skin cancer
Basal cell skin cancers are the most common malignancies in the United States.
They usually appear in chronically sun exposed and sun damaged areas. Common
locations include the nose, face, ears, arms, and upper chest. If caught in a
timely manner, these lesions are almost always cured by surgery or local
destruction. Any new “pimple,” scaly spot, or non-healing or bleeding sore may
be a basal cell.
Squamous cell carcinomas are not as common as basal cell cancers in most
individuals, but can be much more destructive. They are very common in persons
who have had pre-cancers (actinic keratoses) and are usually found in areas that
have a lot of chronic sun exposure. They are also common in patients who are
immunosuppressed or in organ transplant recipients. These lesions have a fairly
low metastatic rate, but lesions on the nose or on the ears can be deadly. A
spot or patch of skin that does not heal, scales, bleeds, or crusts may be a
squamous cell cancer.
Malignant melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. It starts in the
melanocyte, a pigment producing cell that is found in normal skin and in moles.
The majority of melanomas begin as cancers; however, freckles and moles may
undergo malignant transformation. Any new or changing spot or bump may represent a malignant melanoma.
Occasionally itching or bleeding will be the only sign. Most of these lesions
are pigmented (colored), but sometimes there is a lack of color. In these cases,
the lesion appears pink or flesh colored. Epidemiologists feel that melanoma is
advanced at an alarming rate.
There is a genetic tendency to get melanoma in some families. Other individuals
at higher risk include those with lots of moles or freckles, red or blond hair,
and fair skin. An increased number of sunburns in childhood and multiple
sun or tropical vacations as a child are felt to be risk factors for this cancer.
Treatment usually involves surgical removal of the melanoma or skin cancer. When these lesions
are caught early, that is often the only treatment needed. Prevention is the
best treatment. Daily sun protection in the form of long sleeves, hats,
sunglasses and sunscreen can be helpful in reducing the number of freckles,
moles and skin cancers.