| Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin | | | | frequently develops. It is often mistaken for |
| which can have many causes. Skin cancer | | | | a sore that does not heal. |
| generally develops in the epidermis (the | | | | |
| outermost layer of skin), so a tumor is | | | | * Squamous cell carcinoma is commonly a red, |
| usually clearly visible. This makes most skin | | | | scaling, thickened patch on sun-exposed skin. |
| cancers detectable in the early stages. There | | | | Ulceration and bleeding may occur. When SCC |
| are three common types of skin cancer, each | | | | is not treated, it may develop into a large |
| of which is named after the type of skin cell | | | | mass. |
| from which it arises. The two most common | | | | |
| types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell | | | | Skin Cancer Treatment |
| cancer. It accounts for more than 75 percent | | | | |
| of all skin cancers. Squamous cell carcinomas | | | | Most skin cancers can be treated by removal |
| arise from the upper levels of the epidermis, | | | | of the lesion, making sure that the edges |
| usually on places that have been exposed to | | | | (margins) are free of the tumor cells. These |
| the sun. Squamous cell carcinoma also can | | | | excisions provide the best cure for both |
| spread internally. They account for about 20 | | | | early and high-risk disease. |
| percent of skin cancers in the United | | | | |
| States.Melanoma is generally the most serious | | | | For low-risk disease, radiation therapy and |
| form of skin cancer because it tends to | | | | cryotherapy (freezing the cancer off) can |
| spread (metastasize) throughout the body | | | | provide adequate control of the disease; |
| quickly. | | | | both, however, have lower overall cure rates |
| | | | than surgery. |
| Signs and symptoms | | | | |
| | | | Most skin cancers are removed surgically, by |
| There are a variety of different skin cancer | | | | a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist. If the |
| symptoms. These include crabs or changes in | | | | cancer is small, the procedure can be done |
| the skin that do not heal, ulcers in the | | | | quickly and easily, in an outpatient facility |
| skin, discoloration, and changes in existing | | | | or the physician's office, using local |
| moles. | | | | anesthesia. The procedure may be a simple |
| | | | excision, which usually leaves a thin, barely |
| * Basal cell carcinoma usually looks like a | | | | visible scar. Or curettage and desiccation |
| raised, smooth, pearly bump on the | | | | may be performed. In this procedure the |
| sun-exposed skin of the head, neck or | | | | cancer is scraped out with an electric |
| shoulders. Sometimes small blood vessels can | | | | current to control bleeding and kill any |
| be seen within the tumor. Crusting and | | | | remaining cancer cells. |
| bleeding in the center of the tumor | | | | |