Anybody can develop skin cancer but people aged 55 years and over are most at risk.
MamasHealth.com has provided an article on skin cancer and seniors including what to look for when checking your skin and what treatment doctors can provide.
What to look for:
All skin cancers could be cured if they were found and brought to a doctor’s attention before they had a chance to spread. It is vital that you check your skin regularly even if you don’t go out into the sun very much.
The most common symptom of a skin cancer is a change on the skin – especially a growth or sore that has not healed after two weeks. Not all skin cancers look the same.
Here are some examples of what a skin cancer may look like:
- A small, smooth, shiny, pale or waxy lump.
- A firm red lump.
- A lump that bleeds or has developed a crust.
- A freckle or mole that has begun to darken in colour or change in shape.
- A flat red spot that is rough, dry or scaly.
Skin cancer treatments:
When a doctor treats a skin cancer their goal is to remove it or destroy the cancer completely. All treatments can be different depending on type, size, location and the person’s general health and medical history.
Treatments include:
- Surgery where the cancer is removed from the body
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- A combination of treatments
Encourage your loved one, and help them if required, to regularly check for skin cancers.
Read the full article here.
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