4-Skin+Cancers


 * Skin Cancer

** Of many types of skin cancer the most common are Squamous cell carcinoma, Basal cell carcinoma, and Malignant Melanoma.
 * Squamous cell carcinoma** is a slow growing tumor of the epidermis. Lesions from this type of cancer are usually hard, raised nodules that are painless. Squamous cell carcinoma will invade other organs.
 * Basal cell carcinoma** usually occurs in the face. this type of cancer is less likely to metastasize than other types. It starts in the base of the epidermis. Typically begin as papules that erode in the center to form a bleeding, crusted crater.
 * Melanoma** is the fastest increasing cancer in the U.S. and the most serious form of skin cancer. It kills about one in every four cases. This type of cancer sometimes develops from a mole to become a dark spreading lesion.



You can check to see if you have Melanoma cancer by the "A.B.C.D" rule. **A**symmetry- Benign moles are symmetrical. **B**order- Benign moles are outlined by a distinct border. **C**olor- Benign moles maybe any shade of brown but are relatively evenly colored. **D**iameter- By the time a Melanoma lesion exhibits characteristics A, B, and C its also probably larger than 6 mm. Many pathophysiologists believe that exposure to the sun's UV radiation is the most important factor in causing the common skin cancers. UV radiation damages the skin cells causing a mistake in mitosis that produce cancer. Some cancers can be inherited. One of the rarest skin cancers is Kaposi's sarcoma. A form of this cancer now appears in many cases in AIDS and other immune deficiencies. Kaposi's sarcoma first appears as purple papules then spreads to lymph nodes and internal organs. Some pathophysiologist believe that a virus or other agent, perhaps transmitted along with the HIV, is a possible cause of this cancer.



Skin cancers are one result of getting too much sun, but there are others as well. The short-term results of unprotected exposure to UV rays are sunburn and tanning, which are forms of skin damage. Long-term exposure causes prematurely aged skin, wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity, dark patches (lentigos, sometimes called "age spots" or "liver spots"), and pre-cancerous skin changes (such as dry, scaly, rough patches called actinic keratoses). Aside from skin tone, other factors can also affect your risk of damage from UV light. You need to be especially careful in the sun if you: It isn't possible or practical to completely avoid sunlight, and it would be unwise to reduce your level of activity to avoid the outdoors. Time in sunlight also helps your body make vitamin D, which can be important for good health. But too much sunlight can be harmful. There are some steps you can take to limit your amount of exposure to UV rays. Some people think about sun protection only when they spend a day at the lake, beach, or pool. But sun exposure adds up day after day, and it happens every time you are in the sun. "Slip! Slop! Slap! … and Wrap" is a catch phrase that reminds people of the 4 key methods they can use to protect themselves from UV radiation. Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them from ultraviolet light. Following these practical steps can help protect you from the effects of the sun. These steps complement each other -- they provide the best protection when used together. At Cancer **Treatment** Centers of America, we use many tools to help you fight skin cancer on all fronts. A powerful combination of traditional and new, innovative therapies are provided by cancer experts who work with you to determine the appropriate combination of therapies, which may include: In addition the therapies described above, CTCA enriches your treatment by offering complementary and alternative therapies such as __[|naturopathic medicine]__, __[|nutritional therapy]__, __[|mind-body medicine]__, __[|image enhancement]__ and __[|spiritual support]__. CTCA is with you every step of the way in what truly is the fight of your life. -The Human Body in Health & Disease. By: Thibodeau/ Patton -http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/ped_7_1_Skin_Cancer_Detection_What_You_Can_Do.asp -http://www.cancercenter.com/skin-cancer.cfm
 * Prevention:** Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Much of this exposure comes from the sun, but some may come from manmade sources, such as tanning beds.
 * have lots of moles, irregular moles, or large moles
 * have freckles and burn before tanning
 * have fair skin or blond, red, or light brown hair
 * were previously treated for skin cancer
 * have a family history of skin cancer, especially melanoma
 * live or vacation at high altitudes (UV radiation increases 4% to 5% for every 1,000 feet above sea level)
 * live or vacation in tropical or subtropical climates
 * work indoors all week and then get intense sun exposure on weekends
 * spend a lot of time outdoors
 * have certain autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or "lupus")
 * have had an organ transplant
 * take medicines that lower your immunity
 * take oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
 * take tetracycline, sulfa drugs, or certain other antibiotics
 * take naproxen sodium or certain other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
 * take phenothiazines (major tranquilizers and anti-nausea drugs)
 * take tricyclic antidepressants
 * take thiazide diuretics (medicines used for high blood pressure and some heart conditions)
 * take sulfonylureas (a form of oral anti-diabetic medication)
 * How do I protect myself from UV rays?**
 * __[|Surgery]__ is often used as a treatment for skin cancer. There are several types of surgery depending on the stage and location of cancer.
 * __[|Radiation Therapy]__ is treatment with high-energy rays (such as x-rays) to kill or shrink cancer cells. The radiation may come from outside the body (external beam radiation) or from radioactive materials placed directly in the tumor (internal or implant radiation).
 * __[|Photodynamic Therapy]__ is a two-step procedure that is done on an outpatient basis. You will be injected with a light-activated drug, which targets cancerous cells. Approximately 24-48 hours later, a laser light is directed through a scope onto tumor cells, exposing the cancerous tissue to a certain spectrum of light. The light "switches on" the drug, destroying the cancerous cells without damaging your surrounding healthy tissue.
 * __[|Topical Chemotherapy]__ is when medication is placed directly onto the skin rather than being given by mouth or injected into a vein.