Skin Cancer : Overview, Symptoms, Causes, Sign, Risk Factor, Complication, Diagnosis and Treatment (1)

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Skin Cancer
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Skin Cancer

• Skin cancer  is common and locally destructive
  cancerous growth of the skin. It originates from
  the cells that line up along the membrane that
  separates the superficial layer of skin from the
  deeper layers.
• Unlike malignant melanoma, the vast majority of
  skin cancers has less potential to spread to the
  other parts of the body.
• It is the most common form of cancer in United
  States.

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Types of skin cancer

• Basal cell carcinoma- It is the most common type
  of skin cancer, it can originate from the skin
  cells. It is not malignant is nature and can be
  easily treatable.
• Squamous cell carcinoma - It is also the second
  most common type of skin cancer and also
  originates from the skin cells. Like basal cell
  carcinoma, it is not malignant in nature and can
  be easily treatable.
• Melanoma- This skin cancer originates from the
  pigment-producing skin cells (melanocytes) but is
  less common from the first two varieties. But it
  can be far more dangerous than the other skin
  cancers. It can grow and spread to other parts.

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Symptoms

• Symptoms of skin cancer
• Signs and symptoms of basal cell carcinomas
  include
• Appearance of a shiny pink, red, pearly, or
  translucent bump
• Pink skin growths or lesions with raised borders
  that are crusted in the center
• Raised reddish patch of skin that may crust or
  itch, but is usually not painful
• A white, yellow, or waxy area with a poorly
  defined border that may resemble a scar
• Signs and symptoms of squamous cell carcinomas
  include
• Persistent, scaly red patches with irregular
  borders that may bleed easily

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Symptoms
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• Open sore that does not go away for weeks
• A raised growth with a rough surface that is
  indented in the middle
• A wart-like growth
• Actinic keratoses (AK), also called solar
  keratoses, are scaly, crusty lesions caused by
  damage from ultraviolet light, often in the
  facial area, scalp, and backs of the hands. These
  are considered precancers because if untreated,
  up to 10 of actinic keratoses may develop into
  squamous cell carcinomas.

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Diagnosis of skin cancer

• Diagnosis of skin cancer may include
• Examination of skin- The doctor may look at the
  patients' skin to determine whether the skin
  changes are likely to be skin cancer. Further
  testing may be needed to confirm that diagnosis.
• Remove a sample of suspicious skin for testing
  (skin biopsy)- Doctor may remove the
  suspicious-looking skin for lab testing. A biopsy
  can determine whether the patient skin cancer
  and, if so, what type of skin cancer it is.
• As most common skin cancer is not malignant, as
  it doesn't spreads to other tissues, so biopsy
  may be the only option of determination of
  cancer.

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Diagnosis of skin cancer
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• But, in case of melanoma skin cancer, certain
  imaging test may be done such as Chest X-ray, CT
  scan, MRI imaging and Pet/CT scan to check
  whether the cancer has spread from skin to spine,
  chest, lymph nodes and other body organs.
• \

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Causes of skin cancer

• Basal cell skin cancers arise from DNA mutations
  in the basaloid cells in the upper layer of the
  skin.
• Many of these early cancers seem to be controlled
  by natural immune surveillance, which when
  compromised may permit the development of masses
  of malignant cells that begin to grow into
  tumours.
• In squamous cell cancers, the tumours arise from
  normal squamous cells in the higher layers of the
  skin of the epidermis.
• Here, cells are prevented from growing
  unnaturally, but when certain mutations occur or
  the immune system is compromised, certain cancer
  growth can occur.
• For both the cases, ultraviolet rays may be
  leading cause of cancer.

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Risk factors of skin cancer

• Ultraviolet light exposure, either from the sun
  or from tanning beds. Fair-skinned individuals
  are more vulnerable. The problem is worse in
  areas of high elevation or near the equator where
  sunlight exposure is more intense.
• A chronically suppressed immune system
  (immunosuppression) from underlying diseases such
  as HIV/AIDS infection or cancer, or from some
  medications such as prednisone or chemotherapy
• Exposure to ionizing radiation (X-rays) or
  chemicals known to predispose to cancer such as
  arsenic
• Certain types of sexually acquired wart virus
  infections
• People who have a history of one skin cancer have
  a 20 chance of developing a second skin cancer
  in the next two years.
• Elderly patients have more skin cancers

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Treatment

• Treatments of skin cancer
• There are several effective means of treating
  skin cancer. The choice of therapy depends on the
  location and size of the tumor, and the general
  health of the patient.
• Topical medications In the case of superficial
  basal cell carcinomas, some creams, gels, and
  solutions can be used, including imiquimod
  (Aldara), which works by stimulating the body's
  immune system. Side effects are not common but
  some may experience redness and inflammation.
• Destruction by electrodessication and curettage
  (EDC) The tumor area is numbed with a local
  anesthetic and is repeatedly scraped with a sharp
  instrument (curette), and the edge is then
  attached with an electric needle.

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Treatment
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• Surgical excision The area around the tumor is
  numbed with a local anesthetic. A football-shaped
  portion of tissue including the tumor is then
  removed and then the wound edges are closed with
  sutures. For very big tumors, skin grafts or
  flaps are needed to close the defect.
• Mohs micrographic surgery The site is locally
  anesthetized and the surgeon removes the visible
  tumor with a small margin of normal tissue. The
  tissue is immediately evaluated under a
  microscope and areas that demonstrate residual
  microscopic tumor involvement are re-excised and
  the margins are re-examined. This cycle continues
  until no further tumor is seen.
• Radiation therapy Ten to fifteen treatment
  sessions deliver a high dose of radiation to the
  tumor and a small surrounding skin area. This
  form of treatment is useful in those who are not
  candidates for any surgical procedure.

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Treatment
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• The advantage of radiation therapy is that there
  is no cutting involved.. It is usually served to
  elderly patients.
• Other types of treatments for skin
  cancers include cryosurgery where tissue is
  destroyed by freezing, photodynamic therapy (PDT)
  in which medication and blue light is used to
  destroy the cancerous tissue, laser surgery to
  vaporize (ablate) the skin's top layer and
  destroy lesions, and oral medications .
• In most cases, Skin cancer patients are left out
  from the society, due to their appearance from
  the changing skin, a patient must be always given
  full support from family, friends and society so
  that they can recover fast and well.

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