The uncontrolled growth of cells in any part of the body is cancer. It is a group of disease. Cancer kills millions of people every year in our world. Few can be curable if diagnosed in the early stages. We can do a lot to minimize the risk of cancer. The hereditary risk factor is only about 5% to 10%. The rest comes from our lifestyle, diet and environment. We see here the many ways to reduce the cancer risks.

We all love sun. The sun rays make us feel well and look beautifully. Skin cancer can be caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The sun beds can be a risk factor for skin cancers too.


The three main types of skin cancer are:

• Melanoma – This is the most dangerous and can spread to other parts of the body. There are only limited treatments for this cancer. It can be fatal.
• Basal cell carcinoma – This is the most common skin cancer. Mostly it never spreads to other parts of the body. But it can grow into the organ, bone or nerve in its path beneath the skin and destroy them. If it is near the eye it can spoil your eyesight.
• Squamous cell carcinoma – This is also common, but next to basal cell carcinoma. It is more dangerous than basal cell carcinoma, but less dangerous than the melanoma. Squamous cell carcinoma can spread to other parts of the body. It spreads mostly to lung, liver or lymph glands. There are treatments for this cancer.

With simple precautions you can protect your skin. Skin cancers are strongly associated with excessive sun exposure and the resulting damage to the skin. The damage can be permanent. Therefore, protection from sun’s ultraviolet radiation is important to avoid premature aging and skin cancer. The precautions include:

• Protective clothing
• Hat
• Sunglass
• Lotions or creams with Sun Protection Factor 15 or above
• Avoiding sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The SPF lotions must be used often if you sweat or swim. There is also a hereditary risk factor for skin cancers. If close family member have this or you have more than 20 moles you must be careful. Every abnormal color or form change must be informed to your doctor.

Brown skin filters the ultraviolet rays better than the white or pale skin. Persons with white skin must be very careful. Here a quick sun burn is possible. It is important to protect the skin of the children. Mostly the damage starts there.

People living under ozone holes must be very careful. Protection is the magic word for everyday to prevent skin cancers.