2008-4-Skin+Cancers

By: Delaena Ashleigh and Austin


 * 

__Squamous Cell Carcinoma__ **


 * DEFINITION: Slow growing malignant tumor of the epidermis.
 * EXAMPLES:


 * Most common type of Skin Cancer
 * Hard raised nodules that are usually painless
 * If not treated, the cell will metastasize, invading other organs
 * 250,000 cases per year in the US
 * Most cases of squamous cell carcinoma are caused by chronic overexposure to the sun
 * SCCs may also occur where skin has suffered certain kinds of injury: burns, scars, long-standing sores, sites previously exposed to X-rays or certain chemicals


 * Symptoms:
 * A wart-like growth that crusts and occasionally bleeds.
 * A persistent, scaly red patch with irregular borders that sometimes crusts or bleeds.
 * An elevated growth with a central depression that occasionally bleeds. A growth of this type may rapidly increase in size.\
 * Treatment:
 * Curettage-electrodessication
 * Cryosurgery
 * Mohs micrographic surgery
 * Surgical Excision
 * Radiation
 * Laser therapy
 * Photodynamic therapy
 * Prevention
 * Limiting recreational sun exposure
 * Avoiding unprotected exposure to the sun during peak radiation times (the hours surrounding noon)
 * Wearing broad-brimmed hats and tightly-woven protective clothing while outdoors in the sun
 * Regularly using a waterproof or water resistant sunscreen with UVA protection and SPF number of 30 or higher
 * Undergoing regular checkups and bringing any suspicious-looking or changing lesions to the attention of a doctor




 * __Basal Cell Carcinoma__ **


 * DEFINITION: A type of skin cancer that arises from the basal cells, small round cells found in the lower part (or base) of the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin.
 * EXAMPLES:


 * Symptoms:
 * Pearly or waxy
 * White or light pink
 * Flesh-colored or brown
 * Treatment:
 * Excision cuts the tumor out and uses stitches to place the skin back together.
 * Curettage and electrodesiccation scrapes away the cancer and uses electricity to kill any remaining cancer cells.
 * Surgery, including Mohs surgery, which cuts out skin and immediately looks at it under a microscope to check for cancer.
 * The process is repeated until the skin sample is free of cancer.
 * Cryosurgery freezes and kills the cancer cells.
 * Radiation may be used if the cancer has spread to organs or lymph nodes or for tumors that can't be treated with surgery.
 * Prevention
 * Apply high-quality sunscreens with SPF (sun protection factor) ratings of at least 15.
 * Look for sunscreens that block both UVA and UVB light.
 * Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply it frequently.
 * Use sunscreen in winter, too.


 * __Melanoma__ **

> It involves cells called melanocytes, which produce a skin pigment called melanin.EXAMPLES
 * DEFINITION: Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It is the leading cause of death from skin disease.


 * Symptoms:
 * Asymmetry: One half of the abnormal area is different from the other half
 * Borders: The lesion or growth has irregular edges.
 * Color: Color changes from one area to another, with shades of tan, brown, or black (sometimes white, red, or blue). A
 * mixture of colors may appear within one lesion.
 * Diameter: The trouble spot is usually (but not always) larger than 6 mm in diameter -- about the size of a pencil eraser.
 * Treatment:
 * A skin graft may be necessary after the surgery if a large area of skin is affected.
 * Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy (use of medications that stimulate the immune system, such as interferon) may be recommended in addition to surgery.
 * Treatment with interferon after surgery may be useful for these patients. Studies have suggested that interferon improves the overall chance of cure by approximately 10%.
 * Patients with high-risk melanomas should consider enrolling in clinical trials. These are research studies of new medications or other treatments.
 * For patients with melanoma that has spread beyond the skin and lymph nodes to other organs, treatment is more difficult. At this point, melanoma is usually not curable. Treatment is usually directed at shrinking the tumor and improving symptoms. Both chemotherapy and use of interferon or interleukin may be tried. These patients also should consider participating in clinical trials.
 * Prevention
 * Applying a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, every day (during winter months as well)
 * Wearing protective clothing, including hats and sunglasses
 * Refraining from intentionally lying in the sun or using tanning devices
 * Minimizing sun exposure especially during the summer particularly between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m

Sources: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000850.htm#Prevention http://www.medicinenet.com/skin_cancer/article.htm http://www.skincancer.org/basal/index.php

