Skin cancer
What's the scoop?
Skin cancer can grow anywhere on your body and is the most common type of cancer in the US. There are over 2 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed every year in the US alone. Skin cancer most commonly develops in areas that are more exposed to the sun, such as the
- scalp
- face
- lips
- ears
- neck
- chest
- arms
- hands
- legs
However, even areas that aren't usually in sunlight can still get skin cancer, so if you see a suspicious spot, it is important to get it checked by a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Are there different types?
Here are three main types of skin cancer:
- basal cell carcinoma
- squamous cell carcinoma
- melanoma
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma can also be referred as a group under non-melanoma skin cancers. All three primary types of skin cancer have different signs and symptoms, so anything unusual on the skin should be checked.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma is highly treatable being both slow growing and not likely to spread. It most often develops because from spending too much time in the sun or tanning bed and can be found on the neck or face.
Squamous cell carcinoma is the next most common skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma. It grows much quicker and is much more likely to spread to other parts of the body, however still it is usually treatable.
Melanoma is not as common as the carcinomas, however it is more aggressive and can be much more dangerous. This does not mean that melanoma is not treatable. Melanoma if caught early is effectively treated in 97% of the cases. For women melanoma most commonly is found on the lower part of the legs.
What can I do to help ?
Risk factors for skin cancer have to do with sun exposure and the type of skin that you have. These include fair and freckled skin, moles on skin, skin damage from sun (actinic keratoses), family or personal history of skin cancer, history of sunburns, heavy sun exposure, warm climates or high-altitiude climates, a weak immune system and having been exposed to radiation.
Protecting the skin from sun such as using clothing and sunscreen and avoiding tanning beds can help reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
Diagnosis
To diagnose skin cancer, the doctor will take a skin biopsy (sample of tissue) from the suspcious area and test it for cancer. If this comes back as skin cancer, the doctor may do additional imaging tests to see if the cancer has spread to nearby places.
I have it... what now?
Treatment for skin cancer includes a number of options depending on the type of cancer and if it has spread. If your skin shows areas that look pre-cancerous or suspicious, freezing the area with liquid nitrogen will probably be considered by your doctor.
Other ways in which skin cancer can be treated is to remove the skin in the area by either an excisional surgery or a Mohs surgery. In an excisional surgery the doctor with cut out the cancerous area and surrounding healthy tissue to ensure that they have cut out all cancerous cells. A Mohs surgery will be used when it's more difficult to remove large areas of skin, such as on the face. In this procedure, the doctor will cut the skin out layer by layer until all the cancerous and unusual looking cells are removed. After the cancer is cut out of the skin from either of the above surgeries, the doctor will probably use an electric needle or liquid nitrogen to kill any remaining cells.
If all of the cancer is not able to be killed, radiation might be used to get rid of any remaining cancer cells. If the cancer has spread to other areas of the skin or body, chemotherapy can be used in a topical (cream) or be injected into a blood vessel.
In other cases when typical treatment doesn't work, the doctor may consider photodynamic or biological therapies. Photodynamic therapy uses drugs that make cancer cells sensitive to light and then targets them with a laser light.
Biological therapy, on the other hand, helps the body's immune system to fight off the cancer.
What's the scoop?
Skin cancer can grow anywhere on your body and is the most common type of cancer in the US. There are over 2 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed every year in the US alone. Skin cancer most commonly develops in areas that are more exposed to the sun, such as the
- scalp
- face
- lips
- ears
- neck
- chest
- arms
- hands
- legs
However, even areas that aren't usually in sunlight can still get skin cancer, so if you see a suspicious spot, it is important to get it checked by a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Are there different types?
Here are three main types of skin cancer:
- basal cell carcinoma
- squamous cell carcinoma
- melanoma
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma can also be referred as a group under non-melanoma skin cancers. All three primary types of skin cancer have different signs and symptoms, so anything unusual on the skin should be checked.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma is highly treatable being both slow growing and not likely to spread. It most often develops because from spending too much time in the sun or tanning bed and can be found on the neck or face.
Squamous cell carcinoma is the next most common skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma. It grows much quicker and is much more likely to spread to other parts of the body, however still it is usually treatable.
Melanoma is not as common as the carcinomas, however it is more aggressive and can be much more dangerous. This does not mean that melanoma is not treatable. Melanoma if caught early is effectively treated in 97% of the cases. For women melanoma most commonly is found on the lower part of the legs.
What can I do to help ?
Risk factors for skin cancer have to do with sun exposure and the type of skin that you have. These include fair and freckled skin, moles on skin, skin damage from sun (actinic keratoses), family or personal history of skin cancer, history of sunburns, heavy sun exposure, warm climates or high-altitiude climates, a weak immune system and having been exposed to radiation.
Protecting the skin from sun such as using clothing and sunscreen and avoiding tanning beds can help reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
Diagnosis
To diagnose skin cancer, the doctor will take a skin biopsy (sample of tissue) from the suspcious area and test it for cancer. If this comes back as skin cancer, the doctor may do additional imaging tests to see if the cancer has spread to nearby places.
I have it... what now?
Treatment for skin cancer includes a number of options depending on the type of cancer and if it has spread. If your skin shows areas that look pre-cancerous or suspicious, freezing the area with liquid nitrogen will probably be considered by your doctor.
Other ways in which skin cancer can be treated is to remove the skin in the area by either an excisional surgery or a Mohs surgery. In an excisional surgery the doctor with cut out the cancerous area and surrounding healthy tissue to ensure that they have cut out all cancerous cells. A Mohs surgery will be used when it's more difficult to remove large areas of skin, such as on the face. In this procedure, the doctor will cut the skin out layer by layer until all the cancerous and unusual looking cells are removed. After the cancer is cut out of the skin from either of the above surgeries, the doctor will probably use an electric needle or liquid nitrogen to kill any remaining cells.
If all of the cancer is not able to be killed, radiation might be used to get rid of any remaining cancer cells. If the cancer has spread to other areas of the skin or body, chemotherapy can be used in a topical (cream) or be injected into a blood vessel.
In other cases when typical treatment doesn't work, the doctor may consider photodynamic or biological therapies. Photodynamic therapy uses drugs that make cancer cells sensitive to light and then targets them with a laser light.
Biological therapy, on the other hand, helps the body's immune system to fight off the cancer.
Symptom list:
Skin cancer
Financial support
Not all of us are able to afford the treatment we need. Search your insurance coverage, or check out what charities may be able to offer you for your condition.
p.s. Just because you have insurance, that doesn't mean that charities or other organizations are not able to support you too.
Emotional support
Whether it's a free counseling session or to find someone with a similar diagnosis, these Germie approved charities might be able to help. Click to explore their offerings!