Anyone who has spent or spends a large amount of time in the sun runs the risk of developing skin cancer. In fact, this form of cancer is the most common type developed in humans. Each year more and more cases of the disease are diagnosed, with an estimate of more than 1 million new cases being diagnosed each year. It's thought that almost half of the population who lives to be 65 will develop some form of skin cancer in their life. Below is information on the different types of skin cancer and the treatments that are offered.
Types
There are three different types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma is the least dangerous of these cancers and melanoma is the worst. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common types of skin cancer and are referred to as non-melanoma type of skin cancer. Since melanoma has a tendency to spread rapidly throughout the body, it's considered the worst form to have.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is considered the least dangerous form of skin cancer because it rarely ever spreads to other regions of the body. Almost 90 percent of skin cancer cases are diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma. Though this cancer rarely metastasizes, it can cause damage to the surrounding tissues by its growth. This type of cancer is thought to be caused by intermittent exposure to the sun during periods in younger life, vacations and other brief but intense periods of getting sun and being burned. Being exposed to ultraviolet radiation such as in tanning booths is also known to cause this type of cancer.
Basil cell carcinoma can take months or years to grow and, though it rarely spreads, it can cause disfiguring damage to the eye, ear or nose if growing close to these regions. It usually starts by looking like a small, dome-shaped bump, covered in tiny blood vessels that are shiny and translucent. The doctor will make his diagnosis by taking a biopsy of the area.
There are many treatments offered for basil cell carcinoma and the success rate is greater than 90 percent. Curettage and desiccation is the most preferred method of removing this cancer. The cancer is basically scooped out by using an instrument like a spoon, then an electrical current is applied to the area to keep the bleeding under control and kill any remaining cells of the cancer. The tumor can also be surgically removed.
Another treatment is through radiation therapy. This type of therapy is used when the cancer has formed in areas that are difficult to remove through surgery. Cryosurgery treatment is also used and the cancerous area is frozen using liquid nitrogen. With Mohs micrographic surgery, the surgeon will remove the cancer a little at a time without affecting a large portion of the healthy tissue. The cancer can also be treated by using creams directly to the affected area.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is another form of skin cancer that develops due to exposure to the sun or ultraviolet radiation. It may take years for this type of cancer to show up and, unlike basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma can spread to other parts of your body. The lower lip is an area where squamous cell carcinoma is prone to metastasize. This cancer usual begins as skin colored or red nodules that are quite firm. The most common place for this type of cancer to show up is on the forehead, cheeks, ears and backs of hands.
The doctor will take a biopsy to properly diagnosis if you have this type of cancer. The same treatments used for basal cell carcinoma are used to treat squamous cell. These are curettage and desiccation, surgical excision, radiation therapy, cryosurgery, Mohs micrographic surgery and treating the area with medical creams. Since this cancer has a possibility of spreading, it's best to get a diagnosis as early as possible so you can receive proper treatment.
Melanoma
Melanoma is the worst type of skin cancer you can have, as it spreads rapidly throughout the body and can cause death. If caught and treated early enough, melanoma can be treated by removing the affected area of skin. In a more advanced case of melanoma, the cancer may have spread to the organs and bones, and it's less likely to be cured. This cancer is listed in various stages from most curable to the most dangerous. There are five stages of melanoma, from stage 0 to stage IV, with the latter being the worse.
Where the melanoma is and whether it has spread will define which treatment will be best suited. For instance, if the melanoma is in the eye, the worse case of treatment will be in removing the eyeball. In stage IV melanoma, the cancer has spread and more than likely the treatment will be to control the symptoms instead of curing the disease. The survival rate for people developing melanoma in this stage is less than 50 percent.
Other treatments for melanoma are surgical removal of the affected area, radiation, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Once you've been diagnosed with melanoma, the treatment of it will be ongoing. More than likely, the doctor will want to continue to check on the area where the cancer was removed every couple of months for five years. Since melanoma can return, it's very important to keep up on your appointments and care of your skin.
Follow-up Care
Even though skin cancer is the most curable of all cancers, once you've had it, you're more likely to develop skin cancer again. It's important to follow your doctor's orders for regular checkups and instructions for preventing any new skin cancers. Make sure to self check you own body for signs of any new or unusual looking growths or moles. Avoiding the sun is the best way to prevent the disease, but quite often this is not possible. When outside make sure to use sunscreen and wear protective clothing to cover your exposed areas of skin.
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