Skin Cancer
What
is Skin Cancer?
Cancer
develops when DNA, the molecule found in cells that encodes
genetic information, becomes damaged and the body cannot
repair the damage. These damaged cells begin to grow and
divide uncontrollably. When this occurs in the skin, skin
cancer develops. As the damaged cells multiply, they form
a tumor. Since skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis,
the outermost layers of skin, a tumor is usually clearly
visible. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the
early stages.
Types
of Skin Cancer
Three types of skin cancer account for nearly 100% of all
diagnosed cases. Each of these three cancers begins in a
different type of cell within the skin, and each cancer
is named for the type of cell in which it begins. Skin cancers
are divided into one of two classes - nonmelanoma skin cancers
and melanoma. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer.
The
different types of skin cancer are:
Basal
cell carcinoma (BCC): The most common cancer in humans,
BCC develops in more than 1 million people every year in
the United States alone. About 80% of all skin cancers are
BCC, a cancer that develops in the basal cells - skin cells
located in the lowest layer of the epidermis. BCC can take
several forms. It can appear as a shiny translucent or pearly
nodule, a sore that continuously heals and then re-opens,
a pink slightly elevated growth, reddish irritated patches
of skin, or a waxy scar. Most BCCs appear on skin with a
history of exposure to the sun, such as the face, ears,
scalp, and upper trunk. These tumors tend to grow slowly
and can take years to reach ½ inch in size. While
these tumors very rarely metastasize (cancer spreads to
other parts of the body), dermatologists encourage early
diagnosis and treatment to prevent extensive damage to surrounding
tissue.
Squamous
cell carcinoma (SCC): About 16% of diagnosed skin cancers
are SCC. This cancer begins in the squamous cells, which
are found in the upper layer of the epidermis. About 200,000
cases are diagnosed ever year. SCC tends to develop in fair-skinned
middle-aged and elderly people who have had long-term sun
exposure. It most often appears as a crusted or scaly area
of skin with a red inflamed base that resembles a growing
tumor, non-healing ulcer, or crusted-over patch of skin.
While most commonly found on sun-exposed areas of the body,
it can develop anywhere, including the inside of the mouth
and the genitalia. SCC may arise from actinic keratoses,
which are dry, scaly lesions that may be skin-colored, reddish-brown
or yellowish-black. SCC requires early treatment to prevent
metastasis (spreading).
Melanoma:
Accounting for about 4% of all diagnosed skin cancers, melanoma
begins in the melanocytes, cells within the epidermis that
give skin its color. Melanoma has been coined “the most
lethal form of skin cancer” because it can rapidly spread
to the lymph system and internal organs. In the United States
alone, approximately one person dies from melanoma every
hour. Older Caucasian men have the highest mortality rate.
Dermatologists believe this is due to the fact that they
are less likely to heed the early warning signs. With early
detection and proper treatment, the cure rate for melanoma
is about 95%. Once its spreads, the prognosis is poor. Melanoma
most often develops in a pre-existing mole or looks like
a new mole, which is why it is important for people to know
what their moles look like and be able to detect changes
to existing moles and spot new moles.
Other
nonmelanoma skin cancers: All other skin cancers combined
account for less than 1% of diagnosed cases. These are classified
as nonmelanoma skin cancers and include Merkel cell carcinoma,
dermatofibromasarcoma protuberans, Paget’s disease and cutaneous
T-cell lymphoma.
Causes
Sun exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer. According
to the American Cancer Society, “Many of the more than 1
million skin cancers diagnosed each year could be prevented
with protection from the sun’s rays.” Scientists now know
that exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays damages
DNA in the skin. The body can usually repair this damage
before gene mutations occur and cancer develops. When a
person’s body cannot repair the damaged DNA, which can occur
with cumulative sun exposure, cancer develops.
In
some cases, skin cancer is an inherited condition. Between
5% and 10% of melanomas develop in people with a family
history of melanoma.
Who
Gets Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer develops in people of all colors, from the palest
to the darkest. However, skin cancer is most likely to occur
in those who have fair skin, light-colored eyes, blonde
or red hair, a tendency to burn or freckle when exposed
to the sun, and a history of sun exposure. Anyone with a
family history of skin cancer also has an increased risk
of developing skin cancer. In dark-skinned individuals,
melanoma most often develops on non-sun-exposed areas, such
as the foot, underneath nails, and on the mucous membranes
of the mouth, nasal passages, or genitals. Those with fair
skin also can have melanoma develop in these areas.
Skin
Cancer Rates Rising
While Americans now recognize that overexposure to the sun
is unhealthy, the fact remains that most do not protect
their skin from the sun’s harmful rays. As a result, skin
cancer is common in the United States. More than 1 million
nonmelanoma skin cancers are diagnosed each year, and approximately
one person dies from melanoma every hour.
If
current trends continue, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin
cancer during their lifetime. Melanoma continues to rise
at an alarming rate. In 1930, 1 in 5,000 Americans was likely
to develop melanoma during their lifetime. By 2004, this
ratio jumped to 1 in 65. Today, melanoma is the second most
common cancer in women aged 20 to 29.
Prevention
and Early Detection Key
Sun protection can significantly decrease a person’s risk
of developing skin cancer. Sun protection practices include
staying out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the
rays are strongest, applying a broad-spectrum (offers UVA
and UVB protection) sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor
(SPF) of 15 or higher year-round to all exposed skin, and
wearing a protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat
and sunglasses when outdoors.
Since
skin cancer is so prevalent today, dermatologists also recommend
that everyone learn how to recognize the signs of skin cancer,
use this knowledge to perform regular examinations of their
skin, and see a dermatologist annually (more frequently
if at high risk) for an exam. Skin cancer is highly curable
with early detection and proper treatment.
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The information on this page has been extracted from http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/whatis.html
