Skin is the largest organ of a person’s body, and one of the most important in terms of the functions it serves. Skin plays an important protective role for our bodies, guarding our vital insides from germs and bacteria, and helping protect against illness. Skin is vulnerable to its own diseases, though, including skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and doctors are urging people to become more aware of the disease and what happens during skin cancer.

A Serious Disease

Skin cancer is a serious disease. The cancer works to destroy and replace the normal skin cells and tissues with abnormal cells and growths, interfering with the valuable purpose skin serves to protect our bodies. In some cases, the cancer can spread beyond the skin to the lymph nodes and eventually to other parts of the body. Skin cancer is therefore just as dangerous as any other type of cancer, not to mention the most common.

Most skin cancers begin in the outer layer of the skin, otherwise known as the epidermis. While about 97 percent of skin cancers are non-melanoma cancers, they may still aggravate the skin and necessitate removal. More than one million people are diagnosed every year with non-melanoma cancer. Melanoma skin cancers are very serious and can spread to other parts of the body, including the brain, lungs, and liver.

There are three types of skin cancers. The non-melanoma skin cancers include basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, both of which are somewhat similar in structure and treatment planning. Then there is melanoma, which can be a very tricky skin cancer to treat. This is because melanoma –if left untreated for a long period of time—can grow downward and spread to other healthy skin tissues. From there the cancer may spread to other tissues and organs in the body, and it can be very difficult to treat at this point.

Skin cancer may be caused by a number of different factors, about which you should consult your doctor. Your doctor can discuss skin cancer with you and whether you are at risk for developing it.