Skin Cancers 

Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and can invade nearby tissues, forming a mass or a lump called a tumor. It can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer, which affects 1 in 5 people. It's often a result of excess sun exposure over a prolonged time and shows varying symptoms based on the type of skin cancer. These may include discolored patches, bumps, or lesions that vary in shape and size. If caught early, most skin cancers can be treatable. Treatment options include Mohs surgery, cryotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. 

To know more about skin cancer types, stages, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, read this informative blog. Knowing the signs and symptoms will help you seek medical help immediately. 

What is Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer is a disease that involves the growth of abnormal cells in the skin tissues. Normally, as the old skin cells age and die, new skin cells are formed to replace them. When this cycle does not go as it should due to a variety of factors, like excess sun exposure, cancer develops. Skin cancer may be benign or malignant. 

What Are the Types of Skin Cancers?

There are three main types of skin cancer, namely: 

• Basal cell carcinoma: Forms in the basal cells in the lower part of your epidermis (the outermost layer of skin)
• Squamous cell carcinoma: Forms in the squamous layer in the outer skin layer. 
• Melanoma: Forms in the cells called melanocytes that form melanin (a brown pigment that gives color to your skin and hair. This is the most serious type of skin cancer since it can easily spread to other parts of your body.

• Other cancers: 

     Kaposi sarcoma 

     Merkel cell carcinoma

     Sebaceous glands carcinoma 

What Causes Skin Cancer? Mention The Risk Factors. 

The main cause of skin cancer is increased exposure to sunlight. Excess UV light damages the DNA in your skin tissues, causing the growth and multiplication of abnormal cells. These cells rapidly divide in a disorganized manner, forming a mass of cancer cells.

Risk Factors

Anyone can get cancer irrespective of age, sex or race. However, certain risk factors may increase susceptibility. These include:

• Being a non-Hispanic white
• Increased sun exposure 
• Having a history of sunburns 
• Live in a sunny and high-altitude region 
• Easily tan or use tanning beds 
• Have light-colored eyes
• Have blonde or red hair
• Have fair or freckled skin
• Have actinic keratosis (precancerous rough, scaly skin growths)
• Have a family history of skin cancer 
• Have had an organ transplant
• Take immunosuppressants
• Have been exposed to UV light therapy to treat skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis 

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer symptoms include:

• A new mole
• Change in the existing mole 
• A pearly or waxy bump on your face or ears 
• A flat or slightly raised pink, red, or brown colored patch or bump
• Sores that look crusty have a depression in the middle of the bleed, often 
• A wound or sore that won't heal or comes back again
• A rough, scaly lesion that may itch, bleed, and become crusty. 

What Does Skin Cancer Look Like? 

Depending on the type of skin cancer, it looks different. Remember to check for the ABCDE rule:

• Asymmetry: Irregular shape
• Border: Blurry or irregularly shaped edges 
• Color: Mole with different colors 
• Diameter: Larger than 6 mm
• Evolution: Enlarging and changing in shape, color, or size 

How is Skin Cancer Diagnosed?

Your dermatologist will evaluate your symptoms of mole changes or new mole development. Later, they will examine your skin all over your body, especially your face, nose, scalp, back, genitals, and buttocks. If your doctor suspects skin cancer, they may perform a biopsy. 

What Are Skin Cancer Stages?

There are different stages for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. 

Melanoma Staging 

Stage 0: Melanoma is present only in the outer skin layers.

Stage 1: There is no evidence of spread, and it is highly curable 

Stage 2: The cancer may likely recur, but there is no evidence of spread

Stage 3: The melanoma has spread to the nearby lymph nodes.

Stage 4: The melanoma has spread to the distant lymph nodes or distant internal organs 

Non-melanoma Staging 

Stage 0: Cancer is only in the top layer of your skin

Stage 1: Cancer is in the top and middle layers of the skin

Stage 2: Cancer is in the top and middle layers of your skin and may target your nerves and deeper layers of skin 

Stage 3: Cancer has spread beyond your skin to your lymph nodes 

Stage 4: Cancer has spread to other parts of the body and internal organs 

How is Skin Cancer Treated?

Common skin cancer treatments, used alone or in combination, include: 

Cryotherapy

• Your doctor uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the cancer cells and destroy them. 
• The dead cells slough off after treatment.

Excisional Surgery

• Your doctor removes the tumor and some surrounding healthy skin. 

Mohs Surgery

• Your doctor will remove only the diseased tissue, leaving as much behind the surrounding normal tissue as possible. 

Curettage and Electrodesiccation

• Your doctor uses a sharp looped instrument to remove cancer cells as it scrapes across the tumor. 
• Then, an electric needle will be used to destroy any remaining cancer cells. 

Chemotherapy

• Your doctor uses medications to kill cancer cells. 
• These medications can be applied topically (topical chemotherapy) or provided through pills or IV infusion. 

Radiation Therapy

• Your doctor will refer you to a radiation oncologist to administer beams of energy to kill cancer cells. 

Photodynamic Therapy 

• Your doctor coats your skin with medication and activates it with a blue or red fluorescent light. 
• It destroys cancer cells, leaving the normal cells intact. 

Can You Prevent Skin Cancer?

Ways to prevent skin cancer include:

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen when outdoors. Reapply it every two hours 
• Wear hats with wide brims to protect your face 
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants 
• Wear sunglasses 
• Use a lip balm with an SPF
• Avoid sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Avoid tanning beds 
• Do a full body skin examination regularly and report any signs of skin changes to your doctor 

Takeaway 

Skin cancer is a common type of cancer that can affect anyone. However, excess sun exposure is a prime factor that may cause abnormal cells to multiply and divide disorganized. Check for early signs of skin cancer and seek medical help right away since skin cancer at the early stage is the most treatable and curable. Take necessary preventive steps to protect your skin from the sun. Also, schedule regular skin exams with your dermatologist.