Despite the name, skin cancer can occur in more parts of your body than you think.
Doctors warn people to be aware of the other places where the disease can form, as rare cases can appear this way.
There are three types of skin cancer: melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Although melanoma accounts for only one percent of cases, it causes the vast majority of deaths.
Melanomas form in melanocytes, cells in the skin that are responsible for color production, but these cells are also found in other parts of the body and can lead to cancer.
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There are three types of skin cancer. Everyone can present themselves in different ways. These include asymmetric or abnormal moles, scaly or dark spots, and waxy bumps on the skin’s surface
Experts warn that the cancer can form in the ear, eye, under the fingernails or even in the buttocks.
Skin cancer has been in the spotlight in recent days after X-Men star Hugh Jackman revealed in recent days that he may be suffering from the condition. I THAT IT WAS ALREADY GIVEN LITTLE?
Overall, there are approximately 5.4 million cases of skin cancer in the United States each year, and 9,500 people die from the disease.
White people, the elderly and people without skin cancer are most at risk – because of their weaker immune systems and lighter pigmentation.
Melanomas account for about 8,000 of those deaths each year, although they account for only 90,000 cases.
Cancer develops when melanocytes in the skin begin to grow out of control and form a tumor that can affect body functions.
This often happens as a result of excessive UV radiation from the sun, which damages the DNA of melanocytes and opens the door to a cancerous mutation.
If caught early, the cancer is relatively harmless and can be removed quickly.
But melanoma can spread if it goes unnoticed. Cancer cells can enter the bloodstream and colonize other parts of the body.
When this happens, the cancer begins to spread to other parts of the body—called metastasis.
At this stage, it is difficult to surgically remove the cancer, and a person is instead subjected to treatment such as chemotherapy, which has serious side effects.
Although they can also be fatal, basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas are not believed to be a major problem.
Hugh Jackman announces he is cancer free after recent scare
The star said he was relieved to announce the biopsies came back with a negative result.
With 3.6 million cases per year, basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer in the United States. They are usually easy for a doctor to see and quickly remove, as they almost always appear as a brown, waxy patch on the skin.
Squamous cell carcinoma is also rarely fatal. It usually appears as a red colored birthmark. Doctors can usually remove it easily.
While the vast majority of these cases occur on areas of the skin that receive regular sun exposure, experts warn that tumor growth can occur in areas that a person would not normally examine.
In the anus
The buttocks are usually covered and receive little sun exposure, but both basal cell cancer and melanoma can develop around them.
Anorectal mucosal melanoma is a rare but deadly cancer that occurs in a person’s anus.
It accounts for less than one percent of melanoma cases in the United States, but its location makes it particularly difficult to diagnose.
It is usually diagnosed later through a biopsy.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology reports that only 14 percent of people live at least five years after diagnosis.
Another cancer in the region, perianal basal cell carcinoma, develops around the anus.
It is not usually caused by sun exposure, but is instead associated with smoking. The cancer is more common in men and the elderly.
The cancer usually appears as a pale or yellow surrounding scar or an open sore that continually heals and then returns.
Cases are extremely rare. A 2018 report from the University of California, San Diego said only 28 cases had been recorded at the time.
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Under the thumbnail
Another rare but deadly form of melanoma can form under a person’s thumbnail.
Subungual melanoma accounts for about one percent of melanomas in the United States each year, but can be fatal if it spreads.
Scientists are not sure why this cancer develops, but it almost always occurs in a person’s thumb or big toe.
It appears as a black or brown discoloration under a person’s nail.
Sometimes a person may also experience swelling in their affected limb as their body’s immune system attacks cancer in the area.
Doctors often use a biopsy to test for cancer if it shows discoloration or swelling over a long period of time.
In the ear
All three types of skin cancer can occur in the ear and each manifests itself in a similar way.
Almost all cases of ear cancer initially start as skin cancer. However, cases are rare, with only about 300 diagnoses per year in the US.
The cancers often appear as scaly skin, small white bumps, red spots, sores or lesions that are black or brown in color.
In some cases, a person gets an earache or hearing loss. Another common symptom is fluid discharge from the ear.
Like many skin cancers, it usually occurs as a result of sun exposure, and many people miss their ears when they apply sunscreen before spending a day outside.
In the eye
Eye cancer is rare and usually occurs when the disease spreads from another nearby area. Although rarely fatal, it can cause blindness in a person if left untreated for a long period of time (file photo).
Eye cancer is rare in the US, but can be extremely dangerous and difficult to detect.
About 3,500 cases of eye cancer are diagnosed in America each year, with almost all cases being ocular melanoma.
These cancers often start in other parts of the body, such as the B. a mole on the skin of the face or in the ear before it spreads to the inside of the eye.
Cancer spreads when malignant cells enter the bloodstream and are transported to a new part of the body where they colonize.
However, cases rarely result in death. A melanoma in the eye does not spread to other parts of the body – so skin cancer usually leads to death.
People diagnosed with eye cancer will live at least five years 95 percent of the time.
But without proper treatment, the cancer can eventually cause a person to go blind.
It can be removed by surgery or by cryotherapy techniques that freeze and remove the surface of the growth.
Under the tongue
Cancer that forms under the tongue – or floor of the mouth cancer as some experts call it – is more common than you might think.
About one in 60 men and one in 141 women will develop oral cancer during their lifetime. A third of oral cancers are skin cancers that form on the floor of the mouth.
Many of these cases occur in people who use chewing or dipping tobacco, or who consume large amounts of alcohol.
The substances damage the DNA of a person’s oral tissue, opening the door to potentially cancerous growths.
This cancer is easy to recognize and easy to treat. A person will often experience painful sores under their tongue
It can be easily removed with a minimally invasive procedure. Oral cancer is not very deadly if caught early and prevented from spreading, with 73 percent of patients living at least five years after diagnosis.
Scalp cancer is common but can often go undetected because a person’s hair blocks signs of growth (file photo)
On the scalp
Skin cancer of the scalp is more common than you might think, but often goes unnoticed because it is hidden by the hair.
Any of the three types of skin cancer can occur on the scalp. Like other types of skin cancer, it can develop after prolonged exposure to the sun.
It will appear as a birthmark, sore, sore or other type of unusual growth.
Interestingly, these cases are sometimes first discovered by a hairstylist or barber who notices an unusual bump or sore while working on someone’s head.
If the cancer is detected early, it can be removed quickly and further spread prevented.
But it can be fatal if allowed to jump onto other body parts.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
