Dr Chris Steele provides basic information about skin cancer.

Skin Cancer basic information.

Cancer of the skin is the commonest type of cancer affecting the body, with over 34,000 new cases occurring each year.

The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. These are all related to long term exposure to the sun's rays, and skin specialists have revealed that high exposure to ultra violet light (especially UVA) before the age of 15 yrs significantly increases the risk of malignant skin disease. Burning of the skin, in particular, dramatically increases the risk.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA (BCC).
This is commonest of the skin cancers, appearing especially on the face and neck the nose is the most common site, followed by the temples and chin. It often appears as a small lump, with a pearly coloured rim covered by very fine blood vessels. However, it has many different forms, so any swelling appearing in skin that is normally exposed to sunlight, should be examined by a doctor. One form of BCC is that of a small slow growing ulcer, called a rodent ulcer as it is said to look like a rat bite! All BCCs are slow growing and don't generally produce secondary tumours like most cancers.
They are best treated by surgical excision, but radiotherapy using radiation and cryotherapy using freezing techniques are effective.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA (SCC).
Occurs most commonly in fair skinned people who have been exposed to large amounts of sunlight. The closer to the equator the more common is SCC in fair skinned people. SCC can mimic a number of benign skin conditions, such as eczema, as it often starts just as an isolated dry scaly skin condition. Unlike BCCs, squamous cell cancers do eventually spread, hence early diagnosis is imperative. Treatment is by surgical excision or radiotherapy.

MALIGNANT MELANOMA.
This is the most serious but least common type of skin cancer. About 70% of melanomas develop in existing moles, with 30% arising in normal skin.

Again sunlight is the cause. Those most at risk have a white skin, red or blond hair and have difficulty getting a tan. If they may have numerous moles more than 5 on the upper arm or more than 100 moles over the whole body surface, they are most at risk.

A blond haired person is 70 times more likely to melanoma than someone with black hair.

High risk individuals must use sun tan creams of high protection factor the higher the better, and must avoid getting sunburnt. Lying in the sun whilst on holiday, should be timed so that exposure to the sun's rays is slowly increased. Always avoid sun bathing between 12 noon and 2pm. when the sun is at it's hottest.

Here is a seven point checklist to spot a mole that may develop into malignant melanoma:
1. Does it itch?
2. Is it bigger than the blunt edge of a pencil?
3. Is it increasing in size?
4. Does it have a ragged edge?
5. Is it a mixture of different brown and black shades?
6. Is the inflammed or does it have a reddish edge?
7. Is it bleeding, oozing or crusting?

If any of these changes have occured, seek medical advice.

Treatment will involve excision of the mole and affected area and maybe radiotherapy or chemotherapy will be neccessary.


IMPORTANT NOTICE : This content is from the Dr Chris Steele personal archive and is provided for convenience only. Information contained here may no longer agree with the most up to date medical advice. Please check with a medical professional before taking any action.

More like this
Illnesses
Treatments
Prevention
Use this page



Privacy Terms | Advertisers | Legal Disclaimer | Contact
© 2007 TheFamilyGP.com