neck, grows slowly and will not generally spread.
Melanoma is more deadly because it is not all that easy to detect in its early stages. In the United States, statistics show that 52% of African-Americans realise they have it when it has already spread, compared with 16% of white people, resulting in a higher death rate. It generally shows up in the mouth, palms of the hands and soles of the feet and under the nails. You can self-check by noticing the following signs: • A mole changes in size, colour or shape • There are brown spots on your hands, soles, or under your nails • Injuries bleed, ooze or scab but don’t heal • You have anal or genital warts • An ulcer or sore near scarred or inflamed skin doesn’t heal For peace of mind, we recommend visiting a dermatologist at least once a year for a proper check-up.
There are three basic types of skin cancer: • Basal cell carcinoma • Squamous cell carcinoma • Melanoma The main contributing factor to all three types is an excess of ultraviolet light. Black skin is more susceptible to squamous cell carcinoma which can be quite serious since it can spread to the lymph nodes that are part of your immune system, as well as to other organs. It tends to appear on your legs, bottom or private parts.
Over the past two decades or more, research has increasingly demonstrated that over-exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer. Unfortunately there is a misconception among many people that black skin is immune to skin cancer, and nothing could be further from the truth. One of the problems is that it is usually diagnosed later, because of a general misconception that black people don’t contract skin cancer because of the higher levels of melanin in their skin. This often means that the cancer has spread more before it is picked up, and consequently leads to more frequent mortality rates.
Basal cell carcinoma appears more frequently on the head or
References:1.www.health24.com-2July2015
31
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs