Types of Skin Cancer

Comparison Essay # 110227

Medical and Health > Medical Studies

A comparison and contrast of the three major types of skin cancer.

1,291 words () | 10 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses three basic classifications of skin cancer that exist - basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. It describes each type of skin cancer, its causes and its symptoms. The paper then discusses the similarities that the three types of skin cancer share and the ways that they vary in severity and characteristics.

From the Paper:

"Melanoma is dangerous because if undetected it can advance to other parts of the body including organs. Once the cancer spreads it becomes more difficult to treat and even fatal. Melanoma is believed to be somewhat hereditary because in more than half of cases an individual with melanoma had a relative with it as well. People who suffered from basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma are also put on a higher risk of getting melanoma. Once you have been diagnosed with melanoma the next step is to figure out what stage of the disease you have. The stages are in ascending order from the earliest stage (stage one) to the latest more serious stage (stage four). The stages are named due to the thickness of the tumor and how far the tumor has spread in the body (Skin Cancer foundation)."

Sample of Sources Used:

Gross, Neil D. "The Medscape journal." Skin Cancer: Squamous Cell Carcinoma (2006): 1-11.
Hruza, George J. "Journal Watch." Squamous Cell Carcinomas at High Risk for Metastasis (2002).
Robinson, June K. "British Medical Journal."Skin cancer: in your face (1999).
Incidence of Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Carcinomas in a Population Younger Than 40 Years 294 (2005).
Marieb, Elaine N. "Skin and body membranes." Essentials of human anatomy and physiology. 8th ed.