Skin Cancer – What Types of Skin Cancer Are There?
Skin cancer is a serious medical condition that can develop anywhere on your body. It usually appears as a brown, red, or white spot and can spread to other areas of the body. It requires intensive treatment and removal of large areas of skin. The most common areas affected are the face and non-sun-exposed lower body parts.
Squamous cell carcinoma
If diagnosed early, squamous cell carcinoma is curable. There are several treatment options available, and most can be performed in the doctor’s office. The treatment that is right for you will depend on your age, general health, medical history, and your personal preferences. The longer you delay treatment, the harder it will be to treat the cancer. The additional time it takes will also affect your appearance and ability to use the affected area of your body.
The treatment of squamous cell skin cancer may include surgery, radiation therapy, or topical chemotherapy. Surgical treatment is often indicated to remove squamous cell lesions. It may require the use of local anesthesia and stitches.
Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell cancer is a type of skin cancer that usually occurs in the areas of the body that receive the most sun exposure. This type of cancer is slow growing and rarely spreads. However, it can spread quickly if left untreated, so early detection is important. In most cases, basal cell cancer is curable with the right treatment.
This type of skin cancer develops in basal cells in the skin and is most often caused by exposure to ultraviolet light. People who have had treatment for radiation therapy are also at higher risk of developing this type of cancer. They typically appear as small bumps on the face and other parts of the body, which are typically exposed to the sun. The bumps themselves are usually a translucent or pearly white color, although they may also be brown or black. They can also have tiny blood vessels. If they develop on the face or other areas of the body, the patient should consult with a dermatologist immediately.
Melanoma
A common form of skin cancer, melanoma develops in the melanocytes that produce the pigment melanin, giving our skin its unique color. It can occur around moles or pigmented tissues and can spread to other parts of the body if left untreated. A doctor can perform surgery or use immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiation to treat the disease. Early detection is vital to a patient’s success. In many cases, melanoma is curable. However, if it spreads to the lymph nodes or other tissues, the cancer is incurable.
The best way to treat melanoma is to recognize its early symptoms. To do this, you should visit your dermatologist annually and do a self-examination. The doctor will look for any suspicious areas of the skin and may also perform a sentinel lymph node biopsy. This procedure involves injecting a dye into a sentinel lymph node to determine whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and temperature logging.
Bowen disease
Bowen disease is a type of skin cancer that usually spreads slowly over many months or years. The good news is that there are effective treatments available. However, if left untreated, the condition can progress to squamous cell skin cancer. This type of skin cancer affects about one in twenty people.
If you have noticed changes in your skin, you should consult a dermatologist. A dermatologist can examine your condition and diagnose the underlying cause. A small sample of skin may be taken from your body to check for abnormal growth. Usually, Bowen’s disease affects older people. Fortunately, it does not run in families and is not contagious.
Preventing skin cancer
The best way to prevent skin cancer is to protect yourself from the sun. The sun’s UV rays are a leading cause of skin cancer. These rays cause the skin to grow abnormally and can lead to a variety of symptoms. To help reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, you can stay out of the sun for at least 30 minutes every day.
There are many ways to protect your skin from sun damage, and some of them are more preventable than others. Although you can’t stop the sun from causing cancer, you can greatly reduce your risk by wearing sun-protective clothing and protective accessories. Also, make sure that you use sun protection products that offer high UV protection. Wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat whenever you are outside in the sun.
Treatment options
Treatment options for skin cancer include surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. Some cancers may also be treated with chemotherapy, which uses anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. The type of therapy chosen will depend on the stage of the cancer and the patient’s overall health. However, most skin cancers are curable when caught early, and treatment options are available even for advanced forms.
Treatment options for skin cancer vary depending on where the cancer has spread. For those with localized basal or squamous cell carcinoma, standard treatments are highly effective. Surgical removal of a tumor, freezing it with liquid nitrogen, or exposure to low-dose radiation can kill it. For larger, localized tumors, patients may choose to undergo surgery.
Author Bio of Dr Shaun Segal
Dr Shaun Segal
Since arriving in Australia in 2008, Dr Shaun Segal has worked almost exclusively in the field of skin cancer medicine and surgery. He has worked in numerous clinics within NSW and QLD and has treated thousands of patients with skin cancer.
He has attained further qualifications in Skin Cancer Medicine and Surgery (University of Queensland) and has achieved the Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Surgery (Bond University QLD). He also is surgically certified by the Australian College of Cutaneous Oncology.
Dr Shaun Segal is passionate about specialized surgical techniques including flaps, grafts and performs margin controlled surgery (slow mohs procedures).
Find Dr Segal on HealthPages Wiki and on RateMDS