| Skin
Cancer Information |
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What
is skin cancer?
Skin
cancer facts
What
are the signs of skin cancer?
What
causes skin cancer?
How
is skin cancer treated?
How
can I prevent skin cancer?
The
ABCD's of Melanoma
What
is skin cancer?
Skin
cancer occurs when tissue grows at
an uncontrollable and unpredictable
rate forming an abnormal growth. A
diagnosis of skin cancer can be a
cause for real concern. If left untreated,
the disease will continue to progress
and can cause considerable damage,
disfigurement, or even death. However,
skin cancer is usually not life threatening
and therapy does not have to be disfiguring.
If detected early, skin cancer can
be treated successfully. The most
common types of skin cancer include
basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell
carcinoma, and malignant melanoma.
1. Basal
Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common
type of skin cancer. It arises from
the bottom or base of the uppermost
skin layer (epidermis). Most BCC’s
do not spread beyond the skin to other
parts of the body; nonetheless, they
should be removed because of the extensive
local damage they can do to the skin,
muscle, bone, and vital structures
nearby such as the eyes, lips, etc.
A BCC can have a varied appearance.
Typically it appears as a small pearly
or pink skin-colored bump. It may
also appear as a scar-like growth
or scaly area.
2.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
Squamous
cell carcinoma is the second most
common type of skin cancer. This type
of skin cancer develops from cells
above the basal layer of the epidermis
known as squamous cells. This is a
potentially more dangerous type of
cancer than BCC because of its ability
to sometimes “break away”
(metastasize) from the skin and spread
to local lymph nodes or less commonly
to distant areas of the body. SCC
also has a greater potential to recur
after surgery. SCC may appear as a
persistent rough scaly area or a hard
red bump.
3. Malignant Melanoma
(MM)
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The third most
common type of skin cancer is malignant
melanoma. This type of skin cancer develops
from the pigment forming cells in the
skin known as melanocytes. Its appearance
may vary but classically it is black
or brown with varied asymmetric pigment
and irregular borders. It has a strong
tendency to metastasize (spread) to
distant organs and is thus potentially
the most life threatening skin cancer.
Fortunately, early detection and surgical
removal can result in a high cure rate.
Moles that are unusual in appearance
or changing should be evaluated by your
physician to help detect melanoma early.
Top
Skin
cancer facts
| 1.
|
Over half of all new cancers are skin cancers. |
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| 2.
|
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in his or her lifetime. |
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| 3.
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According to the American Cancer Society more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. |
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| 4.
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Five or more sunburns double your risk of developing skin cancer. |
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| 5.
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The incidence of melanoma more than tripled among Caucasiuns between 1980 - 2003. |
| 6. |
Both besal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma have a better than 95% cure rate if detected and treated early. |
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What
are the signs of skin cancer?
Any
growth or mark that has changed,
grown or looks suspicious may indicate
the presence of skin cancer. The
following signs should be promptly
investigated:
| 1.
|
A
new growth on the skin that
does not disappear in four
to six weeks |
|
| 2.
|
Any
skin lesion that grows larger
and turns red, brown, black
or is multicolored |
|
| 3.
|
A mole, birthmark or beauty
mark that increases in size,
changes color or texture
or becomes irregular in
outline |
|
| 4.
|
An
open sore or wound that
refuses to heal, persists
for more than four weeks
or heals and later reopens |
|
| 5. |
Any
skin spot or growth that
continues to itch, hurt,
crust over, forms a scab
or sore, or bleeds for several
weeks |
Many
skin growths may resemble skin cancer,
but not all are malignant. Any suspicious-looking
growth should be discussed with
a Dermatologist.
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What
causes skin cancer?
Overexposure
to sunlight, including tanning,
is generally considered to be the
leading cause of skin cancer. Most
individuals receive 80 percent of
their lifetime sun exposure by the
age of 18. The effects of sun damage
are cumulative over many years of
exposure and typically result in
most skin cancers appearing in later
adulthood. Approximately 90 percent
of sun-induced skin cancer occurs
in areas of the body with the greatest
sun exposure, such as the head,
neck, and forearms. Family history
is also a strong indicator of risk
in certain ethnic groups, especially
those who have fair complexions
or tend to burn and blister easily
upon sun exposure. The more people
with fair complexions are exposed
to the sun, the more likely they
are to develop skin cancer.
Other causes include repeated medical
and industrial X-ray exposure, scarring
from severe burns and occupational
exposure to certain chemical compounds.
Top
How
is skin cancer treated?
The
treatment method chosen depends
upon the location of the cancer,
its size and the type of previous
therapies, if any. Common treatments
include curettage and electrodessication
(scraping and destroying the tissue
by electric current), cryosurgery
(freezing diseased tissue), radiation
therapy and standard surgical excision.
In these therapies, the physician
must make an educated visual estimate
about the size of the tumor and
the margins outside the tumor that
must be removed for safety.
It is important
to note that treatments relying on
the human eye to determine safety
margin may prove ineffective. Removal
of skin cancer is often complex because
a tumor visible to the naked eye is
usually the “tip of the iceberg”.
It may have roots that are invisible,
extending beyond the boundaries of
the visible center. If these cancer
cells are not completely removed they
can lead to a recurrence of the tumor.
When too little tissue is removed
the cancer is not fully excised; when
too much tissue is removed healthy
tissue is lost. Because the Mohs procedure
is microscopically controlled, it
removes all the cancer and preserves
as much healthy tissue as possible.
The treatment
of each skin cancer must be individualized,
taking into consideration such factors
as the patient’s age, location
of the cancer, type of cancer, and
whether or not the cancer has been
previously treated. In some instances,
more than one type of skin cancer
therapy may be appropriate. Your physician
will discuss treatment alternatives
with you to help decide what is the
best treatment in your individual
case.
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How
can I prevent skin cancer?
Prevention
of skin cancer is the best treatment.
In general, the best practice is
to limit the exposure of the skin
to the sun, especially between 10
a.m. and 4 p.m. Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) or sunscreen to all exposed areas 30 minutes before going outside. Sunscreens with
a rating of at least 30 SPF should
be used and reapplied approximately
every two hours and after swimming. Wear protective clothing, such as broad brimmed hats and UV blocking sunglasses. Avoid tanning and UV tanning beds. Examine your skin from head-to-toe every month and see your dermatologist evey year for a professional skin exam.
It is important to note that 80
percent of sun damage occurs in
the first 18 years of life; therefore
prevention should be practiced at
an early age.
Top
For more
information contact the American
Academy of Dermatology
www.aad.org
