Famous British chef Gordon Ramsay recently informed that he has undergone treatment for skin cancer. Last week, he thanked the doctors on social media platform who removed his basal cell carcinoma (a type of non-melanoma cancer).
Earlier, former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke also shared his picture on social media after skin cancer surgery. He is also trying to make people aware about skin cancer. Actually, cases of skin cancer are increasing continuously. According to an estimate, 1.5 million new cases of skin cancer are reported every year worldwide. By the year 2040, its number is expected to increase by about 50 percent. In this article, we will know how skin cancer can be identified in the beginning and which people are more at risk.
The main reason for skin cancer all over the world is the ultraviolet rays coming from the sun. These rays of the sun are carcinogenic. That is, they contain elements that cause cancer.
Professor Somesh Gupta, a dermatologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, says, “People who work in the sun are more at risk of skin cancer. If the body is exposed to sunlight for a long time every day for many years, then some people may be at risk of it.”
Working in the sun means that people working in fields, open grounds and other places are at greater risk.
Dr. Somesh says, “The risk of this is higher in fair people. Because dark skin absorbs most of the sunlight on the surface and it does not reach deep inside. Therefore, this risk is less in people of South India as compared to North India, because their skin is a little darker than the skin of people of North India.”
If our skin receives a certain amount of limited ultraviolet rays, then its cells produce vitamin D. Our skin produces melanin when exposed to more sunlight. In this process, it protects itself by tanning itself (darkening of skin colour).
Dr. Kaushal Verma, head of the dermatology department of AIIMS, says, “People living at high altitudes i.e. in the mountains are at a higher risk of getting this disease because they are exposed to more UV rays. At one time, this disease was also increasing in Kashmir due to the Kangri used to keep the body warm.”
That is, not only sunlight, but people who are constantly exposed to heat (fire) are also at a higher risk of skin cancer than common people.
This is also clearly visible in the case of cricketer Michael Clarke. He has played outdoors for a long time and his complexion is also fair.
Apart from this, Australia is one of the countries whose ozone layer has suffered the most damage.
Damage to the ozone layer means that the ultraviolet (UV) rays coming with the sun rays are not filtered and this causes more damage to the skin.
People whose skin is more sensitive are at risk of damage even from the sunlight coming through a glass window.
It is not easy to recognize the symptoms of skin cancer or it can be said that many of the people who have this disease seem careless about these symptoms in the beginning.
Often cases of skin cancer are seen more in people above the age of 50 years. However, according to Dr. Kaushal Verma, cases of lymphoma are seen even after the age of 40 and it can also occur in that part of the skin which is usually covered.
If a part of the body (such as the face) which is exposed to direct sunlight for a long time shows rashes or wounds or ulcers, then a doctor should be consulted immediately.
It is also seen in AIIMS that the patients of skin cancer come there after the disease reaches a serious condition, because people ignore its symptoms in the initial stage.
Dr. Kaushal Verma says, “If symptoms like black or brown spots are seen on the skin, then it should be examined immediately. Such patients often delay so much that the skin cancer often spreads and completely damages the nose or reaches inside the eye.”
Dr. Kaushal Verma says, “Like other cancer diseases, if skin cancer progresses too far, it also becomes fatal. If the patient reaches the doctor early and treatment starts in the initial stage, then it is easy to save the patient.”
There are basically two types of skin cancer. One of them is melanoma. Cases of this type of cancer are rarely seen. This case is also very rare in India. That is, this type of cancer is not usually found in people in India.
It is fatal. Usually, 90% of the patients who come with melanoma cancer in the initial stage are treated.
But if such patients reach the later stage of the disease, then it becomes difficult to save 90% of them.
Dr Somesh explains, “Apart from this, there is non-melanoma. One of these is basal cell carcinoma. It does not spread very fast. While the other is squamous cell carcinoma, which spreads more and is more dangerous.”
Dr Anju Jha, senior consultant and dermatologist at Kailash Hospital, Noida, says, “India falls under type 5 and type 6 in terms of skin cancer, which is less dangerous, while people with fair skin fall under type 1 and 2.”
She says, “Usually there is no pain, burning or itching in the symptoms of skin cancer, so people ignore it. If any ulcer (wound) on any part of the body that is in direct exposure to the sun is not healing for a long time, then one should immediately consult a doctor.”
If it is known at the beginning that the symptoms in the patient’s skin are actually the beginning of ‘cancer’, then its treatment becomes easy. Mohs surgery is done for skin cancer.
It is generally believed that applying sunscreen can be one of the best ways to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun.
80 percent of melanoma skin cancer cases around the world are caused by sunburn.
According to Dr. Anju Jha, “Skin cancer is not fatal in most cases and the affected part is removed through surgery or operation, but the best way to avoid it is to use sunscreen.”
Sunscreen can not only protect the body from the sun’s UV rays and keep serious diseases away, but it can also slow down the effects of aging on the skin.
But there is a lack of correct and accurate information among the general public about how and when to apply sunscreen.
Dr. Somesh explains, “Sunscreen should be applied about 30 minutes before going out of the house, because it does not work immediately. Along with this, it is necessary to use it at least 2 or 3 times a day because it works only for about 4 hours.”
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