Skin cancer is that unchecked proliferation of aberrant skin cells in the skin tissue. Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most common type, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). These varieties are very curable if they are identified and treated early. The symptoms depend on the color of your skin and can include a red, pearly white, or darkly pigmented lump. A skin patch may appear that does not heal, crusts over, or bleeds.
Melanoma, compared to SCC and BCC, is less common but more lethal. Such a type could appear in the form of a metamorphosing mole in terms of size, shape, or color. Melanomas could also manifest as a black line below a fingernail or toenail or a sore that heals but recurs.
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime, making it the most common form of cancer.4. All skin tones are susceptible to getting skin cancer, but more so for those with fair skin and hair. The vast majority of cases and deaths are caused by cumulative exposure to ultraviolet radiation from tanning beds or sunlight.
Types of Skin Cancers
Different sorts of cells affected distinguish amongst skin cancer types. Some common types of skin cancers include melanoma and nonmelanoma. Other such uncommon types of skin cancers include Merkel cell carcinoma.
BCC basal cell carcinoma
About 80% to 90% of all skin cancers are BCC, which grows slowly. This type starts in the tiny, round basal cells of the deepest layer of the epidermis.
SCC, or squamous cell carcinoma
SCC is the second most common type of skin cancer. This type of growth occurs in the flat, fish-scale-shaped cells that lie above the epidermis’s basal cell layer.
Skin Cancer Melanoma
Melanoma is more dangerous than BCC and SCC but less common. Melanocytes are cells responsible for pigment production in the skin, and this is a type of growth from melanocytes.
Merkel Cell Cancer
Merkel cell cancer, or neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin, is a rare type of skin cancer. It grows in the deepest layer of the epidermis’ sensory cells, called Merkel cells. Merkel cell cancer is among other infrequent skin cancers including Kaposi sarcoma and cutaneous lymphoma. These make up 1% of all the cases of skin cancers.
Symptoms of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer tends to develop in areas of the body that are more exposed to the sun. This can include the scalp, face, ears, neck, chest, arms, and hands. Even in the vaginal area, cancers may arise. In colored people, skin cancer may develop under the nails, on the palms of the hands, or in the mouth.
Each type of skin cancer has its own peculiarities, and appearances range greatly.
General signs and symptoms of skin cancer are:
- Brown patch of skin
- In individuals of color.
- Mole whose size, shape, color, or feel changes
- Fresh development
- Wounds that will not heal.
Primary Cell Carcinoma
BCC may present as:
- A scar
- A pink, crimson, pearly white, or black bump
- A raised red patch
- An open sore
Cell Carcinoma Squamous
SCC may present as:
- A raised growth that can have a central depression
- A rough, scaly area that could crust or bleed
- A wart-like lesion
- An open sore
Melanoma
Melanoma often presents as a new skin lesion. This so-called “ugly duckling” differs from the surrounding skin in its appearance. Melanoma can also develop within an existing mole.
Whether the case, one must always pay attention to spots or moles. The “ABCDE rule” might help to identify potential melanomas:
- A for asymmetry: Half of the spot or mole does not look like the other half.
- B for border: The edge is ragged.
- C for color: The spot or mole is many colors.
- D for diameter: Melanomas are usually larger than a pencil eraser, although they can vary in size.
- E for evolving: The size, shape, or color of the spot or mole is changing.
What Leads to Skin Cancer?
Most skin cancers are caused by excessive exposure to UV rays, which the sun emits. Tanning beds and sun lamps also give off this kind of radiation. Though it may strike skin areas that have little to no sun exposure, skin cancer typically affects parts of the body that are exposed to the sun.
While UVB rays cause sunburns, UVA rays cause chronic skin aging. The majority of skin cancers are attributed to UVB rays damaging the DNA in your skin cells. Scientists have also suggested that UVA radiation may contribute.
Risk Factors
Though it may occur in younger, apparently healthy people, skin cancer is most prevalent in older adults. Another group of high-risk patients includes those who have impaired immune systems.
Other risk factors include:
- A past history of sunburn or excessive exposure to the sun
- Family or personal history of skin cancer
- Fair or blonde hair
- Presence of large numbers of moles or some atypical moles
- Light colored skin
- Skin that tans easily, reddens, freckles, or burns in the sun
How can skin cancer be identified?
The process begins with a review of your medical history to determine your risk factors for skin cancer. After that, a medical professional will do a skin biopsy and a physical examination. To examine any questionable skin lesions, they might employ a magnifying tool known as a dermatoscope. After numbing any problematic locations, the medical professional will extract a sample for microscopic inspection.
To ascertain whether the lymph nodes are of normal size and texture compared to their counterparts adjacent to the primary tumor, the doctor might examine them. He might carry out a lymph node biopsy to check whether the melanoma has metastasized. In most cases, BCC and SCC are not likely to spread to areas other than the skin.
Common diagnostic tools include:
- Blood tests: Confirm if an illness is being battled by the immune system.
- Cell sample extracted using fine needle aspiration through a thin needle.
- Imaging tests: Check if the cancer has spread to distant organs or the lymph nodes surrounding it.
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy: Blue dye and radiation are used to detect the affected lymph nodes, which are then surgically removed.
- Through surgical biopsy, the swollen lymph node is removed.
Skin Cancer Stages
BCC and SCC rarely spread. Therefore, a health care professional doesn’t usually stage them. He will stage melanoma based on its size and whether it has spread. Melanoma staging helps in the planning of its treatment. American Cancer Society. stages of melanoma skin cancer.
Stages of melanoma are from 0 to IV and encompass:
Stage 0: Also known as melanoma in situ, the cancer is confined to the epidermis.
Stage I: The tumor may be ulcerated and is not more than 2 millimeters (mm) in diameter. Beyond the epidermis, cancer cells have not spread.
Stage II: The tumor may be ulcerated, is larger than 1 mm in diameter, and can be thicker than 4 mm. The epidermis is still where cancer cells are present.
Stage III: The tumor has spread to other tissues near the cancer site like neighboring skin or lymph nodes, known as satellite tumors.
Stage IV: Cancer has reached the more remote body areas such as the brain, spinal cord, or lungs as well as distant lymph nodes.
Treatment Plans for Skin Cancers
The best course of treatment of skin cancer varies according to various criteria. In most cases, type, location, and spread of the cancer influence the approach.
Some of the treatment options include;
- Topical or systemic chemotherapy-This is oral or injected by a vein.
- Cryotherapy-Freezing of the skin cancer with liquid nitrogen
- Targeted therapy or immunotherapy-Cancer medicines targeted on the patient
- Combining topical medication and laser light to kill cancer cells-Photodynamic treatment.
- Radiation therapy is often used for cancers that have spread or for cancers that are hard to reach with surgery.
- Surgical options include cutting out the lesion, scraping and burning it off, destroying the cancer with laser light, or removing a layer of tissue at a time (Mohs surgery).
- Topical treatments: Using lotions or gels to target the malignancy
Ways to Avoid Skin Cancer
There are many ways to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer. These include:
- Avoiding tanning both indoors and outdoors. Don’t use tanning beds.
- Check your skin each month.
- Consider having a yearly full-body exam with a dermatologist.
- When a new or suspicious spot appears on your skin, get checked out.
- Wear a pair of sunglasses that block UV rays.
- Select specific clothing having sun protection in case you will spend the whole day under the sun.
- A hat with a broad brim should cover your neck, ears, face, and head.
- Seeking shade, especially during the day,
- Apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen, which includes protection against UVA as well as UVB; it should be at least SPF 30.
- Putting on black tight-fitting clothes that will cover most of your body, in particular, hiding your hands and legs,
Related conditions
Skin cancer may bring health problems and is liable to create them. Possible associated disorders include:
- Anger, anxiety, and despair are only a few of the more intense emotions a diagnosis for skin cancer may evoke. Anxiety and despair are typically the result of these feelings. These conditions are not uncommon among melanoma patients, according to studies.
- Lymphedema is essentially swelling caused by the gathering of lymph in soft tissues. Lymph is a liquid that contains white blood cells, which are used for fighting infections. According to some statistics, lymphedema often develops in people with skin cancer within the first year of treatment.
- Skin infections: A 2022 study reported that among the most common complications following surgery for skin cancer is surgical site infections. Of these infections, almost 76% are due to Staphylococcus (staph) bacteria, reports the study. Skin with a staph infection is tender, swollen, and red.
Coping with Skin Cancer
Early detection and treatment may lead to much better prognosis for skin cancer. BCC and SCC are associated with better outcomes than melanoma, which is more aggressive. The five-year survival rate is 35% for distant melanoma; the localized form has a 99% survival rate.
Studies have shown that Asian, Black, and Hispanic men have a significantly higher risk of dying due to melanoma compared with women. This is largely because darker-skinned persons are more likely to seek medical attention for melanoma when the disease is diagnosed at a later stage than in lighter-skinned persons.
Melanoma often presents itself differently in individuals with darker skin tones compared to those with lighter complexions. Due to a lack of knowledge, medical professionals may misdiagnose melanoma as another type of skin disease.
