Skin cancer is said to be among the most prevalent cancers, which is evident by the fact that millions of instances are seen, globally, annually. Unfortunately, it is still a common problem, thus early diagnosis plays an important role in decreasing the morbidity and mortality rate of this disease. Based on these risks, there is a need for people to embrace regular skin cancer check up, the process of checking, and the benefits of early check up.
Skin cancer is experienced when skin cells develop a tendency to grow abnormally due to injury, which many a times is as a result of exposure to UV light from the sunlight or tanning lamps. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas are moreover frequent and mostly have a low metabolism rate however melanoma is lethalually influential as it has capability to metastasize. However, every type of skin cancer can be treated if diagnosed in the early stages.
Skin cancer screening is designed as examination of the skin by a physician usually a dermatologist at least once a year. These include checks on the skin for any signs of the cancerous spots, moles, or lesions that may be formed on the skin on the skin.They will also inquire on the health history of the patient and about skin conditions of the patient including skin cancer, family history of skin cancer, and if the patient goes for frequent sun exposure. The examination may involve the use of a dermatoscope which is a magnifying glass to enable the dermatologist to have a better look at the skin. If the dermatologist sees any suspicious changes of the skin tissue then he/ she might decide to perform a biopsy whereby a piece of skin tissue is taken and brought for microscopy.
Just like with the other types of skin cancer, the frequency of checks is determined by one’s risk factors. Those who are at increased risk of skin cancer which includes, people with light colored skin, those who had severe sunburns in the past or those whose first degree relatives had skin cancer may require more regular examination by a dermatologist. People who do not have any of the risk factors should also undergo skin-cancer examinations annually because skin cancer may affect anybody. The best approach that can be used in combating skin cancer is early detection since the cancer is easily treatable when detected at an early stage before it starts growing or spreading.
This is one of the major advantages of skin cancer check up because if the problem is detected early it can easily be treated. For instance, the skin cancer of the most critically is melanoma, but the survival rate in the first five years if it is diagnosed on time is about 99 percent. When melanoma is not identified at an early stage or existent elsewhere in the body, then the survival rate significantly reduces. Sometimes some of the skin conditions that lead to formation of skins cancer may take a long time to reveal and this why, people should come for skin cancer check sydney frequently in order to have best chances of receiving early treatment and having minimal invasive treatment.
Apart from possibilities of early diagnosing, skin cancer checks also give people a chance to know more about their skin and its protection. While performing these physical examinations, the dermatologist is free to give advice on how to protect the skin from the sun by the use of creams, clothes and avoiding the extreme midday sun. They can also help in a certain way patients to perform self-examinations at home; this can be very useful in cases when between two visits to a specialist, some problems can be discovered. While helping people maintain lasting skin health and preventing cancer through providing them with the knowledge and opportunities for protection of the skin, regular skin cancer check-ups are important.
