This map shows the rate of the occurrence of skin cancer by state in 2005. The darkest states had the highest percentages of skin cancer and the lighter states had the lowest percentages of skin cancer.
Here's a graphic showing the different appearances of skin cancer. The captions describe the details of the moles. If any mole appears like this on your body then contact a doctor to be reviewed.
On this graph you can see the percentages of Americans diagnosed with skin cancer in 2004.
Please visit: www.dermanetwork.org for great information on taking care of your skin and various things that may affect its health.
A surprising truth about tanning beds can be found at the link above "The Derma Network". Click on it to go to the site and learn about how tanning beds can influence the spread of skin cancer.
I knew years ago that the excess UV radiation from tanning beds could be harmful to the skin, but I didn't know that they could even influence the spread of skin cancer cells.
If you like to use tanning beds, then BE CAREFUL. Please do refer to the website to learn about how to protect yourself from this disease. You just may save your own life or that of someone else if you inform yourself and them.
My father died of colon cancer when I was only a baby. I never knew him and he never held me, which makes me sad. I now must be wary to eat well in order to avoid getting colon cancer, which is one of the most avoidable cancers.
My fear and worry:
I often think that my life will be ended short just like my father's. He died at 35 years old. I'm 23 currently. Perhaps I only have another 12 years to live, but I won't surrender to thinking like that. I'll continue to live my life as vivaciously as I want and I will do my best to eat well. I must admit that I have not gone to an oncologist. That's the doctor who analyzes and helps patients who have cancer. I am afraid to go. That's dumb of course, but I'm afraid to hear that I have a tumor. I have felt pains in my abdomen region for years. Honestly the only thing stopping me from going to the doctor is that I don't have health insurance. If I had that then I would have already gone to the doctor.
My advice to you:
I hope that you are wiser than I and that you have gone to the doctor for a check up, especially if one of your relatives as died of a cancer. I have been checked out by two doctors of Georgia State University. They advised me to get checked out and to eat well. Also the first told me to be sure to get checked out at the vital 10-years prior mark. For me that means I should get checked at age 25, because that was my father's age, 10 years before he died. I know that I'm being foolish to wait so long, but I'll get a colonoscopy (a procedure for inspecting the colon for tumors that can lead to colon cancer) eventually, when I have the money.
Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin which can have many causes. The most common skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma. Skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), so a tumor is usually clearly visible. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages. There are three common and likely types of skin cancer, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises.
Different types of skin cancer:
Unlike many other cancers, including those originating in the lung, pancreas, and stomach, only a small minority of those afflicted will actually die of the disease. Skin cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed cancer, surpassing lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Melanoma is less common than basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, but it is the most serious -- for example, in the UK there are 9,500 new cases of melanoma each year, and 2,300 deaths. More people now die of melanoma in the UK than in Australia.
Important facts:
It is the most common cancer in the young population (20 – 39 age group). It is estimated that approximately 85% of cases are caused by too much sun. Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common skin cancers. The majority of these are called basal cell carcinomas. These are usually localized growths caused by excessive cumulative exposure to the sun and do not tend to spread.
Source: Wikipedia
Click on this link for the Derma Network where you can learn more about skin cancer and and how tanning beds play a role in this condition of the body:
