Invisible threats: Why are some skin tumours often neglected?

Skin tumours are lumps of swelling resulting from abnormal increase in skin cells, which may be harmless or indicative of malignant cancers. However, early symptoms of skin tumours are often not visible, resulting in many people not having access to timely medical treatment, thus missing the best time for treatment. This paper will provide an in-depth analysis of the hidden characteristics of skin tumours and help the public to understand how these threats can be identified earlier.First, the hidden nature of skin tumours is mainly manifested in the atypicality of their early symptoms. Many skin tumours may at an early stage be merely a small spot, mole or slight skin change, which is often overlooked. For example, base-cell cancer, which is a common skin cancer, may at an early stage be a small, smooth, pearl-colored spot or an area that looks like a scar. Since these symptoms are not obvious, they can easily be mistaken as common skin problems, such as acne, mole or geriatric specks, thus delaying diagnosis and treatment.Second, the hidden nature of skin tumours is also reflected in their growth rate and changes. Some skin tumours grow very slowly at an early stage and may even remain constant for long periods, making it difficult for patients to detect their potential risk. For example, carving cell cancer, which may have been a small, red, mast-like patch at an early stage, may have remained stable for months or even years, but may eventually grow and may enter deep tissues. Because of this slow progress, patients often do not immediately seek medical assistance.In addition, low awareness of skin tumours is an important reason. Many people have limited knowledge of skin cancer to melanoma, while little is known about other types of skin tumours. This lack of knowledge has prevented them from correctly identifying abnormal changes in the skin, thus ignoring potential threats. For example, many people are unaware of the early signs of non-melanoma skin cancer (e.g. base-cell cancer and scabular cell cancer) and are therefore not vigilant about these changes.Environmental and genetic factors also contribute to some extent to the hidden nature of skin tumours. Long-term exposure to sunlight, especially ultraviolet radiation, is one of the main risk factors for skin cancer. However, this exposure tends to accumulate over time, and one may not immediately notice its long-term effects on skin. At the same time, it may be easier for individuals to develop into skin tumours if they have a history of skin cancer in the family, but this genetic tendency is not always known.In order to identify skin tumours earlier, the public needs to be more alert to skin changes. Periodic self-dermal examinations are an effective method of identifying early skin tumours. In self-examination, special attention shall be paid to any new, altered or unusual spots, moles or swellings on the skin. If any suspicious changes are detected, the dermatologist shall be consulted immediately for a professional assessment.It is also essential to understand the common symptoms of skin tumours. For example, any change in the shape, size or colour of the mole, or the appearance of irregular edges, uneven colours, diameters greater than 6 mm, haemorrhaging or coitus, may signal skin tumours. For those moles that already exist, attention should also be paid if they begin to change.Finally, the public should actively take preventive measures to reduce the risk of skin tumours. This includes avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight during periods of intense sunlight, the use of sunscreen, the wearing of protective clothing and regular dermal examinations. Through these measures, skin tumours can be detected and treated at an early stage, thus avoiding their development to a more serious stage.In summary, skin tumours tend to be neglected because of their early symptoms, slow growth, insufficient public awareness and the influence of environmental and genetic factors. By raising public awareness of skin changes, understanding common symptoms of skin tumours and taking effective preventive measures, we can identify these invisible threats earlier, thus increasing the success rate of treatment.