Living in the net » skin cancer

Some questions about skin cancer

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:42:35 +0000

What causes skin cancer and what are the effects?

Well, I am 13, and I have gotten two severe sunburns this past month. My mom said they were pretty bad, and they can cause skin cancer in the future. Is this really true? If not what are the real causes of skin cancer? What are the effects?

Skin Cancer Causes
Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, most commonly from sunlight, is overwhelmingly the most frequent cause of skin cancer.

Other important causes of skin cancer include the following:

* Use of tanning booths

* Immunosuppression—impairment of the immune system, which protects the body from foreign entities, such as germs or substances that cause an allergic reaction. This may occur as a consequence of some diseases or can be due to medications prescribed to combat autoimmune diseases or prevent organ transplant rejection.

* Exposure to unusually high levels of x-rays

* Contact with certain chemicals—arsenic (miners, sheep shearers, and farmers), hydrocarbons in tar, oils, and soot (may cause squamous cell carcinoma)
Regarding your mother’s comment, people who had at least one severe sunburn early in life have a greater risk of developing skin cancer. Mom is right!
Treatment for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma is straightforward. Usually, surgical removal of the lesion is adequate. Malignant melanoma, however, may require several treatment methods, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

How does skin cancer start out looking like?
Lately I have had little bumps not huge but like almost skin scab looking things (not scabs though). And I am in the sun doing activities a lot and I was wondering if it almost seems like it can or be a possibility of skin cancer? I’m not sure.

I think that whatever you have, you should consult the dermatologist right away. I used to work in a medical show and we featured this young guy who initially had skin cancer. Now, half of his face is gone just because he thought that what he had was a new mole. It started just like a simple dot–really like a mole– but it started growing and becoming a wound. The thing is, cancer–not just skin cancer– manifests in several ways. That same guy first thought he had skin cancer but actually, the doctors found out later that it was muscle cancer.

How high are my chances of getting skin cancer?
Yesterday I was at the pool with my friend, and she told me I have high chances of getting skin cancer. I have blond hair, blue eyes, very pale skin, I get burned easily, lots of moles and beauty marks, and I actually have a family history of cancer. She said these all made my chances higher of getting skin cancer. If so, should I use more sunscreen? What SPF? How can I help prevent skin cancer but still go outside regularly? Thanks for all of your help!

There are simple things you can do to try and protect yourself from skin cancer.
1) Wear a hat when you know you’ll be outside for longer than half an hour. It doesn’t have to be a full blown sun hat, a baseball or newsboy hat will do.
2) If you know that you’ll at the beach or the pool, make sure you apply SPF 50 sunscreen.
3) The suns UV rays are strongest the hours between 11am and 4pm.
4) Remember, concrete sand and water can reflect the suns rays, so even if you are just going to the park you can put on a little bit of sunscreen.
5) If you were make up ever day, they make foundations with SPF 15 in them.
6) Wear chap stick or put in on under any other lip products(Lip gloss, lip stick) because chap stick normally has SPF 5 in it.
7) Don’t go sun tanning or to tanning salons, because these both will increase your chances of radiation.

Some pictures of skin cancer

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:34:35 +0000

Question: Skin Cancer Pictures
I have a spot on my arm that I think may be skin cancer. What does skin cancer look like?

Answer: Skin cancer can look like many things. It can appear as a mole, spot, sore, lesion or any other skin abnomality. See Skin Cancer Symptoms and Melanoma Symptoms, for exact descriptions of symptoms.

Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin which can have many causes. The most common skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma. Skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), so a tumor is usually clearly visible. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages. There are three common and likely types of skin cancer, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises. Unlike many other cancers, including those originating in the lung, pancreas, and stomach, only a small minority of those afflicted will actually die of the disease.[1] Skin cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed cancer, surpassing lung, breasts, colorectal and prostate cancer.[1] Melanoma is less common than basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, but it is the most serious—for example, in the UK there are 9,500 new cases of melanoma each year, and 2,300 deaths.[2] It is the most common cancer in the young population (20 – 39 age group).[3] It is estimated that approximately 85% of cases are caused by too much sun.[citation needed] Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common skin cancers. The majority of these are called basal cell carcinomas. These are usually localized growths caused by excessive cumulative exposure to the sun and do not tend to spread.

Skin Cancer Signs, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention and Diagnosis

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:35:44 +0000

Symptoms of skin cancer:
Skin cancer develops primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the legs in women. But it can also form on areas that rarely see the light of day — your palms, beneath your fingernails, the spaces between your toes or under your toenails, and your genital area.

Skin cancer affects people of all skin tones, including those with darker complexions. When melanoma occurs in those with dark skin tones, it’s more likely to occur in areas not normally considered to be sun-exposed.

A cancerous skin lesion can appear suddenly or develop slowly. Its appearance depends on the type of cancer.

How is basal cell carcinoma treated?

There are many ways to successfully treat a basal cell carcinoma with a good chance of success of 90% or more. The doctor’s main goal is to remove or destroy the cancer completely with as small a scar as possible. To plan the best treatment for each patient, the doctor considers the location and size of the cancer, the risk of scarring, and the person’s age, general health, and medical history.

Methods used to treat basal cell carcinomas include:

Curettage and desiccation: Dermatologists often prefer this method, which consists of scooping out the basal cell carcinoma by using a spoon like instrument called a curette. Desiccation is the additional application of an electric current to control bleeding and kill the remaining cancer cells. The skin heals without stitching. This technique is best suited for small cancers in non-crucial areas such as the trunk and extremities.

Surgical excision: The tumor is cut out and stitched up.

Radiation therapy: Doctors often use radiation treatments for skin cancer occurring in areas that are difficult to treat with surgery. Obtaining a good cosmetic result generally involves many treatment sessions, perhaps 25 to 30.

Cryosurgery: Some doctors trained in this technique achieve good results by freezing basal cell carcinomas. Typically, liquid nitrogen is applied to the growth to freeze and kill the abnormal cells.

Mohs micrographic surgery: Named for its pioneer, Dr. Frederic Mohs, this technique of removing skin cancer is better termed “microscopically controlled excision.” The surgeon meticulously removes a small piece of the tumor and examines it under the microscope during surgery. This sequence of cutting and microscopic examination is repeated in a painstaking fashion so that the basal cell carcinoma can be mapped and taken out without having to estimate or guess the width and depth of the lesion. This method removes as little of the healthy normal tissue as possible. Cure rate is very high, exceeding 98%. Mohs micrographic surgery is preferred for large basal cell carcinomas, those that recur after previous treatment, or lesions affecting parts of the body where experience shows that recurrence is common after treatment by other methods. Such body parts include the scalp, forehead, ears, and the corners of the nose. In cases where large amounts of tissue need to be removed, the Mohs surgeon sometimes works with a plastic (reconstructive) surgeon to achieve the best possible postsurgical appearance.

Medical therapy using creams that attack cancer cells (5-Fluorouracil–5-FU, Efudex, Fluoroplex) or stimulate the immune system (imiquimod [Aldara]). These are applied several times a week for several weeks. They produce brisk inflammation and irritation. The advantages of this method is that it avoids surgery, lets the patient perform treatment at home, and may give a better cosmetic result. Disadvantages include discomfort, which may be severe, and a lower cure rate, which makes medical treatment unsuitable for treating most skin cancers on the face.

knowledge of Skin cancer

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:27:39 +0000

Each year more than a million people in the United States are diagnosed with the most common forms of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. These two diseases are most often grouped as non-melanoma skin cancers.

Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin which can have many causes. The most common skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma. Skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), so a tumor is usually clearly visible. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages. There are three common and likely types of skin cancer, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises. Unlike many other cancers, including those originating in the lung, pancreas, and stomach, only a small minority of those afflicted will actually die of the disease.[1] Skin cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed cancer, surpassing lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer.[1] Melanoma is less common than basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, but it is the most serious — for example, in the UK there are 9,500 new cases of melanoma each year, and 2,300 deaths.[2] More people now die of melanoma in the UK than in Australia. It is the most common cancer in the young population (20 – 39 age group).[3] It is estimated that approximately 85% of cases are caused by too much sun.[citation needed] Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common skin cancers. The majority of these are called basal cell carcinomas. These are usually localised growths caused by excessive cumulative exposure to the sun and do not tend to spread.

What is nonmelanoma skin cancer?
Skin cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the skin. It is the most common type of cancer. It is almost always cured when it is found early and treated. So it is important to see your doctor if you have changes in your skin.

Most skin cancers are the nonmelanoma type. There are two main types of nonmelanoma skin cancer:

Basal cell carcinoma. Most nonmelanoma cancers are this type. It can damage deeper tissues, such as muscles and bones. It almost never spreads to other parts of the body.
Squamous cell carcinoma. This type is less common. It often starts in skin that has been injured or diseased. It sometimes spreads to other parts of the body.
What causes it?
Nonmelanoma skin cancer is usually caused by too much sun. Using tanning beds or sunlamps too much can also cause it.

How is nonmelanoma skin cancer diagnosed?
Skin cancer usually appears as a growth that changes in color, shape, or size. This can be a sore that does not heal or a change in a wart or a mole. These changes usually happen in areas that get the most sun—your head, neck, back, chest, or shoulders. The most common place for skin cancer is your nose.

Your doctor will use a biopsy to find out if you have skin cancer. This means taking a sample of the growth and sending it to a lab to see if it contains cancer cells.

What increases my risk for nonmelanoma skin cancer?
If you have light skin that sunburns easily, you are more likely to get skin cancer.

Your risk is higher if you are male or if you are over 40. Your risk is higher if others in your family have had it or if you have had it before.

You may also be more likely to get it if you have been exposed often to strong X-rays, to certain chemicals (such as arsenic, coal tar, and creosote), or to radioactive substances (such as radium).

How is it treated?
Your doctor will want to remove all of the cancer. There are several ways to do this. The most common way is to numb your skin so that it does not hurt, then cut out the cancer. You will be awake while this is done.

This surgery almost always cures nonmelanoma skin cancer.

After your treatment, you will need regular checkups because having skin cancer once means you are more likely to get it again.

Can nonmelanoma skin cancer be prevented?
You can prevent it by being careful in the sun. Stay out of the sun at midday, when the sun’s rays are strongest. Wear sunscreen or other sun protection. Do not use tanning booths or sunlamps.