin Cancer Review. American Cancer Society. Web. July-Aug. 2010. <http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003063-pdf.pdf>.

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"Melanoma Treatment - National Cancer Institute." National Cancer Institute - Comprehensive Cancer Information. Web. 01 Aug. 2010. <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/Patient/page4>. "Skin Cancer - Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Carcinoma." NetDoctor.co.uk - The UK's Leading Independent Health Website. Olesen, Dan Dr., 06 July 2005. Web. 01 Aug. 2010. <http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/skincancernonmelanoma.htm>. "Melanoma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 July 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanoma

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