Skin Cancer: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Definition
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is a skin disease caused by uncontrolled growth of skin cells. This condition occurs when DNA damage to skin cells triggers a mutation or genetic defect. As a result, skin cells multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors.
This condition most often affects sun-exposed areas of the skin. However, this type of cancer can also affect areas that are closed or are rarely exposed to sunlight. There are three main types of skin cancer namely basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
You can reduce your risk of skin cancer by avoiding exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Checking your skin and being sensitive to any suspicious changes can help detect the disease at its earliest stages. Early detection also gives you a great chance to recover from this one health problem.
How common is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is very common. This disease can affect people of all skin colors from light to dark skin.
Of the three types, basal and squamous cells attack the most. But not to worry, this health problem can be controlled by reducing the risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.
Signs & symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of skin cancer?
Skin cancer grows on skin that is exposed to the sun, including on the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the feet in women.
However, it can also form in areas that are rarely exposed, such as the palms of the hands, under the nails of your fingers or toes, and in your genital area.
The following are various symptoms and signs of skin cancer based on the type:
Basal cell carcinoma
This type of cancer usually appears in sun-exposed areas of the body such as the neck or face. Basal cell carcinoma generally presents with symptoms such as:
- The bump with a waxy appearance is slightly shiny.
- The flat lesions are flesh-colored or brown like scars.
- Recurrent bleeding wounds or scabs.
Squamous cell carcinoma
This type of cancer also appears in sun-exposed areas of the body, such as the face, ears and hands. However, dark skinned people often get this type of cancer in areas that are not exposed to sunlight.
The appearance of this cancer is usually marked by:
- Solid red nodules or bumps.
- Flat lesions with scaly and crusty surface.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a type of cancer that can develop in any part of the body, including moles. In men, this cancer usually appears on the face or upper body areas.
While in women, this cancer most often develops in the legs. However, in both men and women, melanoma can attack skin that is not exposed to sunlight.
To make it easier to recognize, here are the various signs and symptoms of melanoma:
- Large brown spots with darker freckles.
- Moles that change color or size.
- Small lesions with irregular borders and areas that appear red, pink, white, blue or blue-black.
- Painful lesions that itch or burn.
- Dark lesions on the palms, soles of the feet, fingertips or toes, the mucous membranes that line the mouth, nose, vagina or anus.
There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about certain symptoms, consult your doctor.
When to see a doctor?
Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any changes in your skin that look worrying. Take it easy, not all changes in the skin are caused by cancer.
However, of course you need to have it checked to find out the clear condition. Your doctor will investigate the changes in your skin to determine the cause.
Cause
What causes skin cancer?
Sun radiation and mutation errors in cell DNA are strongly suspected to cause skin cancer. Mutations cause cells to grow out of control to form a mass of cancer cells.
Cancer cells usually start to grow in the top layer of skin or epidermis. The epidermis has three main cell types namely:
- Squamous cells are located just below the outer surface and serve as the inner layer of the skin.
- Basal cells are underneath the squamous cells and produce new skin cells.
- Melanocytes are located at the bottom of the epidermis and are responsible for providing color pigments to the skin.
Cancer cells that grow in this layer of the skin are generally caused by excess exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV radiation can damage skin cells, making it the precursor to cancer. However, in addition, it is not certain why cancer cells can also attack a closed area.
Risk factors
What increases my risk for skin cancer?
Basically, anyone can experience this condition. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are many factors or conditions that may increase your risk of developing one of these types of cancer, including:
- Classified bright skin color.
- Areas of burned skin, thin spots on the skin, skin flushes easily, or feels sore when exposed to sunlight.
- Blue or green eye color.
- Blonde or red hair color.
- Moles of a certain type or in large quantities.
- Family medical history associated with skin cancer.
- Personal medical history related to skin cancer.
- Increasing age.
If you are not sure about the risk factors you have, there is nothing wrong with consulting a doctor. At the very least, the doctor will help you understand the health condition of the skin and help to reduce any existing risk factors.
Diagnosis & treatment
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.
How is skin cancer diagnosed?
To diagnose skin cancer, the doctor will usually examine the outer appearance. In addition, the doctor will also ask you and your family’s medical history, especially those who have had similar diseases. After that, the doctor will perform various further tests to confirm the diagnosis.
If the doctor suspects that the skin changes are cancerous, he or she will order a biopsy. This test is done by taking skin that looks suspicious for testing in a laboratory. A biopsy can determine whether you have skin cancer or not as well as determine the type.
What are the treatments for skin cancer?
Basically, skin cancer is treated according to the type and severity. Usually doctors will do a combination of several treatments to help cure this disease. The various skin cancer treatment procedures that are usually carried out, namely:
Freezing (freezing)
This procedure is done by freezing cancer cells using liquid nitrogen. Later the dead tissue will peel off by itself after some time.
Excision operation
This procedure is usually recommended for all types of skin cancer. Usually the doctor will cut the cancer tissue and some of the healthy skin around it.
Operation Mohs
This procedure is used for cancer that is more extensive, recurrent, and difficult to treat. Generally this procedure is used for squamous and basal cell carcinoma.
During this procedure, the doctor will remove the layer of skin affected by cancer cells layer by layer. The doctor will examine each layer of skin under a microscope until no abnormal cells remain.
This procedure allows cancer cells to be removed without taking in excessive amounts from the surrounding healthy skin.
Chemotherapy
In chemotherapy, drugs are used to kill cancer cells. For cancer that is only in the epidermis layer, the doctor will apply a cream or lotion that contains anticancer agents.
Meanwhile, for cells that have spread to other parts of the body, systemic chemotherapy is used. This means that the doctor gives the drug to be flowed directly into the body through an IV line.
Curettage and electrodesics
After removing most of the cancer cells, doctors also often use procedures called curettage and electrodesics. This procedure is performed using a circular knife device to lift the cells and an electric needle to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Generally this procedure is used to treat thin basal or squamous cells.
Radiation therapy
This therapy is carried out using high-powered energy rays such as X rays. Its purpose is to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is generally recommended when the cancer cannot completely go away during surgery.
Photodynamic therapy
This therapy is done by destroying cancer cells with a laser plus drug combination. The drugs used are those that can make cancer cells sensitive to light.
Biological therapy
This therapy is done by using the immune system to kill cancer cells.
Home care
What are some lifestyle changes or home treatments that can be made to support skin cancer treatment?
Apart from undergoing various types of medication that can help you to recover from this disease, there are several things you can do to speed up the healing process. Usually, doctors will advise patients to make changes to their lifestyle. Some of them are as follows.
- Use sunscreen when outdoors.
- Wear closed clothes when going out, plus a hat and sunglasses.
- Eating healthy, nutritionally balanced foods to strengthen the immune system.
- Ensuring adequate rest to restore body condition.
- Keep your mind away from stress so that your body condition doesn’t deteriorate.
Prevention
How to prevent skin cancer?
There are several things that can be done to prevent skin cancer, namely:
- Avoid being in the strongest afternoon sun exposure, 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Always use sunscreen when outdoors with an SPF of at least 30 and apply every 2 hours.
- Use closed clothes when doing outdoor activities, including hats.
- Wear sunglasses that are equipped with UV protection.
- Not often sunbathing to darken the skin tone (tanning).
- Check with your doctor regularly, especially if you have various cancer risk factors.
The skin is the outermost and protective area of the body. So, always keep your health in order to avoid various diseases that can harm you. One effective way as a form of prevention is to apply sunscreen every time you go outside the house.
If you have any questions, consult your doctor to understand the best solution according to your health condition.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
