Skin cancer begins in the cells that make up the outer layer of your skin. There are three types of skin cancer that typically impact older people: Melanoma, Basal cell skin cancer and Squamous cell skin cancer.
Melanoma is more aggressive than basal cell skin cancer or squamous cell skin cancer.
Risk factors for melanoma include the following:
Unusual moles
Exposure to natural sunlight
Exposure to artificial ultraviolet light (tanning booth)
Family or personal history of melanoma
Being white and older than 20 years
Red or blond hair
White or light-colored skin and freckles
Blue eyes
Melanoma Warning Signs
To be on the lookout for skin cancer, check moles twice a year. Here are some warning signs to look for:
A change in the appearance, including the size, shape and color of a mole or pigmented area.
Moles with irregular edges or borders.
More than one color in a mole.
An asymmetrical mole (if the mole is divided in half, the 2 halves are different in size or shape).
Itches, oozes or bleeds.
Ulcerated (a hole forms in the skin when the top layer of cells breaks down and the underlying tissue shows through).
Change in pigmented (colored) skin.
Satellite moles (new moles that grow near an existing mole).
There are many different tests that examine the skin used to detect and diagnose melanoma or other skin cancer in elderly people. If a mole or pigmented area of the skin changes or looks abnormal, a skin examination by a doctor or nurse, or a biopsy can help detect and diagnose melanoma and other skin cancers.
Chance of Recovering From Skin Cancer
The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:
The stage of melanoma
Whether there was bleeding or ulceration at the primary site
The location and size of the tumor
The elderly patient's general health
Although many people are successfully treated, melanoma can recur. After melanoma has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the skin or to other parts of the body. The process used to find out whether cancer has spread within the skin or to other parts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage in order to plan treatment.
Information obtained from agingcare.com and the National Cancer Institute
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