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Skin Cancer
Skin cancer strikes more people worldwide than any other
form of cancer. In the United States alone, one million Americans
will be diagnosed with the disease this year, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the skin cells and accounts for 40 percent of all cancers. In the US alone, 1.3 million Americans will be diagnosed this year with nonmelanoma skin cancer, and 54,200 will be diagnosed with melanoma, according to the American Cancer Society.
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Name
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Description
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| Basal
Cell Carcinoma |
Basal
cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 75 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. In the beginning stages,
basal carcinoma tumors look like small, shiny, raised
bumps on the skin that occasionally bleed. |
| Squamous
Cell Carcinoma |
Squamous
cell carcinoma accounts for about 20 percent of all skin
cancers. Although more aggressive than basal cell carcinoma,
this cancer is highly treatable. Squamous cell carcinoma,
which starts in the middle layer of the epidermis, looks
like a red, scaly area of skin. Squamous cell carcinoma
eventually becomes an open sore. |
| Malignant
Melanoma |
Although
more rare, this cancer is the most deadly, accounting
for approximately 79 percent of all skin cancer deaths.
Malignant melanoma starts in the melanocytes, skin cells
that produce pigment in the skin. Malignant melanomas
usually start out as moles that then turn cancerous. This
type of skin cancer is likely to spread rapidly. |
What causes skin cancer?
The main cause of skin cancer is ultraviolet (UV) radiation
from the sun. The sun emits light, infrared, and ultraviolet
rays. Ultraviolet rays are invisible, but they can pass deep
into the skin. Other sources of UV radiation include sunlamps
and tanning beds.
What are the risk factors for skin cancer?
Skin cancer is more common in fair-skinned people with blond
or red hair particularly those who have light-colored eyes.
However, no one is safe from skin cancer. Almost half of all
Americans who live to age 65 will be diagnosed with skin cancer
at some point, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Other risk factors include:
- family history
Skin cancer can be hereditary.
- 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.
- certain type and quantity of moles
- altitude
The thinner the atmosphere, the less the UV rays are filtered.
- latitude
Sun rays are strongest near the equator.
Can skin cancer be prevented?
The most effective way to prevent skin cancer from developing
is to limit exposure to sunlight. Other preventive measures
may include:
- Wear sunscreen with a sun factor protection level of at least 15 whenever outside.
- Wear protective clothing, including a hat.
- Avoid being outside during peak sun hours (usually 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.).
- Taking precautions even on cloudy days.
- Avoid artificial sources of sunlight (i.e., sunlamps and tanning beds).
Treatment for skin cancer:
Specific treatment for skin cancer will be determined by
your physician(s) based on:
- your overall health and medical history
- extent and type of the disease
- your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the disease
- your opinion or preference
Treatment may include:
- surgery to remove the skin cancer
- radiation therapy - the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells
- chemotherapy - the use of anticancer drugs
- biological therapy - to help the body improve its own natural defenses against cancer
- photodynamic therapy - uses a combination of laser light and drugs to kill cancer cells
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