Skin

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. It can develop on any part of the skin, including the lips, scalp, and nails. Skin cancer begins when skin cells mutate or change and grow out of control. These abnormal cells often form a tumor, which can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body, but malignant tumors can spread to nearby tissues and organs, causing serious health problems.

Skin cancer is generally caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. UV radiation damages the DNA in skin cells, causing mutations that can lead to cancer. People with fair skin are at greater risk for skin cancer, but anyone can develop the disease. There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common types of skin cancer, and they are usually treatable if detected early.

Melanoma, the most common kind of cancer, is typically called “cancer of the skin.” If you have skin cancer, it’s critical to know what type you have because it will influence your treatment choices and prognosis (outlook). Ask your doctor if you’re unsure which form of skin cancer you have.

Skin cancer develops primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms, and hands, and on the legs in women. But it can also form on areas that rarely see the light of day — your palms, beneath your fingernails or toenails, and your genital area.

Skin cancer affects people of all skin tones, including those with darker complexions. When melanoma occurs in people with dark skin tones, it’s more likely to occur in areas not normally exposed to the sun, such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms.

Basal cell carcinoma is most commonly found in areas of your body that are exposed to the sun, such as your neck or face. Basal cell carcinomas may appear as:

Squamous cell carcinoma signs and symptoms.

People with fairer skin develop squamous cell carcinoma more often in sun-exposed areas, such as the face, ears, and hands. However, those with darker skin are just as likely to get it in places that don’t see much sunlight. Squamous cell carcinoma usually appears as:

Melanoma signs and symptoms

Melanoma is a type of cancer that can develop in any part of the body, including on normal skin or an existing mole. In men, it most often appears on the face or trunk. For women, this type of cancer typically develops on the lower legs. Even people who haven’t been exposed to sunlight can get melanoma.

Skin tone does not matter when it comes to developing melanoma—it can affect anyone regardless of their complexion. However, for those with darker skin tones, this cancer is more likely to occur on the palms or soles, under fingernails or toenails, and in other places not commonly associated with exposure to UV light.

There are several signs associated with melanoma:

Signs and symptoms of less common skin cancers

Some other types of skin cancer include:

Your doctor may conduct a variety of tests to identify skin cancer.

There are five stages of skin cancer: 0, I, II, III, and IV. Some stages have subgroups which are represented by letters A through D. The higher the number or letter, the more extensive the disease and (generally) the worse prognosis. For example, Stage II is more serious than Stage I, and Stage IIIC is more serious than Stage IIIB.

Depending on the size, type, depth, and location of the skin cancer or actinic keratosis growths, your treatment choices may differ. Small surface skin cancers that are confined to the surface of the skin might not require additional treatment unless a complete excision is required. If further therapy is required, it might be:

Cancer treatments may cause skin and nail changes. Talk with your health care team to learn what side effects your treatment may cause. While skin problems caused by radiation therapy and chemotherapy are often mild, they may be more severe if you are receiving a stem cell transplant, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. Let your health care team know promptly of any noticeable skin changes so they can treat them accordingly.

If a tumor is too large or in a difficult-to-reach area, radiation therapy may be the best solution. For patients who cannot go through surgery for other health reasons, radiation therapy can still offer many benefits. Oftentimes, small basal or squamous cell skin cancers can be cured and advanced cancer growths can be delayed with radiation therapy.

Radiation may also be utilized in tandem with other therapies. After surgery, for example, radiation can be used as an adjuvant (additional) therapy to destroy any small cancer cells that may not have been visible during the operation. This lowers the chance of cancer recurring after surgery. Radiation might also be used to help treat skin cancer that has spread to lymph nodes or other organs.

If you have non-melanoma skin cancer, you may be concerned about your chances of survival. A prognosis is the doctor’s best guess at how a person’s cancer will affect him or her and how it will respond to therapy. Many things influence the prognosis and survival. Only a physician with comprehensive knowledge of your medical history, type, size, and grade of the tumor, as well as treatments chosen and response to treatment, can combine all this information with existing statistics in order to compute a prognosis.

A prognostic marker is a feature of the cancer or a quality of the patient that the physician will consider when determining a prognosis. Prognostic indicators assist doctors in predicting a prognosis and developing treatment plans.

Prognostic factors help doctors classify basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma into risk groups. The risk groups tell the doctor how likely it is that cancer will come back (recur). Doctors also use them to plan treatment.

Most non-melanoma skin cancers have a good prognosis. The following are predictive characteristics for non-melanoma skin cancer.

Although skin cancer can affect anyone, people with certain characteristics are more likely to develop the disease:

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 3.5 million skin cancers are diagnosed each year. While the chances of developing skin cancer can be affected by factors like family history and sun exposure, there are several things that everyone can do to reduce their risk.

First, it’s important to avoid excess sun exposure and to wear sunscreen when outdoors. Additionally, wearing protective clothing like hats and long sleeves can help to block out harmful UV rays. And finally, regularly checking your skin for changes can help you catch any potential problems early on. By taking these simple steps, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.

After receiving a skin cancer diagnosis, you may feel scared or alone. But with our team of experienced doctors and nurses by your side, you can rest assured that you are getting the best possible treatment. We understand that each patient is unique and deserves their own individual care plan. So we will work closely with you to find the best option for your situation.

Don’t worry, we will help you through this difficult time. We will develop a plan that gives you the best chance for a full recovery, and if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us.