Treatments

Treatment of skin cancer
Specific treatment for skin cancer will be determined by your physician based on:

• your age, overall health, and medical history
• extent of the disease
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disease
• your opinion or preference

There are several kinds of treatments for skin cancer, including the following:

• surgery
  Surgery is a common treatment for skin cancer -- used about 90 percent of the time, and often includes the following procedures:
  
  
  • cryosurgery - freezing the tumor, which kills cancer cells.
    
    
  • electrodesiccation and curettage - burning the lesion and removing it with a sharp instrument.
    
    
  • grafting - uses a skin graft to replace skin that is damaged when cancer is removed.
    
    
  • laser therapy - using a narrow beam of light to remove cancer cells.
    
    
  • Mohs micrographic surgery - removing the cancer and as little normal tissue as possible. During this surgery, the physician removes the cancer and then uses a microscope to look at the cancerous area to make sure no cancer cells remain.
    
    
  • simple excision - cutting the cancer from the skin along with some of the healthy tissue around it.

• radiation therapy
  Radiation therapy uses a radiation machine that emits x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

• electrochemotherapy
  Electrochemotherapy uses a combination of chemotherapy and electrical pulses to treat cancer.

• Other types of treatment include:
  
  
  • chemotherapy - treatment with drugs to destroy cancer cells.
    

• topical chemotherapy - chemotherapy given as a cream or lotion placed on the skin to kill cancer cells.

• systemic chemotherapy - chemotherapy taken by pill, or needle injection into a vein or muscle.

• biological therapy (sometimes called biological response modifier (BRM) therapy, or immunotherapy)
  Biological therapy tries to get your own body to fight cancer by using materials made by your own body, or made in a laboratory, to boost, direct, or restore your body's natural defenses against disease.

• photodynamic therapy
  Photodynamic therapy uses a certain type of light and a special chemical to kill cancer cells.

• immunotherapy
  Immunotherapy of melanoma involves injecting a medication (called interferon) to boost the body's own immune system, helping it to slow the growth of the cancer.

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Posted in: Skin Care tips

Risk

Risk of skin cancer

These factors may increase your risk of skin cancer:

• Fair skin. Having less pigment (melanin) in your skin provides less protection from damaging UV radiation. If you have blond or red hair, light-colored eyes, and you freckle or sunburn easily, you're much more likely to develop skin cancer than is a person with darker features.
• A history of sunburns. Every time you get sunburned, you damage your skin cells and increase your risk of developing skin cancer. After a sunburn, your body works to repair the damage. Having multiple blistering sunburns as a child or teenager increases your risk of developing skin cancer as an adult. Sunburns in adulthood also are a risk factor.
• Excessive sun exposure. Anyone who spends considerable time in the sun may develop skin cancer, especially if your skin isn't protected by sunscreen or clothing. Tanning also puts you at risk. A tan is your skin's injury response to excessive UV radiation.
• Sunny or high-altitude climates. People who live in sunny, warm climates are exposed to more sunlight than are people who live in colder climates. Living at higher elevations, where the sunlight is strongest, also exposes you to more radiation.
• Moles. People who have many moles or abnormal moles called dysplastic nevi are at increased risk of skin cancer. These abnormal moles — which look irregular and are generally larger than normal moles — are more likely than others to become cancerous. If you have a history of abnormal moles, watch them regularly for changes.
• Precancerous skin lesions. Having skin lesions known as actinic keratoses can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. These precancerous skin growths typically appear as rough, scaly patches that range in color from brown to dark pink. They're most common on the face, lower arms and hands of fair-skinned people whose skin has been sun damaged.
• A family history of skin cancer. If one of your parents or a sibling has had skin cancer, you may be at increased risk of the disease. Some families are affected by a condition called familial atypical mole-malignant melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome. The hallmarks of FAMMM include a history of melanoma in one or more close relatives and having more than 50 moles — some of which are atypical. Because people with this syndrome have an extremely high risk of developing melanoma, frequent screening for signs of skin cancer is crucial.
• A personal history of skin cancer. If you developed skin cancer once, you're at risk of developing it again. Even basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas that have been successfully removed can recur in the same spot, often within two to three years.
• A weakened immune system. People with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of developing skin cancer. This includes people living with HIV/AIDS or leukemia and those taking immunosuppressant drugs after an organ transplant.
• Fragile skin. Skin that has been burned, injured or weakened by treatments for other skin conditions is more susceptible to sun damage and skin cancer. Certain psoriasis treatments and eczema creams might increase your risk of skin cancer.
• Exposure to environmental hazards. Exposure to environmental chemicals, including some herbicides, increases your risk of skin cancer.
• Age. The risk of developing skin cancer increases with age, primarily because many skin cancers develop slowly. The damage that occurs during childhood or adolescence may not become apparent until middle age. Still, skin cancer isn't limited to older people. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are increasing fastest among women younger than 40.

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Symptoms

Symptoms of skin cancer

Different types of skin cancer can look different:

Non-melanomas such as a BCC, for example, can start as a small red, pink or shiny lump. SCCs often appear as small scaly or hard areas of skin with a red or pink base.

Melanoma usually starts as a dark spot or mole on your skin. If a melanoma spreads to other parts of your body, you can develop other symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes (glands throughout your body that are part of your immune system).

Symptoms that may indicate skin cancer include any mole or lesion that:

• gets bigger - especially over 7mm (a quarter of an inch) in diameter
• changes shape - look for an irregular edge
• changes colour - if it darkens, becomes patchy or multishaded
• becomes inflamed
• is itchy or painful
• bleeds or is crusty

These symptoms don't necessarily mean you have skin cancer, but if you have any of them you should visit your GP for advice.

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Posted in: Skin Care tips