Skin Cancer

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the skin cells. In the US alone, more than 2 million Americans were expected to be diagnosed in 2010 with nonmelanoma skin cancer, and 68,130 were 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:

Distinguishing benign moles from melanoma

To prevent melanoma, 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:

Melanomas vary greatly in appearance. Some melanomas may show all of the ABCD characteristics, while other may only show changes in one or two characteristics. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

What are the risk factors for melanoma?

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 melanoma

• 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.

• Fair complexion

• Light colored hair

• Many freckles

• Large ordinary moles

• Dysplastic nevi

• An immunosuppressive disorder

• Exposure to certain chemicals, like arsenic

• Radiation exposure

• Smoking

• HPV (human papillomavirus)

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 2 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 (AAP) 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 the umbrella. Snow is even 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 American Cancer Society:

(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.

• 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 physician promptly if you notice any changes.

Treatments for skin cancer

Specific treatment for skin cancer will be determined by your physician based on:

• Your age, 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

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:

  • Cryosurgery Using liquid nitrogen, cryosurgery uses an instrument that sprays the liquid onto the skin, freezing and destroying the tissue.

  • 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.

  • Excision A scalpel (sharp surgical instrument) may be used to excise and remove the growth. The wound is usually stitched or held closed with skin clips.

  • Mohs' microscopically controlled surgery This type of surgery involves excising a lesion, layer by layer. Each piece of excised tissue is examined under a microscope. Tissue is progressively excised 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.

• Laser therapy Laser surgery uses a narrow beam of light to remove cancer cells, and is often used with tumors located on the outer layer of skin.

• Radiation therapy X-rays are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

• Other types of treatment include the following:

  • 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).

  • Immunotherapy Immunotherapy of melanoma is a complex type of treatment involving various approaches to boost the body's own immune system, helping it to slow the growth of the cancer.