Skin cancer is often defined as a condition in which cancerous cells develop and grow on the skin replacing the normal skin cells. Skin cancer affects all complexions although people with a dark complexion mostly get cancer in regions that are not in direct contact with sunlight such as palms among others (Morton, 2018). Mainly skin cancer occurs in the three primary ways which include basal and squamous cell carcinoma as well as the melanoma. The first two are common in cases of regions exposed to sunlight such as the face and neck while the melanoma can occur in any part of the skin (normal skin or existing moles). Here, attention is drawn to the process of neoplasm, measures to control the growth of the cancerous cells as well as supporting Jake’s perspective that cancer can indeed be cured eventually.
We can do it today.
Skin cancer mainly occurs as a result of exposure to UV rays. As such, skin cancer affects mostly the exposed regions such as the face, neck, hands, arms, ears, lips, eyes, among other regions. The exposure to UV lights leads to abnormal growth of cancerous cells on skin regions. These cells if noted in advance and treated get to grow and multiply on the skin. They replace the healthy cells and lead to skin damage as the growth continues. With time, newly produced cells conform to the cancerous cells form exacerbating the rate of neoplasm development (Simões, Sousa & Pais, 2015).
Cancer cells behave differently from normal body cells in many ways. For instance, cancer cells grow and multiply many more times than normal body cells whereby the normal body cells will die at some point following a cycle of division usually 40 to 60 times (Leiter, Eigentler & Garbe, 2014). In this manner, it becomes especially difficult to control the multiplication of these cells. In an endeavor to attain a sustainable cell reproduction rate and differentiation, it becomes essential to introduce tumor suppressors. The stimulators work effectively to reduce and inhibit the multiplication of cancerous cells. In this manner, the growth and multiplication of healthy body cells are not jeopardized in any particular way.
Skin cancer like other forms of cancers remains treatable especially in cases of early diagnosis. Jake Bailey needed to be wheeled to his school for the prize giving awards as he could not walk following diagnosis of cancer. In his part, He always held a strong belief that he would overcome the challenge in his sight. With proper treatment, a year later Jake returns without needing wheeling to his school to offer inspiration to the students that cancer is curable. In this manner, it is only apparent that with early detection, skin cancer can easily be treated successfully. At the same time, physicians emphasize the need of avoiding direct contact with UV rays as the primary way to reduce the chances of developing skin cancer. Skin cancer cure also demands the patient to stay positive to increase the rate of healing.
Concluding, skin cancer infections are on the rise especially in the time of summer when more people expose their bodies to sunlight. Excessive distortion of the ozone layer increases penetration of UV rays increasing skin cancer risk. Nonetheless, despite the abnormal multiplication of cancerous cells, early detection offers the best chances of treatment as evidenced in the case of Jake Bailey.
- Leiter, U., Eigentler, T., & Garbe, C. (2014). Epidemiology of skin cancer. In Sunlight, vitamin D and skin cancer (pp. 120-140). Springer, New York, NY.
- Morton, C. A. (2018). A synthesis of the world’s guidelines on photodynamic therapy for non-melanoma skin cancer. Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia: organo ufficiale, Societa italiana di dermatologia e sifilografia.
- Simões, M. C. F., Sousa, J. J. S., & Pais, A. A. C. C. (2015). Skin cancer and new treatment perspectives: A review. Cancer letters, 357(1), 8-42.