Common Types Of Skin Cancer In Men
Everyone knows skin cancer is the most common type of cancer out there. It's so, so common! The triggers are clear too: sun exposure and tanning beds. Of course, sunscreen for skin cancer prevention is vital. The good news? Skin cancer is treatable. Many, many men with skin cancer get surgery to remove the affected skin. This is often a skin cancer cure! Chemo, radiation, and immunotherapy also appear to get rid of skin cancer. But men? The type of skin cancer matters!
Basal Cell Carcinoma
80% of skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas. The basal cells are part of the lowest layer of the skin's epidermis. This is where the cancer starts! Men, you're going to see this skin cancer in the head and neck. Why? These are among the areas that get the most sun exposure. The more sun exposure you've got, the higher your risk of skin cancer is. Everyone knows that!
Men, keep a sharp eye on your skin. Look for a waxy bump on it. Lesions that look like scars may be there too! They'll be brown most of the time. Aside from that? Men, sores that bleed, heal, and return again are also common in this skin cancer. Surgery is the most common, the most common treatment for this cancer.
Melanoma
Melanoma. Though it's not the most popular, it's the name most men think of when they think of skin cancer! Men, you're going to see spots on your skin if you've got melanoma. These spots? Well, they're usually black or brown and look like moles. They make also strike out and be red, blue, purple, white, or pink too. Look for moles with irregular edges! Look for ones that change suddenly. These are the huge, huge clues for you to know if it's melanoma.
What makes these spots appear? Using tanning beds and getting sunburnt all the time. Skin tone plays a big role here too! Chemo, radiation, and surgical removal of the moles are common treatments for melanoma. And you need to act fast, men, so talk to a doctor now!
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma grows slowly and rarely, rarely spreads. This is good news, men! It appears in the skin's top layer. Why? DNA changes! This triggers squamous cells to grow out of control. The result of this? A red, scaly, and crusty patch of skin.
Men, you're going to be at a huge risk of SCC if you use tanning beds or get too much UV exposure from the sun. Got light skin and eyes? Men, this increases your risk too! Wearing sunscreen is so, so important. If you do get SCC? Treatment means medicated cream, cryotherapy, curettage, and the excision of the affected skin.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Skin cancer'll get to the outer layer of skin yet again! Merkel cell carcinoma affects, you guessed it men, the Merkel cells! Of course, you knew this was coming! These cells have nerves and affect your sense of touch. Men, they're why you can feel fine details on small surfaces! Watch out for firm bumps on the skin. They'll be red, purple or pink!
They're saying Merkel cell carcinoma is rarer than other types of skin cancer. It's true! But hold your horses, men. You've got to know that this cancer is also very aggressive. It spreads quickly and is dangerous, which makes it challenging to treat.
Kaposi's Sarcoma
Kaposi's sarcoma is triggered because of a form of the herpes virus. The men who're most at risk for this type of skin cancer? The ones who've got HIV. Men taking meds to suppress their immune system are at risk too. This includes those who've gotten an organ transplant. It does come with a huge warning sign of skin lesions, but unfortunately, these aren't always spotted! When they are, they'll be red or purple skin patches. The lesions spread very, very quickly, so watch out! Treatment is intense, so men, be prepared for chemo, radiation, and immunotherapy! Antivirals are so, so common here too. Surgery as well.