Skin Cancer What is skin cancer?
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Skin Cancer
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the skin cells. In the U.S. alone, more
than 2 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed in 2013 with nonmelanoma skin
cancer, and more than 76,000 are expected to be diagnosed with melanoma, according to
the American Cancer Society.
What are the different types of skin cancer?
There are three main types of skin cancer, including:
Name Description
Basal cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 80 percent of all skin
cancers. This highly treatable cancer starts in the basal cell layer of the
epidermis (the top layer of skin) and grows very slowly. Basal cell
Basal cell
carcinoma usually appears as a small, shiny bump or nodule on the skin,
carcinoma
mainly those areas exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck, arms,
hands, and face. It most commonly occurs among people with light-
colored eyes, hair, and complexion.
Squamous cell carcinoma, although more aggressive than basal cell
carcinoma, is highly treatable. It accounts for about 20 percent of all skin
Squamous cancers. Squamous cell carcinoma may appear as nodules or red, scaly
cell patches of skin, and may be found on sun-exposed areas such as the face,
carcinoma ears, lips, and mouth. However, if left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma
can spread to other parts of the body. This type of skin cancer is usually
found in fair-skinned people.
Malignant melanoma accounts for a small percentage of all skin cancers,
but accounts for most deaths from skin cancer. Malignant melanoma starts
Malignant in the melanocytes--cells that produce pigment in the skin. Malignant
melanoma melanomas sometimes begin as an abnormal mole that then turns
cancerous. This cancer may spread quickly. Malignant melanoma most
often appears on fair-skinned men and women, but people with all skintypes may be affected.
Distinguishing benign moles from melanoma
To help find melanoma early, it is important to examine your skin on a regular basis, and
become familiar with moles, and other skin conditions, in order to better identify
changes. Certain moles are at higher risk for changing into malignant melanoma. Moles
that are present at birth (congenital nevi), and atypical moles (dysplastic nevi), have a
greater chance of becoming malignant. Recognizing changes in moles, by following this
ABCD chart, is crucial in detecting malignant melanoma at its earliest stage. The warning
signs are:
Normal mole / melanoma Sign Characteristic
Asymmetry When half of the mole does not match
the other half
Border When the border (edges) of the mole
are ragged or irregular
Color When the color of the mole is not the
same all over; you may see shades of
brown or black, sometimes with areas
of pink, red, white, or blue
Diameter If the mole's diameter is larger than a
pencil's eraser
Photographs Used By Permission:
National Cancer Institute
Melanomas vary greatly in appearance. Some melanomas may show all of the ABCD
characteristics, while others may show few or none. Always consult your doctor for a
diagnosis.
What are the risk factors for skin cancer?Skin cancer is more common in fair-skinned people, especially those with blond or red
hair, who have light-colored eyes. Skin cancer is rare in children. However, no one is safe
from skin cancer. Other risk factors include:
• Family history of melanoma
• Personal history of skin cancer
• Sun exposure. The amount of time spent unprotected in the sun directly affects
your risk of skin cancer.
• Early childhood sunburns. Research has shown that sunburns early in life increase
a person's risk for skin cancer later in life.
• Many freckles
• Large or many ordinary moles
• Dysplastic nevi
• Male gender
• An immunosuppressive disorder or weakened immune system (such as in people
who have had organ transplants)
• Exposure to certain chemicals, like arsenic
• Radiation exposure
• Smoking
• HPV (human papillomavirus)
• Certain rare inherited conditions, such as basal cell nevus syndrome (Gorlin
syndrome), or xeroderma pigmentosum (XP)
Prevention of skin cancer
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends the following steps to help
reduce your risk of skin cancer:
• Wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed
hat and sunglasses, when possible.
• Seek the shade when appropriate, especially when the sun's rays are the strongest,
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Regularly use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of
30 or higher on all exposed skin, even on cloudy days. Sunscreen should be
reapplied every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
• Protect children from the sun by using shade, protective clothing, and applying
sunscreen.
• Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand, which can reflect the sun's rays and
increase the chances of sunburn.
• Avoid tanning beds. The UV (ultraviolet) light from tanning beds can cause skin
cancer and wrinkling.
• Check your birthday suit on your birthday. Look at your skin carefully and if you
see anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see your doctor.
• Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet (which may include vitamin
supplements.) Don't seek out the sun.The American Academy of Pediatrics approves of the use of sunscreen on infants
younger than 6 months old only if adequate clothing and shade are not available. Parents
should still try to avoid sun exposure and dress the infant in lightweight clothing that
covers most surface areas of skin. However, parents also may apply a minimal amount of
sunscreen to the infant's face and back of the hands.
Remember, sand and pavement reflect UV rays even under an umbrella. Snow is a
particularly good reflector of UV rays.
How to perform a skin self-examination
Finding suspicious moles or skin cancer early is the key to treating skin cancer
successfully. A skin self-exam is usually the first step in detecting skin cancer. The
following suggested method of self-examination comes from the AAD:
(You will need a full-length mirror, a hand mirror, and a brightly lit room.)
• Examine your body front and back in mirror, then the right and left sides, with
your arms raised. Women should look under their breasts.
• Bend your elbows, look carefully at your forearms, the back of your upper arms,
and the palms of your hands. Check between your fingers and look at your nail
beds.
• Look at backs of your legs and feet, spaces between your toes, your toenail beds,
and the soles of your feet.
• Examine the back of your neck and scalp with a hand mirror.
• Check your back, buttocks, and genital area with a hand mirror.
• Become familiar with your skin and the pattern of your moles, freckles, and other
marks.
• Be alert to changes in the number, size, shape, and color of pigmented areas.
• Follow the ABCD Chart when examining moles of other pigmented areas and
consult your doctor promptly if you notice any changes.
Treatments for skin cancer
Specific treatment for skin cancer will be determined by your doctor based on:
• Your age, overall health, and medical history
• Type of skin cancer
• Extent and location of the disease
• Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the disease
• Your opinion or preference
There are several kinds of treatments for skin cancer, including the following:• Surgery. Surgery is a common treatment for skin cancer. It is used in most treated
cases. Some types of skin cancer growths can be removed very easily and require
only very minor surgery, while others may require a more extensive surgical
procedure. Surgery may include the following procedures:
o Cryosurgery. Using liquid nitrogen, cryosurgery uses an instrument that
sprays the liquid onto the skin, freezing and destroying the tissue.
o Curettage and electrodesiccation. This common type of surgery involves
scraping away skin tissue with a curette (a sharp surgical instrument),
followed by cauterizing the wound with an electrosurgical unit.
o Excision. A scalpel (sharp surgical instrument) may be used to excise (cut
away) and remove the growth. The wound is usually stitched or held
closed with skin clips.
o Mohs' microscopically controlled surgery. This type of surgery involves
excising a lesion, layer by layer. Each piece of removed tissue is examined
under a microscope. Tissue is progressively removed until no tumor cells
are seen. The goal of this type of surgery is to remove all of the malignant
cells and as little normal tissue as possible. It is often used with recurring
tumors (those that come back after treatment).
• Laser therapy. Laser surgery uses a narrow beam of light to destroy cancer cells,
and is sometimes used with tumors located on the outer layer of skin.
• Radiation therapy. X-rays are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
• Photodynamic therapy. Photodynamic therapy uses a certain type of light and a
special chemical to kill cancer cells.
• Other types of treatment include the following:
o Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
Topical chemotherapy. Chemotherapy given as a cream or lotion
placed on the skin to kill cancer cells.
Systemic chemotherapy. Chemotherapy administered orally or
intravenously (IV) for more advanced cancers.
o Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy involves various approaches to boost
the body's own immune system, helping it to attack the cancer. Some
types of treatment can be applied on tumors or injected directly into them.
Other types are used for more advanced cancers and are given as an
injection into the vein (IV).
o Targeted therapy. Some medicines used to treat advanced skin cancers
work by targeting specific parts of the cancer cells. These medicines can
often be taken as a pill.
Retrieved from:
http://www.massgeneral.org/conditions/condition.aspx?ID=434&type=conditions
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