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Skin Cancer
(April 200)Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers. Estimates vary on its occurrence, but it is estimated that over 700,000 Americans develop skin cancer every year.
The principal cause of skin cancer is considered by medical experts to be overexposure to sunlight, especially when it results in sunburn and blistering. Other less important factors include repeated medical and industrial x-ray exposure, scarring from diseases or burns, occupational exposure to such compounds as coal and arsenic, and family history. Below is list of some of the most common types of skin cancer.
Basal
Cell Carcinoma
This tumor of the skin usually appears as a small, fleshy bump
on the face, neck ears or scalp. Occasionally, these tumors may
appear on the torso, usually as flat, pink patches. Basal cell
carcinoma seldom occurs in dark-skinned persons. People who develop
this type of skin cancer frequently have light hair, eyes and/or complexions,
and sunburn easily.
These tumors do not spread quickly. It may take many months or years for one to reach a diameter of one half inch. Untreated, the cancer will begin to bleed, crust over, and then repeat the cycle. Although this type of cancer rarely metastasizes (spreads to other parts of the body), it can extend below the skin to the bone and cause considerable local damage.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
These tumors may appear as pink crusty bumps or as red, scaly
patches. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin
cancer found in Caucasians. It often is found on the rim of the ear,
the face, and the lips. It is rarely found on dark-skinned persons.
This cancer may develop into large masses. Unlike basal cell
carcinoma, it can metastasize. It is estimated that there are 2,300
deaths from squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer every year.
Malignant Melanoma
It is estimated that this most virulent of all skin cancers
develops on the skin of 32,000 Americans annually. And every year an
estimated 6,800 Americans will die from melanoma. The melanoma death rate
is currently declining, perhaps because patients are seeking help earlier.
Melanoma is usually curable in its early stages.
Melanoma has its beginnings in melanocytes. Melanocytes are skin cells that produce the dark protective pigment called melanin. It is melanin that is responsible for suntanned skin, acting as partial protection against the sun. Melanoma cells usually continue to produce melanin, which accounts for the cancers appearing in mixed shades of tan, brown and black. Melanoma has a tendency to spread and this makes early treatment essential.
Melanoma may appear on previously normal skin, but it may also begin in a mole or other dark spot in the skin. For that reason it is important to know the location and appearance of the moles on our bodies so any change will be noticed.
Excessive exposure to the sun, as with other skin cancers, is accepted as a cause of melanoma, especially among light skinned people. Heredity factors also play a role in the tendency to develop melanoma, as certain people with many large moles or a family history of melanoma may be at higher risk for developing melanoma.
Dark brown equatorial skin is not a guarantee against melanoma. Very dark skinned people may occasionally develop this cancer, especially on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, under nails, or in the mouth.
Warning signs for possible melanoma include changes in the surface of a mole such as scaliness, oozing, or bleeding. Other indicators of a potential problem include sudden and progressive mole elevation or spread of pigment from the border into surrounding skin, particularly if accompanied by changes in sensation such as itchiness, tenderness, or pain. Any mole that looks different and changes appearance more rapidly than other moles should be examined by a dermatologist, particularly if the changes are ongoing.
Craig Kraffert, M.D.
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