Skin cancer

Description of skin cancer

Skin cancer – disease, in which the skin develops cancer cells.

The two most common types of skin cancer:

• Basal-cell carcinoma kletočnaâ (slow-growing cancer, which It begins in the inside of the outer skin layer; rarely spreads to other body parts) – it accounts for more 90% all skin cancers;
• Ploskokletochnыy cancer (cancer, which begins on the outer skin layer) – rarely spreads to other body parts, but more often, than basal cell carcinoma.

Cancer occurs, when the cells of the organism (in this case the skin cells) start uncontrollably share and form a mass of tissue, called tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant tumors, that can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. Benign tumors do not spread to other organs.

It is important to detect as early as possible and to treat skin cancers in the early stages, because the tumor can invade and destroy nearby tissue. Another type of skin cancer called melanoma. There are also other rare form of skin cancer, such as cancer Merkel, cancers of the sebaceous glands and exocrine carcinoma.

Causes of Skin Cancer

In genetically susceptible people the main cause of skin cancer is ultraviolet radiation from the Sun or lamps in solariums.

Precancerous skin lesion is actinic keratosis, arising from exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. If left untreated, it can develop into squamous cell carcinoma (about 10% cases).

Risk factors for skin cancer

Factors, which increases the risk of skin cancer:

• Light skin with freckles;
• Red or blond hair;
• Light eyes;
• Age: senior 50 years;
• Paul: male;
• Excessive exposure to the sun without protective clothing or sunscreen;
• Frequent use of the solarium;
• Exposure to arsenic, Industrial resins, coal, paraffin oils and certain (ploskokletochnыy cancer);
• Radiation therapy;
• Treatment of psoriasis with light, especially PUVA;
• Chronic, nonhealing wounds (ploskokletochnыy cancer);
• Some genetic diseases, such as basal cell nevus or xeroderma pigmentosum.

Symptoms of skin cancer

Skin cancer rarely causes pain. The most common first symptom of skin cancer is a change in skin appearance, the occurrence of growths or the appearance of the wound dolgonezazhivayuschey. At the beginning of the development of skin cancer may look like this:

• Small, smooth, bright, pale, wax build-up on the skin;
• Red raised skin area, like swelling;
• Bleeding or crusted growth on the skin;
• Flat, red spots on the skin, dry or scaly.

Skin cancer occurs mainly in the field, solarize:

• Chairman;
• Face;
• Ears;
• Neck;
• Hands.

Nonetheless, skin cancer can occur anywhere.

These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious diseases. If you experience these symptoms for more than two weeks, should see a doctor.

Diagnosis of skin cancer

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination. If you have swelling or swelling of the skin, as above, the doctor can remove the entire affected area, or part of it, for sending to a laboratory for analysis skin biopsies.

In cases, when the build-up is very large or has been present for a long time, doctor thoroughly examines the lymph nodes in the affected area. You may also need to perform more tests, to find out, whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment for Skin Cancer

Treatment for skin cancer usually involves the operation. In some cases, there may be used radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Sometimes a combination of these methods.

Methods of treatment include skin cancer:

Surgery for skin cancer

Many types of skin cancer can be quickly and easily cut. Cancer can be sometimes completely removed during biopsy, and no further treatment is required. Surgical methods include:

Fulguration and curettage of skin cancer

The procedure involves removing the cancer with a curette (with a sharp instrument, spoon-shaped, end). The skin is treated with an electric current to control bleeding. It will also kill any cancer cells, remaining at the edges of the wound. The method is used for very small or superficial skin areas, cancerous and not on the vital areas.

Mohs Surgery

Mohs surgery It includes the removal of all cancerous tissue. The surgeon will try to remove as little healthy tissue, as much as possible. This method is used to remove:

• Large tumors;
• Tumors in hard-to-treat areas;
• Tumors of undetermined shape and depth;
• Recurrent tumors.

The procedure is performed by specially trained surgeons, dermatologists. The cancer is cut in thin layers. Each layer is checked under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells, until the entire tumor is removed. This method gives the best chance of recovery.

Simply removing skin cancer

When using this method of treatment for excision of the affected area of ​​the skin using a surgical knife.

Cryosurgery of skin cancer

To freeze the abnormal cells using liquid nitrogen. After, as the area thaws, dead tissue can be easily removed. You may need more than one freeze, to completely remove the tumor. This method can be used to treat precancerous skin (Hyperkeratoses) and certain small or superficial skin cancers.

Laser therapy for skin cancer

Laser therapy uses a narrow beam of light, which allows you to remove or destroy cancer cells. This method is sometimes used for cancers, which develop on the outer layer of the skin.

Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) skin cancer

Radiation therapy It uses radiation emissions, to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

Chemotherapy for cancer of the skin

Chemotherapy for the treatment of skin cancer involves the use of drugs in the form of a cream or lotion, to kill cancer cells. This method has been used successfully in the treatment of precancerous lesions and cancers of the skin surface. The most common drugs for chemotherapy of skin cancers are 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or imiquimod.

Preventing skin cancer

• Avoid spending too much time in the sun;
• Protect your skin from the sun clothing, wear shirt, sunglasses and a hat with a wide brim;
• Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or more, if the skin is exposed to the sun;
• Stay out of the sun with 10 AM to 15 hours of the day in the summer;
• Avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light, and frequent visits to the solarium.

Take the following precautions, to discover skin cancer at early stages:

• If you have symptoms, above, visit the doctor;
• If you have fair skin, regularly check her doctor for cancer.