Asbestos and Cancer

What is It?

Skin cancer is a disease caused by the development of cancer cells in any of the layers of the skin.

There are two types: nonmelanoma and melanoma.

The non-melanoma cancer is the most common and is called nonmelanoma because they formed from other skin cells are not accumulating pigment (melanocytes).

Within this type are all skin cancers less malignant melanoma is less common and more malignant, and which is explained later.

Skin cancer is more common in white skinned people and have spent much time exposed to sunlight, especially when sun exposure occurred in childhood and there were numerous sunburn.

Although it may appear anywhere on the skin, is more common than is presented on the face, neck, hands and arms. This cancer is one of the most common of all cancers, and an estimated two million are diagnosed new cases per year worldwide.

In recent years, the incidence of malignant melanoma has increased dramatically, it has been multiplied by 3.3 in men and 2.5 in women, in the last twenty years in Spain. Although this represents less than 3% of all tumors and early detection campaigns have helped reduce the mortality by 30% since the seventies.

Is recognizable by a change in the appearance of the skin, like a wound that does not heal or a small lump. You may also see a red, rough or scaly skin with a tendency to grow.

To any change or abnormality of the skin, is to visit the doctor. This can take a sample and analyze it (biopsy) to check whether a tumor is malignant or not.