Skin Cancer

by: Amy Otis, RN

Skin Cancer

Every year nearly
one million people in the United States learn that they have skin
cancer according to the National Cancer Institute. Skin cancer is
the most common type of cancer in the United States, Australia and
South Africa. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in both
men and women.

The two most common
kinds of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
(Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the cells that cover or line an
organ.) Basal cell carcinoma accounts for more than 90 percent of
all skin cancers in the United States. It's a slow growing cancer
that seldom spreads to other parts of the body.

Squamous cell
carcinoma also rarely spreads, but it does more often than basal cell
carcinoma. It is important that skin cancers be found and treated
early because they can invade and destroy nearby tissue. Basal Cell
Carcinoma occurs from sun exposure and it occurs occurs many years
after exposure.

Another type of
cancer that occurs in the skin is melanoma, which begins in the melanocytes.

Cause
and Prevention

Although anyone
can get skin cancer, the risk is greatest for people who have fair
skin that freckles easily -- often those with red or blonde hair and
blue or light-colored eyes.

Ultraviolet (UV)
radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. (Two types
of ultraviolet radiation -- UVA and UVB. Artificial sources of UV
radiation, such as sun lamps and tanning booths, tanning beds can
also cause skin cancer.

The risk of developing
skin cancer is affected by where a person lives. People who live in
areas that get high levels of UV radiation from the sun are more likely
to get skin cancer. In the United States, for example, skin cancer
is more common in Texas than it is in Minnesota, where the sun is
not as strong. Worldwide, the highest rates of skin cancer are found
in South Africa and Australia, areas that receive high amounts of
UV radiation.

In addition, skin
cancer is related to lifetime exposure to UV radiation. Most skin
cancers appear after age 45, but the sun's damaging effects begin
at an early age. So, protection should start in childhood to prevent
skin cancer later in life.

Whenever possible,
people should avoid exposure to the midday sun (from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. standard time, or from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daylight saving time).
Keep in mind that protective clothing, such as sun hats and long sleeves,
can block out the sun's harmful rays. Also, lotions that contain sunscreens
can protect the skin. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to
a sun protection factor (SPF), which ranges from 2 to 30 or higher.
Those rated 15 to 30 block most of the sun's harmful rays.

Symptoms

The most common
warning sign of skin cancer is a change on the skin, especially a
new growth or a sore that doesn't heal. Skin cancers don't all look
the same. For example, the cancer may start as a small, smooth, shiny,
pale, or waxy lump. Or it can appear as a firm red lump. Sometimes,
the lump bleeds or develops a crust. Skin cancer can also start as
a flat, red spot that is rough, dry, or scaly.

Both basal and
squamous cell cancers are found mainly on areas of the skin that are
exposed to the sun -- the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. However,
skin cancer can occur anywhere. Don't wait for something on your skin
to hurt as skin cancer rarely causes pain.

Diagnosis

Basal cell carcinoma
and squamous cell carcinoma are generally diagnosed and treated in
the same way. When an area of skin does not look normal, the doctor
may remove all or part of the growth. This is called a biopsy. To
check for cancer cells, the tissue is examined under a microscope
by a pathologist or a dermatologist. A biopsy is the only sure way
to tell if the problem is cancer.

Treatment

In treating skin
cancer, 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. Doctors commonly use a type of surgery called
curettage. After a local anesthetic numbs the area, the cancer is
scooped out with a curette, an instrument with a sharp, spoon-shaped
end. The area is also treated by electrodesiccation. An electric current
from a special machine is used to control bleeding and kill any cancer
cells remaining around the edge of the wound. Most patients develop
a flat, white scar.

Cryosurgery

Extreme cold may
be used to treat pre-cancerous skin conditions, such as actinic keratosis,
as well as certain small skin cancers. In cryosurgery, liquid nitrogen
is applied to the growth to freeze and kill the abnormal cells. After
the area thaws, the dead tissue falls off. More than one freezing
may be needed to remove the growth completely. Cryosurgery usually
does not hurt too much and patients may have pain and swelling after
the area thaws. A white scar may form in the treated area.

Laser
Therapy

Laser therapy
uses a narrow beam of light to remove or destroy cancer cells. This
approach is sometimes used for cancers that involve only the outer
layer of skin.

How
To Do a Skin Self-Exam

You can improve
your chances of finding skin cancer promptly by performing a simple
skin self-exam regularly. The best time to do this self-exam is after
a shower or bath. You should check your skin in a well lighted room
using a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror. It's best to begin
by learning where your birthmarks, moles, and blemishes are and what
they usually look like. Check for anything new -- a change in the
size, texture, or color of a mole, or a sore that does not heal.

Check all areas, including the back, the scalp, between the buttocks,
and the genital area.

1. Look at the
front and back of your body in the mirror, then raise your arms and
look at the left and right sides.

2. Bend your elbows
and look carefully at your palms; forearms, including the undersides;
and the upper arms.

3. Examine the
back and front of your legs. Also look between your buttocks and around
your genital area.

4. Sit and closely
examine your feet, including the soles and the spaces between the
toes.

5. Look at your
face, neck, and scalp. You may want to use a comb or a blow dryer
to move hair so that you can see better.

By checking your
skin regularly, you will become familiar with what is normal. If you
find anything unusual, see your health care provider right away. Remember,
the earlier skin cancer is found, the better the chance for cure.

CoolNurse.com

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