Final answer:
A tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue that arises when cells divide excessively or fail to die when they should. Skin cancer, including dangerous forms like melanoma, is a result of such abnormal cell growth, mainly due to DNA damage from UV radiation exposure. The increasing prevalence of skin cancer is attributed to various factors, including higher UV exposure due to ozone layer degradation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue that forms when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Skin cancer, as a form of tumor, represents uncontrolled growth of skin cells. When the DNA of skin cells gets damaged, often due to excessive exposure to UV radiation, it can lead to mutations and the potential development of cancerous lesions.
Skin cancer is a prime example of a disease resulting from such cells growing out of control, and it's the most common form of cancer. Factors such as the degradation of the ozone layer, which allows more UV radiation to reach the Earth's surface, have contributed to an increase in the rates of skin cancer. Skin cancer can form even on parts of the body not exposed to sunlight, indicating that other factors can also contribute to the risk of developing this disease.
Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, originating from melanocytes. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that one in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime, highlighting the prevalence and seriousness of the disease.