Article Manza - The Articles Directory | Epidemic Outbreak of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is on rise in USA. It has been figured that almost 3.5 million citizens have developed NMSC. It is a mammoth statistic as the next highest cancer is not even the 10% of this figure. Strange isn’t it! This staggering figure concludes non-melanoma skin cancer as an epidemic in the United States of America which is still growing in numbers and raising the health care budgets. NMSC primarily includes two types of skin cancer: Basal cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous cell Carcinoma (SCC). Most common among the two is BCC and its occurrence is thrice that of SCC.

Skin Cancer is the most common form of cancer in humans and it can be easily treated if they are found in early stage. The recent development states that the successful treatment of skin cancer is growing up with an average rate of almost 2% per year. This figure has proved to be an excellent gauge for the researcher and scientist who are performing a noble job to develop new cures for the disease.

Statistical reports gives us a clear picture of how common and infiltrating it is in nature but it hardly come across any media attention, the only reason is lower mortality rate from non-melanoma skin cancer. It is very rare when BCC metastasize, comparatively SCC has higher chances of spreading over the body but the metastatic rate is very low. Lung cancer, breast cancer and melanoma cancer has higher mortality rate thus putting them in lime light and attracting all the media attention. Non melanoma is less dangerous but its influx is higher making it a mass disease but the lenient attention towards non melanoma skin cancer might divert the consciousness and precautions required to tap this disease. Negligence can lead to existence of cancer for a longer period without any diagnosis which may develop significant cosmetic deformity.

The main cause for skin cancer is sun’s ultra violet rays. There will be an increase in the number of cases for non-melanoma skin cancer as usually there is a time gap of around a decade or more between the damage by the sun and the development of cancer. So it is never too late to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of getting effected by it.

According to U.S. National institute for health, sun is the main cause for skin cancer due to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Aging increase the risk of the cancer and it has been noticed that after age of 50 and above the chances of developing skin cancer is more.

What can be done to tame and restrict the cancer is to,
Use sunscreen with an SPF 30 while going outside at bright day light.
To be in shades, especially in the afternoon.
Wear long sleeves, pants, wide hats and sunglasses when you are out in the sun.
Limit the usage of sun lamp and tanning bed as the chances of getting exposed to ultra violet rays is higher with it.

Skin cancer can happen to anyone, but fair skinned people are more prone to this. Luckily, Basal Cell Carcinoma and squamous Cell Carcinoma are less dangerous even if the 90% of the skin cancer diagnosed is non melanoma in nature. Non melanoma skin cancer can be treated with various measures. Among all the treatments Mohs surgery is considered to be the safest cure for skin cancer. It has a higher success ratio and has been helpful in eradicating this disease from quite a long time. There is always a time to keep skin cancer away but the awareness is necessary to bring a clear picture of the story. It should not be left unheard so that many more people fall into its clutches.