Page 12 - The Villager February 2021

Health & Wellness

The Dangers

of skin CanCer

are noT only

skin Deep

IMAGE BY RICk BELLA FROM PIxABAY

People of all skin types and skin colour are urged to avoid

tragedy by taking precautions, and checking irregularities.

outh africans spend a great many minutes, resulting in permanent damage, occurs when dna damage from exposure
hours outdoors. all the while, the while Uva rays can contribute to ageing to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or
Ssun above, providing warmth and the skin and dna damage. damage from the use of indoor tanning beds triggers
energy necessary for our survival, is also both Uva and Uvb rays can lead to skin changes in basal cells in the outermost
posing one of the greatest risks to our cancer. layer of skin, resulting in uncontrolled
health if we do not protect ourselves from “the hard truth is that skin cancer growth. Cutaneous melanoma is thought
its dangerous cancer-causing rays. spares no one,” says dermatologist, to be triggered by intense, occasional
dr dineo tshabalala, a medical dr hetesh Pitamber who cautions that exposure to ultraviolet radiation, either
oncologist practising at netcare hospitals, everyone needs to keep a close eye on from the sun or tanning beds, especially in
says that, if left undetected, skin cancer can any pigmented lesions on the palms of people who are genetically predisposed to
be devastating in ways people often do their hands and soles of their feet as well the disease.
not realise. “Skin cancer is often thought of as their nails. everyone should be aware of dr tshabalala notes that basal cell
as being quite literally only on the surface the risk areas, with the parts of the body carcinoma rarely metastasizes while
of our bodies. yet the threat is not only exposed to sun more often being most squamous cell carcinoma can metastasize
skin deep – without early treatment, skin vulnerable. “People tend to think mostly if not caught early, with a tendency to
cancer can spread, metastasising to other of the face, arms and hands along with the spread to the brain via the lymph nodes.
organs.” lower legs if out in shorts. What they often Cutaneous melanoma has the highest risk
according to the Cancer association of don’t consider is the back of the neck, the of metastasising and, if left unchecked
South africa (CanSa), skin cancer is the feet and the ears, including inside and and untreated, will spread to the lymph
most common cancer worldwide, and behind the ears,” he says. nodes nearest the affected lesion, mole or
as South africa has one of the highest the most common types of skin cancer birthmark.
monitored ultraviolet (Uv) levels in the are squamous cell carcinoma, which “From there, it can affect multiple
world, it also has one of the highest develops in the squamous cells that make organs as the cancer starts to spread
incidences of skin cancer globally. Uvb up the middle and outer layers of the skin; through the body. It is for this reason that
rays can cause sunburn within fifteen and basal cell carcinoma, which most often we must try to diagnose skin cancer as

10 • Issue 2 2021 • The Villager