Malignant Melanoma

the most dangerous Skin Cancer

Melanoma is the less and the most serious of skin cancers. Melanoma caused death of 75% of all skin cancer cases and rising, yet, every year people who diagnosed with melanoma increased each year, in just United States there are 60,000. Melanoma tumor usually find in the melanocytes, which produces pigment, or melanin.

Melanoma skin cancer is more common in Caucasian populations living in sunny climates than in other groups, or in those who use tanning salons. According to a WHO report about 48,000 melanoma related deaths occur worldwide per year. Melanoma can also found in the anal/rectal region, in the linings of the mouth and vagina, and in the eye. Some are even found in the gut and central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

Squamous Cell

The Skin Cell That Attacked by Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell is the part of the skin that become the place one of skin cancer types and the second most common form of non-melanoma cancer that is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Squamous cell epithelium consists of very thin and flattened hexagonal cells which closely fitted like tiles of a floor. The nucleus is oval and lies in the center of the cell. This epithelium is found on the superficial layer of the skin, in the lining of the body cavity, blood vessels, walls of Bowman’s capsule. Cancer that occurs in this cell part aside of squamous cell carcinoma are basal cell carcinoma and other adnexal tumors.

Serious Condition Melanoma

Melanoma Skin Cancer

The most serious and dangerous skin cance

Among all skin cancer type’s melanoma is less common type, but melanoma is the main cause of skin cancer related deaths. Malignant melanoma is a seriously dangerous type of skin cancer; it is due to uncontrolled growth of pigment cells, called melanocytes. Despite many years of intensive laboratory and clinical research, the sole effective cure for melanoma is surgical resection of the primary tumor before it achieves a *Breslow thickness greater than 1 mm.

Skin Cancer Warning Sign and Self Examination

Before skin cancer become cancerous, there is a state where it is in "in situ" stage. So, the best thing we can do is to prevent skin cancer before it is become cancerous or at least when skin cancer still in early stage. Since, the skin cancer warning sign is pretty obvious if we want to observe it carefully.

Self examination is one of the good starts to see mole or ward that seems suspicious and can lead to early detection of skin cancer. Since, skin cancer early detected and treated in its early stages is 95% curable disease. Many dermatologists encourage people to do regular self-skin examination because research shows that this exam can lead to early detection of skin cancer, which can save your life. When skin cancer is detected early, most skin cancers can be successfully treated. Even melanoma skin cancer one of the most deadly form skin cancers have high curable percentage if detected and treated early.

Basalcell skincancer facts

Basal Cell Carcinoma facts:

• The most common type of skin cancer
  Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer; an estimated 2.8 million BCCs are diagnosed annually in the US.
• BCCs are rarely fatal or metastasis, but can be highly disfiguring if allowed to grow.

Basalcell skincancer types

Basal cell carcinoma still divides into some types


Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer type, yet it rarely metastasizes to other organ. Basal Cell Carcinoma divides into three groups, based on location and therapy difficulty:

• Superficial basal cell carcinoma
  Superficial basal cell carcinoma some might consider to be equivalent to "in-situ". It is the only type of basal cell cancer that can be effectively treated with topical chemotherapy.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Causes and Guide

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The cause and needed guide

Squamous Cell Carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer after Basal Cell Carcinoma. It concerns the older cells that have been pushed to the surface of the epidermis by the continuous healthy growth of basal cells deep within the skin. To put it simple, because of Squamous Cell carcinoma, the old skin cell doesn’t die and replaced, but it still there while the healthy one still continue growing of course with this squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer.

This type of skin cancer caused some damage to the underlying skin cells and slowly a lump or tumor will develop right under the skin. Squamous Cell Carcinoma tends to attack on the face, such as lips and ears. It can manifest itself as a bump that is thickened, scaly, red, or crusty. It could resemble a wart. If it occurs on the rim of the ear or the lip it seems to become more aggressive in its growth.

Moh's Surgery for Melanoma

Mohs Surgery is a type of skin cancer treatment that not only has a very high cure rate but also less invasive. Moh’s surgery has a very high cure rate depend on what its treat, it has the highest cure rate when treating basal cell carcinoma skin cancer, but the cure rate is lesser in treating squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer.

Basal Cell Skin Cancer Prevention

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer. Two-thirds factor of these skin cancers is sunlight, but one third in non sun exposed area. That's why, doctors recommend using sun screens.

This Skin Cancer occurs mainly in fair-skinned patients with a family history of this cancer. A chemotherapeutic agent such as 5-Fluorouracil or Imiquimod, can prevent development of skin cancer. It is usually recommended to individuals with extensive sun damage, history of multiple skin cancers, or precancerous growths. It is often repeated every 2 to 3 years to further decrease the risk of skin cancer.

Superficial Spreading Melanoma

Skin cancer is common types of cancer for people who loved sunbath or often gets expose with the sun and melanoma is also endanger those who loved tanned skin. Among all types of melanoma, superficial spreading melanoma (also known as "Superficially spreading melanoma") (SSM) is the most common form of malignant melanoma in Caucasians.

Skin Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma Facts

Skin Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma Facts:

• If left untreated, Squamous Cell Carcinoma can grows into a large mass.
• This cancer is more common in women than in men.
• Invasive squamous-cell carcinoma has the potential to recur and metastasize.
• Arsenic from industry area can increase its risk factor.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer symptoms

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) skin cancer is a form of cancer of the carcinoma type that may occur in many different organs even in a place where not exposed to the sun, including the skin, lips, mouth, esophagus, urinary bladder, prostate, lungs, vagina, and cervix. Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer usually grows very slow and the symptoms very hard to notice, especially when they appear on skin that has other signs of sun damage. Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer symptoms may also mistake for actinic keratosis, since it has similar symptoms and appear after years of sun exposure. Some of actinic keratosis may eventually develop into squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer.

Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer treatment

Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer is number second most common skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma. This skin cancer appears when the older cells pushed to the surface of the epidermis by the continuous healthy growth of basal cells deep within the skin. To put it simple, because of Squamous Cell carcinoma skin cancer, the old skin cell doesn’t die and replaced, but it still there while the healthy one continue growing and pushed outside.

Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer caused some damage to the underlying skin cells and slowly a lump or tumor will develop right under the skin. Squamous Cell Carcinoma tends to attack on the face, such as lips and ears. It can manifest itself as a bump that is thickened, scaly, red, or crusty. It could resemble a wart. If it occurs on the rim of the ear or the lip it seems to become more aggressive in its growth.

Basal Cell Carcinoma treatment moh's Surgery

Mohs Micrographic Surgery or just Mohs Surgery is the most advanced and effective treatment procedure for skin cancer available today. It is an outpatient procedure in which the tumor is surgically excised and then immediately examined under a microscope. It said that Mohs surgery has a high cure rate compared to other skin cancer treatment. It is a good treatment for basal cell carcinoma.


The base and edges are microscopically examined to verify sufficient margins before the surgical repair of the site. If the margins are insufficient, more is removed from the patient until the margins are sufficient.

Basal Cell Treatment Standard Surgical Excision

Standard surgical excision usually uses either:

• Frozen section histology, or
• Parafin embedded fixed tissue pathology

Standard Surgical Excision is a preferred removal method of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and/or for this skin cancer treatment. The cure rate for this method, whether done by a plastic surgeon, family doctor, or dermatologist is totally dependent on the surgical margin. When standard surgical margin is applied (usually 4 mm or more) a high cure rate can be achieved with standard excision. The narrower the free surgical margin (skin removed that is free of visible tumor) the higher the recurrence rate.

Basal Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer Treatment Options

Basal cell carcinoma skin cancer is the most common type of skin cancer, although it's rarely kills its victims, the disfigurement that caused by basal cell carcinoma is quite distressing.

Basal cell carcinoma skin cancer usually treats with the following skin cancer treatment:

1. Moh's Surgery
2. Chemotherapy
3. Standard Surgical Excision
4. Immunotherapy
5. Radiation

Skin Cancer Treatment Hope for Melanoma

The finding of Malignant Melanoma Cure

Good news for us, scientists has developed a drug that can treat melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer in its most advanced, incurable stages. They called this melanoma drug PLX4032 (R7204).

PLX4032 is still experimental drug, due to research it could help many patients with incurable disease live longer with the disease in check, early trial results suggest. Roche and Plexxikon presented the work at a renowned US cancer meeting.

Melanoma Skin Cancer Facts

Malignant Melanoma Skin Cancer Facts:

1. Seventh most common cancer in the United States.
2. One out of every 105 Americans born in 1991 will develop malignant melanoma (compared to 1 out of 1,500 in 1935).
3. It is more common in Caucasian populations living in sunny climates than in other groups, or in those who use tanning salons.
4. According to a WHO report about 48,000 melanoma related deaths occur worldwide per year.
5. Around 60,000 new cases of invasive melanoma are diagnosed in the US each year, more frequently in males and in Caucasians.
6. Most common cancer in young adults age 25-29.
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Skin Cancer Melanoma Stage

Melanoma Stage o:

• Known as “cancer in situ,” meaning the lesion contains cancer cells in only the outer layer of skin
• Also called noninvasive cancer

Melanoma Stage 1A/IA :

• Size is less than 1.0 mm or smaller
• Has no ulceration
• Is Clark’s level II or III*

Melanoma Symptoms and Signs

The primary symptom of melanoma skin cancer is a mole, sore, lump, or growth on the skin. Any change in appearance of a pigmented skin sore over time is a warning sign of malignant melanoma.


To understand melanoma symptoms, remember ABCD system:

• Asymmetry: One half of the abnormal area is different from the other half.
• Borders: The lesion or growth has irregular edges.
  
  

Melanoma Causes and Risk Factors

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer and the one that caused most of death in skin cancer. Up until now, no one knows what the exact cause of melanoma is. However, based on study on several groups who had melanoma skin cancer, there are several risk factors that can increase in getting melanoma:

• Race
  Caucasians 5-20 fold increased melanoma risk over Africans, East Asians, Hispanics.
• Family History
  Multiple genetic events have been related to the pathogenesis of melanoma. People who there is a family that has melanoma history has 10% more melanoma risk.
• Environment/geographic location
  People who live in place with a lot of sun exposure have a higher melanoma risk.
  
  

Melanoma Diagnosis

Melanoma  known as the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Melanoma appearance of this skin cancer has similarity with moles, but there is an easy way to distinguish melanoma from normal moles. The way to distinguish usually called ABCDE technique or five signs of melanoma skin cancer.

To detect melanomas (and increase survival rates), it is recommended to learn what they look like (see "ABCD" diagnosis below), to be aware of moles and check for changes (shape, size, color, itching or bleeding) and to show any suspicious moles to a doctor with an interest and skills in skin malignancy.

Melanoma Types

There are 4 major melanoma classification types that have distinct characteristics  and potential for metastasis:

1. Superficial Spreading Melanoma (SSM)
   Superficial Spreading Melanoma (SSM) is the most common form of melanoma skin cancer, counting 70% of all melanomas. Superficial Spreading Melanoma mostly found at people at the age of fiftieths. This melanoma skin cancer type is more commonly found on the trunk, upper arms,  and thighs, and is the  most common form of melanoma in white races. When this melanoma type in early stage its usually appear flat, with irregular borders. Superficial Spreading Melanoma remains in the  flat phase for a shorter period of time than the lentigo maligna type  before it penetrates into the deeper levels of the skin.
   

Melanomas Skin Cancer Treatment

Melanoma successful treatment result may vary depends on the stage of melanoma. The early stage it got, the melanoma treatment successful rate also gets higher. Melanoma treatment also depend on the stage, most patient with thin, localized melanomas are treated by surgery. But still, early detection still remains the best weapon to treat melanoma skin cancer.

For malignant melanoma that in advanced stage, the treatment focused on:

• Shrinking or getting rid of metastases
• Preventing the disease from spreading
• Keeping you comfortable

Basal Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) skin cancer is the most common skin cancer but rarely kills its patients. Basal cell carcinoma skin cancer still considered as malignant since its can cause disfigurement and destruction by invading the surrounding tissues. Basal cell carcinoma skin cancer usually occurs in the place where often exposed to the sun.

80% of basal cell carcinoma cases are attacking neck and head. Just like melanoma, basal cell skin cancer cases had increased at dramatic rate.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The second most common cancer of the skin

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) skin cancer develops from keratinocytes, flat, scale like skin cells that lie under the top layer of the epidermis. The majority of squamous cell carcinomas occur on sun exposed areas, especially the forehead, temple, ears, neck, and back of the hands. People who have spent considerable time sunbathing may develop them on their lower legs.

Melanoma Skin Cancer

Rarer Compared other type, but the most lethal

Melanoma incidence is the less among skin cancer type, but it is the most serious. Melanoma caused death of 75% of all skin cancer cases and rising, yet, every year people who diagnosed with melanoma increased each year, in just United States there are 60,000. Melanoma tumor usually find in the melanocytes, which produces pigment, or melanin.

Melanoma skin cancer is more common in Caucasian populations living in sunny climates than in other groups, or in those who use tanning salons. According to a WHO report about 48,000 melanoma related deaths occur worldwide per year. Melanoma can also found in the anal/rectal region, in the linings of the mouth and vagina, and in the eye. Some are even found in the gut and central nervous systi (brain and spinal cord).

Skin Cancer Treatment

Skin Cancer treatment is very dependent on the skin cancer type, location of the skin cancer, age of the patient, and if the cancer is primary or recurrence. Each Type of skin cancer has their own treatment, one treatment may good to treat  a skin cancer type, but not showing a good result to others. That's why patient should consider at the specific type of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or melanoma) of concern in order to determine the correct treatment required.

Skin Cancer Treatment management that often chooses:
For low-risk skin cancer:

• Rradiation therapy 
• External beam radiotherapy 
• Brachytherapy
• Topical chemotherapy
  Often uses imiquimod or 5-fluorouracil
  

Skin Cancer Symptoms and Signs

Skin cancer mostly attacks part of our body that often exposed directly or indirectly to the sun. However, skin cancer can also occurs on areas that rarely exposed to the sun, such as; palms, genital area, fingernails, or even tongue.

A cancerous skin lesion can appear suddenly or develop slowly. Its appearance depends on the type of cancer.

Skin Cancer Types

There are three main types of skin cancer that classified by the types of epidermal cells involved:

• Skin Cancer Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
  It develops from abnormal growth of the cells in the lowest layer of the epidermis and is the most common type of skin cancer. In most cases, basal cell carcinoma skin cancer appears on head and neck. Even though, this skin cancer rarely caused death, but basal cell carcinoma skin cancer can cause disfigurement by invading surrounding tissues and it's patient are increasing rapidly each year and it can cause significant destruction.
  

Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer is one of the most common cancer, this cancer is very common in United states. At least one of five people in United States get skin cancer in life time. There is skin cancer type that rarely kill it sufferer, but the other type will kill it victims. Skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), so skin cancer is usually clearly visible. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the Unites States. Known risk factors for skin cancer include the following:

• Complexion: Skin cancers are more common in people with light-colored skin, hair, and eyes.
• Genetics: Having a family history of melanoma increases the risk of developing this cancer.
• Age: Nonmelanoma skin cancers are more common after age 40.