|
Definition:
Skin cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the skin.
The two most common
kinds of skin cancer are:
-
Basal Cell
Carcinoma - a slow-growing cancer that begins in the inner
layer of the skin and rarely spreads to other parts of the
body. It accounts for more than 90% of all skin cancers in the
United States.
-
Squamous Cell
Carcinoma -a cancer that starts in the outer layer of the
skin. It also rarely spreads, but does so more often than
basal cell carcinoma.
Cancer occurs when
cells in the body (in this case, skin cells) divide without
control or order. Normally, cells divide in a regulated manner. If
cells keep dividing uncontrollably when new cells are not needed,
a mass of tissue forms, called a growth or tumor. The term cancer
refers to malignant tumors, which can invade nearby tissues and
can spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor is unable to
invade or spread.
It is important
that skin cancers be found and treated early because they can
invade and destroy nearby tissue. Another type of cancer that
occurs in the skin is melanoma.
Causes:
In genetically susceptible people, ultraviolet radiation from the
sun is the main cause of skin cancer. But artificial radiation
from sun lamps and tanning booths can also cause skin cancer.
Actinic (solar)
keratosis is a precancerous lesion resulting from the accumulated
exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. If left untreated,
it may progress over many years to squamous cell carcinoma, which
occurs approximately 10% of the time.
Risk
Factors: A risk factor is something that increases your
chance of getting a disease or condition.
-
Fair skin that
freckles easily
-
Red or blonde
hair Light-colored eyes
-
Age: 50 or
older
-
Sex: Male
-
Race: White
people who live in places where the sun's rays are strong
year-round
-
Excessive sun
exposure without protective clothing or sunscreen
-
Exposure to
arsenic, industrial tar, coal, paraffin, and certain types of
oil
-
Radiation
treatment
-
Certain
treatments for psoriasis
Symptoms:
Skin cancers are rarely painful. The most common first symptom of
skin cancer is a change in the skin, such as a new growth or a
sore that doesn't heal. When it starts, skin cancer may appear as:
-
A small,
smooth, shiny, pale or waxy lump
-
A firm red
lump
-
A lump that
bleeds or develops a crust
-
A flat, red
spot that is rough, dry, or scaly
Skin cancers are
found mainly on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun: the
head, face, ears, neck, hands, and arms. However, skin cancer can
occur anywhere.
Note: These
symptoms may also be caused by other, less serious health
conditions. A person experiencing these symptoms should see a
doctor if they last for more than two weeks.
Diagnosis: The
doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and
perform a physical exam. If you have a growth like those listed
above, your doctor may treat it in the office. This involves
removing all or part of the lesion and sending it to the
laboratory for a biopsy.
In cases where the
growth is very large or has been present for a long time, the
doctor will carefully check the lymph nodes in the area. In
addition, you may need to have additional tests to find out if the
cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Treatment:
Treatment for skin cancer usually involves surgery. In some cases,
radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be used. Sometimes a
combination of methods is used.
Treatments include:
-
Surgery: Many
skin cancers can be cut from the skin quickly and easily. In
fact, the cancer is sometimes completely removed at the time
of the biopsy, and no further treatment is needed. Surgical
techniques include:
-
Curettage and
Electrodesiccation - Removal of the cancer by scooping it
out with a curette, an instrument with a sharp, spoon-shaped
end. The area is also treated with an electric current to
control bleeding and kill any cancer cells remaining around
the edge of the wound.
-
Mohs'
Technique -Removal of all of the cancerous tissue and as
little of the healthy tissue as possible. This method is
used to remove large tumors, those in hard-to-treat places,
tumors of undetermined shape and depth, and cancers that
have recurred. The cancer is shaved off one thin layer at a
time. Each layer is checked under a microscope for cancer
cells until the entire tumor is removed.
-
Cryosurgery
-Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and kill the abnormal
cells. After the area thaws, the dead tissue falls off. More
than one freezing may be needed to remove the growth
completely. Cryosurgery usually does not hurt, but patients
may have pain and swelling after the area thaws. This method
may be used to treat precancerous skin conditions (actinic
keratoses) as well as certain small skin cancers.
-
Laser Therapy -
Laser therapy uses a narrow beam of light to remove or destroy
cancer cells. This method is sometimes used for cancers that
involve only the outer layer of skin.
-
Grafting - When
a large cancer is removed, a skin graft is needed to close the
wound and reduce the amount of scarring. The doctor takes a
piece of healthy skin from another part of the body to replace
the skin that was removed.
-
Radiation
Therapy (Radiotherapy) - Radiation therapy uses radiation to
kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
-
Topical
Chemotherapy - Topical chemotherapy is the use of drugs, in
the form of cream or lotion, to kill cancer cells. This method
is particularly successful in treating pre-cancerous
conditions and cancers limited to the outer layer of the skin.
The most common topical chemotherapy used is a form of
5-fluorouracil (5-FU).
Prevention:
Prevention includes:
-
Avoid spending
too much time in the sun.
-
Protect your
skin from the sun with clothing, including a shirt,
sunglasses, and a hat with a broad brim.
-
Use sunscreens
with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more on skin that
will be exposed to the sun.
-
Avoid exposing
your skin to the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. standard time,
or 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. daylight saving time.
-
Don't use sun
lamps or tanning booths.
Take the following
precautions to find skin cancer early:
-
If you have any
of the symptoms listed above, have your skin examined by a
doctor.
-
If you have
fair skin, have your skin checked by a doctor. Learn how to do
skin self exam
|