What kind of skin cancer is more dangerous, carcinoma or melanoma?

Many people associate skin cancer with melanoma. In fact, melanoma is only one of three types of skin cancer. Besides melanoma, skin cancer can also be in the form of carcinoma, which is basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
 
What type of skin cancer is the most dangerous?

Although relatively less popular than melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are more common.

As the most common type of skin cancer, an estimated eight out of ten cases of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma. Although squamous cell carcinoma, including more rarely found one in five people with skin cancer.

But if you ask what type of cancer is the smartest, the answer is melanoma. Melanoma only attacks about 1% of people with skin cancer. But this cancer can develop very quickly and even cause death.
 
Various types of skin cancer
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are generally classified as non-melanoma skin cancers because of the same characteristics. Well, what's the difference between the two melanoma skin cancer sufferers?

1. Location
Both skin cancer and melanoma occur in the epidermis (the outer layer of human skin). It's just that the epidermis itself consists of three parts, namely squamous cells, basal cells and melanocytes.

As the name suggests, squamous cell carcinoma occurs in epidermal epidermoid cells. This top layer of skin usually changes when your skin cells dry up and die.

When the squamous cell layer on the surface of the skin dies, the basal cell (the lowest layer of the epidermis) will produce new skin cells. This is where basal cell carcinoma occurs.

While melanoma occurs in the epidermal layer that produces skin pigment, melanocytes. This is why melanoma is sometimes detected late because it can appear as normal black patches on the skin.

2. symptoms

Carcinoma and melanoma show symptoms that are not the same in all patients. The second symptom of this cancer also has a fundamental difference.

Basal cell carcinoma usually resembles a lump with a smooth and shiny surface and is found in areas that are often exposed to direct sunlight. For example, head, shoulders and neck).

Other signs are blood vessels appearing in areas suspected of being affected by this type of cancer. Likewise with symptoms such as wounds or skin that form craters, crunchy to bleed, which does not go away.

In squamous cell carcinoma, symptoms also occur in areas of the skin that are often exposed to sunlight. The indication may be in the form of a round piece which results in thickening of the skin that is red and scaly. These lumps can sometimes bleed.

In melanomas, the lesions are usually flat, brown to black, and look like moles or moles. However, melanoma lesions are usually irregular in shape, appearing only in adulthood, are painful, irritating, bleeding, and festering.

Moles or moles that have been around for a long time in your body can turn into melanoma. Its characteristics are that the mole changes shape (grows and is no longer round), and even bleeds.

3. distribution
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma usually occur in one area and tend not to spread to other parts of the body. But basal cell carcinoma can spread in the area even to the bone if not treated immediately.

While basal cell carcinoma can recur in the same area if the tumor is not completely removed. People who have had this cancer are also at risk of developing the same type of skin cancer in other parts of the body in the future.

Melanoma is a very aggressive type of skin cancer that can spread quickly to other parts of the body, especially if not treated immediately.

Despite their differences, these three types of skin cancer also have in common, which starts with the growth of non-cancerous lesions or also called dysplasia. To detect this dysplasia, you should consult a dermatologist and ask for help for diagnosis. Don't regret this later.

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