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