Melanoma skin cancer

Malignant Melanoma

2010-09-29T03:21:00.000-07:00

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).

Any of these areas can develop melanoma, but much less commonly than the skin. It is quite common, however, for a melanoma starting in the skin to spread ("metastasize") to the aforientioned areas. The area where a cancer first starts is called the "primary site", as distinguished from later areas of spread. The "primary site" is usually apparent for most cancers, but not uncommonly it remains "occult" in melanoma-- the first sign of disease being distant metastasis. Thus, it is common to first detect metastatic melanoma in the lung, bone or brain, although its occult primary site was probably the skin.

In adulthood, Skin cells divide more slowly to replace cells that have died either from old age or injury. New skin cells arise at the deepest level of the skin, and gradually push their way upwards toward the surface as they mature. The main types of cells found within the skin are basal cells, which form the bottom layer, squamous cells, which push toward the surface to form the skin we see, and melanocytes, which produce melanin pigment that colors the skin. If specific types of gene damage occur in a cell, it can start dividing out of control. When cells divide quickly, they tend to pile up to form a lump, called a "tumor".

A tumor merely means an abnormal swelling; it can be caused by infection, inflammation, or just about anything and is usually not cancer. A "benign" tumor only grows in its local area (albeit quite large), it cannot spread distantly and is not cancer. In contrast, a "malignant" tumor has the ability to spread to anywhere in the body, and this is cancer. This process of spread is called "metastasis", and is what makes cancer so dangerous. Ultimately, cancer starts in a single cell and is a disease of its genes. Any type of skin cell can give rise to skin cancer, when their reproduction goes out of control, and they divide in a disorganized way. When basal or squamous cells become cancerous, they are called carcinomas, while when the melanocytes become cancerous, this is called melanoma, which has such a different character that it is a different topic from other skin cancers.

Squamous Cell

2010-09-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

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.

Squamous cell carcinoma will not causing more problems if it diagnosed and treated early. However, if this skin cancer left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma can grow large or spread to other parts of your body, causing serious complications.

The cause of squamous cell carcinoma is sun exposure; the incidence of this skin cancer is rising every year. Most squamous cell carcinomas result from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, either from sunlight or from tanning beds or lamps. The best things to prevent squamous cell carcinoma by avoiding UV light as much as possible. Sunscreen is an important part of a sun-safety program, but by itself doesn't completely prevent squamous cell carcinoma or other types of skin cancer.

Just in this year, over 1 million people diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in United States. The risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma increases when a person also has one or more of these risk factors:

Fair skin.
Blonde or red hair; blue or green eyes.
History of indoor tanning.
Diagnosed with actinic keratosis (AKs).
Family history of skin cancer.
Weakened immune system (immune-suppression).
Received radiation therapy.
History of exposure to coal tar products or arsenic.

The risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma also increases with age because each exposure to harmful UV rays causes more damage to the skin. As this damage accumulates, the risk of developing skin cancer grows.

You may interest in our article about Melanoma

Serious Condition Melanoma

2010-09-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

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.

When melanoma is confined to the outer layer of skin, it is curable in 90% of cases. But if melanoma is unchecked it can continue to spread to lymph and blood vessels, which increases the likelihood of its affecting distant sites in the body.

Individuals most at risk for melanoma tend to have a fair or freckled complexion, blond hair with blue, green or gray eyes, skin that burns easily, a history of sunburn, especially as a child or teenager, and a family history of melanoma.

Malignant melanoma accounts for 75% of all deaths associated with skin cancer. According to WHO, around 160,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed nationally every year, and Melanoma more frequent in males and Caucasians. It's because of Caucasian populations living in sunny climates than in other groups, and also WHO report about 48,000 melanoma related deaths occur worldwide per year.

* Breslow's depth is used as a prognostic factor in melanoma of the skin. It is a description of how deeply tumor cells have invaded.

Skin Cancer Warning Sign and Self Examination

2010-06-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

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.

The best time to do self examination is after a shower or bath. Make sure when you checking skin in a room with plenty of light, use a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror. It's best to begin by learning where your birthmarks, moles, and other marks.

This self examination for skin cancer means checking your own skin every three to six months. It's useful to know any abnormal growth or unusual changes in the size, color, shape or texture of your skin which might be sign of skin cancer. It is important for you or your partner to look carefully whole body as skin cancer can occur anywhere.

Check for anything change:

New mole (whether it's looks different from other moles).
New red or darker color flaky patch that have diameter larger than 3 millimeters.
New flesh-colored firm bump.
The change of the size, shape, color, or feel of a mole.
Sore that does not heal normally.

Body area you should check:

Make sure to check yourself from head to toe. Don't forget to check your back, scalp, genital area, and between your buttocks.
Look at your face, neck, ears, and scalp. You may want to use a comb or a blow dryer to move your hair so that you can see better, or ask help your family or friend to check it. Well, if you do it yourself, it may be hard to check your scalp by yourself.
Look at the front and back of your body in the mirror. Then, raise your arms and look at your left and right sides.
Bend your elbows. Look carefully at your fingernails, palms, forearms (including the undersides), and upper arms.
Examine the back, front, and sides of your legs. Also look around your genital area and between your buttocks.
Sit and closely examine your feet, including your toenails, your soles, and the spaces between your toes.

The self-skin exam takes no more than 8 to 10 minutes, but that 10 minutes could save your life. The best time to do self-skin exam is at the time of taking bath or after a shower. If you are concerned about developing any form of skin cancer, consult your primary health care provider or dermatologist as soon as possible.

Main Article - Skin Cancer Melanoma Diagnosis

Basalcell skincancer facts

2010-06-06T18:27:00.000-07:00

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.
Can cause massive disfigurement, but rarely metastasis and fatal.
More common in Caucasian
Only two-thirds of basal cell carcinomas skin cancer occur on sun-exposed areas of the body, one-third occur on areas of the body that are not exposed to sunlight.
It is often difficult to distinguish basal cell cancer from acne scar, actinic elastosis, and recent cryodestruction inflammation, skin biopsy often needed.
Unlike Melanoma, basal cell carcinoma caused by DNA damage.
It is much more common in fair-skinned individuals with a family history of basal cell cancer and increases in incidence closer to the equator or at higher altitude.

Main Article - Basal Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer Types

Basalcell skincancer types

2010-06-05T16:31:00.000-07:00

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.
Infiltrative basal cell carcinoma
Unlike superficial basal cell carcinoma, its more difficult to treat with conservative methods. Infiltrative basal cell carcinoma often encompasses morpheaform and micronodular basal cell cancer.
Nodular basal cell cancer
Nodular basal cell cancer is essentially including most the remaining categories of basal cell cancer. It is not unusual to encounter morphologic features of several variants of basal cell cancer in the same tumor.

Basal cell carcinomas also divide into another classification, includes these following types:

1. Nodular basal cell carcinoma (Classic basal cell carcinoma)
2. Cystic basal cell carcinoma
3. Cicatricial basal cell carcinoma (Morpheaform basal cell carcinoma, Morphoeic basal cell carcinoma)
4. Infiltrative basal cell carcinoma
5. Micronodular basal cell carcinoma
6. Superficial basal cell carcinoma (Superficial multicentric basal cell carcinoma)
7. Pigmented basal cell carcinoma
8. Rodent ulcer (Jacobi ulcer)
9. Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus
10. Polypoid basal cell carcinoma
11. Pore-like basal cell carcinoma
12. Aberrant basal cell carcinoma

Main article - Basal Cell Carcinoma Prevention

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Causes and Guide

2010-06-04T05:04:00.000-07:00

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.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) seems to be a skin cancer that affects more men than women. Also, this type of skin cancer occurs more often with individuals who are fair-skinned and who are older than sixty years of age. However, Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) can affect anyone who lives in a warmer climate or whose work and/or play keep them outdoors in the sun a great deal.

Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer has peculiar character, such as this type of skin cancer tends to be less invasive if found on skin that is sun-damaged by sun exposure than if it is found on a part of the body that does not normally get the same exposure to the sun. Doesn’t matter which one squamous cell carcinoma caused, it still need a lot of concern.

Causes

The causes of squamous cell carcinoma can include such carcinogenic sources such as:

1. the accumulated lifetime exposure to the sun’s harmful rays,
2. a reaction to treatments for psoriasis that includes using Psoralen or Ultraviolet A radiation,
3. exposure to radiation from radiotherapy,
4. chemicals such as arsenic,
5. the human papilloma virus, and
6. Smoking.

Some genetic factors can also play a role in causing squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer if the individual inherits the DNA defect called xeroderma pigmentosa wherein the cells have difficulty repairing themselves. Or they have very little pigment coloring such as in albinism that leaves them extremely sensitive to the sun.

Other problem areas are if a person has wounds from an injury or other thermal type burn that refuses to heal well or if they are more vulnerable due to taking anti-rejection drugs after a transplant and their immune system is greatly lowered.

As with basal cell carcinoma this cancer is treated according to the location, size and grade of the tumor or lesion. The age and health of the patient is also considered. The treatment consists basically of surgical options. Simple excision may be used if the area is small and has not spread.

If the carcinoma is larger, on or near sensitive areas such as an eyelid, has been left untreated for a long time, or is in danger of recurring the doctor may opt to use what is called the Moh’s Technique which means that he will slowly remove the lesion or tumor by slicing it in layers. He or she will do this until they are certain to have gotten all the tumor and they have reached healthy tissue.

At times the physician may feel that radiation is needed to be certain that any surrounding cancer cells are killed or it may be necessary if the lymph nodes are at risk. It may also help with larger tumors and be a replacement for surgery if the patient is unable or unwilling to accept it.

In some cases where the cancer may have spread to other parts of the body it will be necessary to include chemotherapy to kill the radical cells.

Main Article - Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer Facts

Moh's Surgery for Melanoma

2010-06-03T02:58:00.000-07:00

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.

Mohs surgery can also be used to treating melanoma. However, moh’s surgery has a higher cure rate if treating melanoma in situ. It has been used in the removal of melanoma-in-situ (cure rate 77% to 98% depending on surgeon), and certain types of melanoma (cure rate 52%). Another study of melanoma-in-situ revealed Mohs cure rate of 95% for frozen section Mohs, and 98 to 99% for fixed tissue Mohs method. In situ is a condition that a cancer is still not become cancer yet.

However, mohs surgery is appropriate when:

The skin cancer is in an area where it is important to preserve healthy tissue for maximum functional and cosmetic result, such as: eyelids, nose, ears, lips, fingers, toes, genitals.
The skin cancer was treated previously and recurred.
Scar tissue exists in the area of the cancer.
The skin cancer is large.
The edges of the cancer cannot be clearly defined.
The skin cancer is growing rapidly or uncontrollably.

Main Article - Moh's Surgery

Basal Cell Skin Cancer Prevention

2010-06-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

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.

How to Diagnose?

To diagnose basal cell carcinomas, a skin biopsy is taken for pathological study. The most common method is a shave biopsy under local anesthesia. Most nodular basal cell cancers can be diagnosed clinically; however, other variants can be very difficult to distinguish from benign lesions such as intradermal nevus, sebaceomas, fibrous papules, early acne scars, and hypertrophic scarring.

Main Article - Basal Cell Carcinoma Moh's Surgery

Superficial Spreading Melanoma

2010-05-29T01:26:00.000-07:00

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.

Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) usually diagnosed when people who got it at age of 50, and it is occur on part of body that often expose to the sun, especially on the backs of males and lower limbs of females.

Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) can be evolved from a precursor lesion, usually a dysplastic nevus. Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) also can arise in previously normal skin. When superficial spreading melanoma in prolonged radial growth phase, its lesion remains thin. However, superficial spreading melanoma may eventually be followed by a vertical growth phase where the lesion becomes thick and nodular. As the risk of spread varies with the thickness, early Superficial spreading melanoma is more frequently cured than late nodular melanoma.

The microscopic hallmarks are:

Large melanocytic cells with nest formation along the dermo-epidermal junction.
Invasion of the upper epidermis in a pagetoid fashion (discohesive single cell growth).
The pattern of rete ridges is often effaced.
Invasion of the dermis by atypical, pleomorphic melanocytes
Absence of the 'maturation' typical of naevus cells
Mitoses

Superficial spreading melanoma Treatment

Superficial spreading melanoma treatment is usually done by excisional biopsy, wide local excision and possibly sentinels node biopsy. Spread of disease to local lymph nodes or distant sites (typically brain, bone, skin and lung) marks a decidedly poor prognosis.

Main article - Melanoma Skin Cancer Fact

Skin Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma Facts

2010-05-28T04:51:00.000-07:00

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.

The direct DNA damage is responsible for causing of Squamous cell carcinoma.
Sunscreen shows can protect from this skin cancer.
SCC makes skin cell cannot die, rather than stay in the place while the healthy skin cell continuously growing.
This skin cancer tends to attack on the face, such as lips and ears.
Squamous cell carcinoma can be characterized as either in situ (confined to the original site) or invasive, depending on whether the cancer invades underlying tissues; only invasive cancers are able to spread to other organs and cause metastasis. Squamous cell carcinoma in situ are also called Bowen's disease.
The incidence of SCC increases with age and the peak incidence is usually around 66 years old.
This skin cancer can be mistaken with keratoacanthoma or a wart.
Large lesions (>2 cm in diameter) recur at a rate of 15 percent, which is twice that of smaller lesions, and they metastasize at a rate of 30 percent, three times that of smaller lesions.
A long term prognosis of Squamous cell carcinoma often poor.
The treatment that offers the highest rates of cure for patients with high-risk primary or recurrent squamous-cell carcinoma is Mohs’ micrographic surgery.

Main article - Squamous Cell Carcinoma Symptoms

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer symptoms

2010-05-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

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 symptoms usually begin as a small nodule and as it enlarges the center becomes necrotic and sloughs and the nodule turns into an ulcer.

* Bump that may have rough, scaly surface and flat reddish patches, it’s a common symptom of skin cancer squamous cell carcinoma
* On the lip, the tumor forms a small ulcer, which fails to heal and bleeds intermittently
* The lesion caused by SCC is often asymptomatic
* The tumor may be in the form of a hard plaque or a papule, often with an opalescent quality
* Ulcer or reddish skin plaque that is slow growing
* Usually the tumor presents as an ulcerated lesion with hard, raised edges
* The tumor commonly presents on sun-exposed areas such as back of the hand, scalp, and lip
* Evidence of chronic skin photo damage, such as multiple actinic keratosis (solar keratosis)

Unlike Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) skin cancer, Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) skin cancer has a high risk of metastasis to another organ. Risk of metastasis is higher in SCC arising in scars, on the lower lips or mucosa, and occurring in immune-suppressed patients. About *one-third of lingual and mucosal tumors metastasize before diagnosis (these are often related to tobacco and alcohol use).

Main Article - Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment

Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer treatment

2010-05-17T04:18:00.000-07:00

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.

The treatment for squamous cell cancer carcinoma is mainly use surgery, although few selected cases are treated with topical medication. Surgical excision with a free margin of healthy tissue is a frequent treatment modality. Radiotherapy, given as external beam radiotherapy or as brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy), can also be used to treat squamous cell carcinomas.

There are other option of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer Treatment:

Moh's surgery is still used, even though the cure rate is not very high.
Radiation therapy often used afterward in high risk cancer or patient types.
Electrodessication and curettage or EDC, usually use to treat squamous cell carcinoma that known to be non-aggressive.
Imiquimod (Aldara) has been used with success for squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the skin and the penis, but the morbidity and discomfort of the treatment is severe. An advantage is the cosmetic result: after treatment, the skin resembles normal skin without the usual scarring and morbidity associated with standard excision. Imiquimod is not FDA-approved for any squamous cell carcinoma.

Main Article: Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer

Basal Cell Carcinoma treatment moh's Surgery

2010-05-15T03:28:00.000-07:00

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.

However, mohs surgery procedure usually performed by specially trained surgeons who have completed at least one additional year of fellowship training (in addition to the physician's three-year dermatology residency) under the tutelage of a Mohs College member.

With the Mohs technique, physicians are able to see beyond the visible disease, to precisely identify and remove the entire tumor layer by layer while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact and unharmed. As the most exact and precise method of tumor removal, it minimizes the chance of re-growth and lessens the potential for scarring or disfigurement.

Because the physician is specially trained in surgery, pathology, and reconstruction, Mohs surgery has the highest success rate of all treatments for skin cancer - up to 99 percent. The Mohs technique is also the treatment of choice for cancers of the face and other sensitive areas as it relies on the accuracy of a microscopic surgical procedure to trace the edges of the cancer and ensure complete removal of all tumors down to the roots during the initial surgery. Mohs surgery also used for squamous cell carcinoma; however, the cure rate is not as high as Mohs surgery for basal cell carcinoma.

Main article - Standard Surgical Excision

Basal Cell Treatment Standard Surgical Excision

2010-05-14T03:01:00.000-07:00

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.

This skin cancer treatment has a weakness that is a high recurrence rate of basal cell cancers of the face, especially around eyelids, nose, and facial structures. On the face, or on recurrent basal cell cancer after previous surgery, special surgical margin controlled processing (Mohs surgery is one of the methods) is required. With surgical margin controlled frozen section histology, a surgeon can achieve a high cure rate and low recurrence rate on the same day of the excision.

However, most standard surgical excisions done in a plastic surgeon or dermatologist's office are sent to an outside laboratory for standard bread loafing method of processing. This method has a high "false negative" rate due to the random sampling of the tumour. For cosmetic reasons, many doctors take only very small surgical margins 1-2 mm, especially when facial tumour is being removed. A pathology report from such a case indicating "margins free of residual tumour", often is inaccurate, and a high recurrence rate of up to 38% might occur.

When in doubt, a patient should demand that either Mohs surgery or frozen section histology with either margin control or thin serial bread-loafing is utilized when dealing with a tumour on the face. The pathologist processing the frozen section specimen should cut multiple sections through the block to minimize the false negative error rate. Or one should simply process the tissue utilizing a method approximating the Mohs method during frozen section processing.

However, this method is difficult when applied to frozen sections; and is very tedious to process. When not utilizing frozen section, the patient might have to wait a week or more, before informing the patient if more tumors are left, or if the surgical margin is too narrow. And a second surgery must be performed to remove the residual or potential residual tumour once the surgeon inform the patient of the positive or narrow surgical margin on the surgical pathology report.

Main Article - Basal Cell Carcinoma Treatment Option

Basal Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer Treatment Options

2010-05-13T02:42:00.001-07:00

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:

Moh's Surgery
Chemotherapy
Standard Surgical Excision
Immunotherapy
Radiation

Moh's Surgery

Some people claimed that Moh's Surgery has a very high cure rate as skin cancer treatment, up to 98%. Moh's surgery works by surgically excising the tumor and then immediately examined under a microscope. 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. Moh's surgery is also used for squamous cell carcinoma, however, the cure rate is not as high as Moh's surgery for basal cell carcinoma.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy as skin cancer treatment usually uses 5-fluorouracil. Skin cancer topical treatment with 5% Imiquimod cream, with five applications per week for six weeks has a reported 70-90% success rate at reducing, even removing, the basal cell carcinoma skin cancer. Chemotherapy often used after Moh's surgery to eliminate the residual superficial basal cell carcinoma after the invasive portion is removed.

Standard surgical excision

Standard surgical excision is the most preferred method in treating basal cell carcinoma, even among all basal cell carcinoma skin cancer treatment. The cure rate of this skin cancer treatment depends on surgical margin, and when standard surgical margin is applied (usually 4 mm or more), a high cure rate can be achieved with standard excision.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy research suggests that treatment using Euphorbia peplus, a common garden weed, may be effective. Australian biopharmaceutical company Peplin is developing this as topical treatment for BCC.

Radiation

Radiation therapy can be used to treat all type of basal cell carcinoma skin cancer. The cure rate that radiation has is up to 95% for small tumor, or 80% for big tumor.

Main Article: Basal Cell Carcinoma Skin cancer

Skin Cancer Treatment Hope for Melanoma

2010-05-12T02:08:00.000-07:00

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.

These drugs will also helping skin cancer patient in UK, since malignant melanoma is the most rapidly increasing cancer in the UK, largely due to sun exposure.

PLX4032 works by seeking out and destroying tumor cells carrying the BRAF mutation implicated in 60% malignant melanomas. This could not only help to shrink the skin cancer, but also delay its spread. Currently, only a small proportion of people - less than 5% - live more than two years if their cancer has spread around the body.

Main article - Melanoma Skin Cancer Facts

Melanoma Skin Cancer Facts

2010-05-12T02:04:00.000-07:00

Malignant Melanoma Skin Cancer Facts:

Seventh most common cancer in the United States.
One out of every 105 Americans born in 1991 will develop malignant melanoma (compared to 1 out of 1,500 in 1935).
It 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.
Around 60,000 new cases of invasive melanoma are diagnosed in the US each year, more frequently in males and in Caucasians.
Most common cancer in young adults age 25-29.
Among women age 30-35, incidence is exceeded only by breast cancer.
Incidence increasing 4% annually, higher than any other cancer.
On average, one melanoma death in the U.S. per hour.
Increase is the result of recreational sun exposure, thinning of the ozone layer, and better detection.
The vast majority of mutations found in melanoma are caused by ultraviolet radiation.
The incidence of many common cancers is falling, but the incidence of melanoma continues to rise significantly, at a rate faster than that of any of the seven most common cancers.
Approximately 68,720 melanomas will be diagnosed this year, with nearly 8,650 resulting in death, compared with 47,700 cases in 2000, according to the CDC.
Melanoma accounts for about three percent of skin cancer cases,³¹ but it causes more than 75 percent of skin cancer deaths.
Melanoma mortality increased by about 33 percent from 1975-90, but has remained relatively stable since 1990.
Survival with melanoma increased from 49 percent between 1950 and 1954 to 92 percent between 1996 and 2003.
More than 20 Americans die each day from skin cancer, primarily melanoma. One person dies of melanoma almost every hour (every 62 minutes).
The survival rate for patients whose melanoma is detected early, before the tumor has penetrated the epidermis, is about 99 percent. The survival rate falls to 15 percent for those with advanced disease.
Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer for males and sixth most common for females.
Women aged 39 and under have a higher probability of developing melanoma than any other cancer except breast cancer.
Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old.
About 65 percent of melanoma cases can be attributed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
One in 55 people will be diagnosed with melanoma during their lifetime.
One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life.
A person's risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns at any age.

Main article - Melanoma Causes and Risk Factors

Skin Cancer Melanoma Stage

2010-05-10T03:11:00.000-07:00

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 Stage 1B/IB:

Size is less than 1.0 mm or smaller and has ulceration or Clark’s level IV or V invasion*
Or, the size is between 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm and has ulceration

Melanoma Stage 2A/IIA:

Size is between 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm and has ulceration
Or, the size is between 2.0 mm and 4.0 mm and has no ulceration

Melanoma Stage 2B/IIB:

Size is between 2.0 mm and 4.0 mm and has ulceration
Or, the size is larger than 4.0 mm and has no ulceration

Melanoma Stage 2C/IIC:

Size is larger than 4.0 mm and has ulceration

Melanoma Stage 3/III:

Any tumor size
The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and/or there is in-transit or satellite involvement
Has not spread to other parts of the body

Melanoma Stage 4/IV/Final:

Any tumor size
The cancer has spread to other parts of the body beyond the regional lymph nodes

*Clark's Level:

Melanoma confined to the epidermis (melanoma in situ)
Invasion into the papillary dermis
Invasion to the junction of the papillary and reticular dermis
Invasion into the reticular dermis
Invasion into the subcutaneous fat

Main Article: Melanoma Symptoms and Signs

Melanoma Symptoms and Signs

2010-05-10T03:07:00.000-07:00

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.
Color: Color changes from one area to another, with shades of tan, brown, or black (sometimes white, red, or blue). A mixture of colors may appear within one sore.
Diameter: The trouble spot is usually (but not always) larger than 6 mm in diameter -- about the size of a pencil eraser.

There are also other symptoms of melanoma that connect with moles you should consider:

Scaliness
Itching
Change in texture — for instance, becoming hard or lumpy
Spreading of pigment from the mole into the surrounding skin
Oozing or bleeding

Malignant moles vary greatly in appearance. Some may show all of the changes listed above, while others may have only one or two unusual characteristics. The key to treating melanoma is recognizing symptoms early. You might not notice a small spot of concern if you don't look carefully, so perform thorough self-examinations monthly, and schedule a formal skin exam with a dermatologist yearly.

Main article: Melanoma Diagnosis

Melanoma Causes and Risk Factors

2010-05-10T03:03:00.000-07:00

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.
Nevi ("moles")
Moles in themselves will increase the risk for skin melanoma. About 70% of skin melanoma has a pre-existing mole at the cancer site; this is one reason why one of the famous "7 signs of cancer" includes a change in a wart or mole. Interestingly, people continue to develop nevi throughout life. By age age 30, men have about 40 nevi that were not present at birth, mostly on the trunk and arms. This is one reason why the incidence of melanoma increases with age. Fortunately, only one of a million moles becomes malignant.
Skin pigmentation and propensity for sunburn
Chronic Irritation is the underlying the development of many types of cancer. Irritants include chiicals ("carcinogens"), sunburn, or tanning bed, ultraviolet light, radiation, and trauma causing scars to form in an area. Anything that damages cells over time will cause specific ones in damaged area to divide and try to repair damage. The more divisions, the more chance of something going awry in the division mechanism leading to uncontrolled growth -- this is cancer and starts with a "screw-up" in just a single cell. Thus anything which is continuously irritating (i.e. cigarette smoke, b sunlight) should be avoided to minimize the risk of developing any type of cancer over time.

Main article: Melanoma Sub-types

Melanoma Diagnosis

2010-05-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

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.
A popular method for remembering the signs and symptoms of melanoma is the screening "ABCDE":

Asymmetrical skin lesion.
Border of the lesion is irregular.
Color: melanomas usually have multiple colors.
Diameter: moles greater than 6 mm are more likely to be melanomas than smaller moles.
Enlarging: Enlarging or evolving

The five signs of melanoma skin cancer is indeed a very easy to use and do it at home, but its not a perfect method. There is a weakness in this method, the weakness in five signs of melanoma skin cancer is in diameter. Many melanoma cases has the diameter less than 6mm and likely all melanoma were malignant on day one growth, which is merely a dot.

When melanoma diagnosed a physician will examine all abnormal moles, including ones less than 6mm in diameter. This may lead to mistake with seborrheic keratosis, since this disease may meet some or all of the ABCDE skin cancer criteria and give false alarms among lay people. But its suggested to go to experienced doctor, since an experienced doctor more likely can distinguish seborrheic keratosis from melanoma upon examination, or with dermatoscopy.

Main Article: Melanoma Treatment

Melanoma Types

2010-05-06T01:53:00.000-07:00

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

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.

Lentigo Maligna Melanoma (LMM).
Lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) count 10% of all melanoma cases that arises from lentigo maligna. This melanoma type is found most commonly on sun-exposed skin in elderly individuals (median age, 70 years). Lentigo maligna melanoma grows very slow, it needs about 5 to 15 years to develop into an invasive melanoma.
Nodular Melanoma (NM)
Nodular melanoma (NM) counting 15% overall and the most aggressive among all melanoma types. This melanoma type can appear anywhere on the body and occurs more often in males than females. It can develop at any age; however, it is most often seen in people aged 60 and older. Nodular melanoma does not have a radial growth phase and is associated with rapid evolution to vertical growth and invasion of the dermis. For this reason, nodular melanomas tend to be thicker, more high-risk lesions.
Acral Lentiginous Melanoma (ALM).
Acral lentiginous melanoma usually occurs on the palms, soles, and subungual regions. Unlike other forms of melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma does not appear to be linked to sun exposure. This melanoma type count 5% of all cutaneous melanomas. Acral lentiginous melanoma constitutes a substantially higher proportion of melanomas in dark-skinned individuals such as African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics.

Other Type of Melanoma:

Polypoid melanoma
Desmoplastic melanoma
Amelanotic melanoma
Soft-tissue melanoma
Mucosal melanoma
Melanoma with small nevus-like cells
Melanoma with features of a Spitz nevus
Uveal melanoma

Main Article: Melanoma Cancer Stage

Melanomas Skin Cancer Treatment

2010-05-05T04:28:00.000-07:00

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

In most of melanoma cases, it is not possible to completely eliminate or cure the melanoma skin cancer. Depending upon where and how big the metastases are, melanoma treatment may involve medical treatments (chemotherapy or immunotherapy), surgery, or radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments may be given alone or in combination. Most of these treatments must be given into a vein (intravenously) or injected under the skin, although a few can be given in pill form. Each medication is given over a period of time, often several months or more, depending upon how you respond.

Melanoma Treatment that often used:

Surgery
Surgery usually is used as the first step for melanoma treatment. Most of surgical excisions are also called resections. The side effect of this treatment usually a small scars. Surgery is very effective in treating early stage of melanoma, but it is not a cure because metastatic melanoma usually spreads to many different places throughout the body.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy played quite role in melanoma treatment. Radiation therapy often used to treat advanced melanoma after surgical excision. However, radiation may put the patient at risk for future non-melanoma skin cancers.
Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy

Main Article: Malignant Melanoma

Basal Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer

2010-05-04T04:37:00.000-07:00

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.

Basal Cell Carcinoma skin cancer signs and symptoms:

This skin cancer usually looks like a raised, smooth, pearly bump on the sun-exposed skin of the head, neck or shoulders.
Sometimes small blood vessels can be seen within the tumor. Crusting and bleeding in the center of the tumor frequently develops. It is often mistaken for a sore that does not heal.
This form of skin cancer is the least deadly and with proper treatment can be completely eliminated with not so much as a single scar.

Prevalence and Risk Factors. Basal cell carcinoma occurs in 800,000 people every year, and 30% of people, almost exclusively Caucasians, can expect to have basal cell carcinoma, on average, by age 55. Some experts posit that genetic mutations caused by factors other than sunlight may also contribute to basal cell cancer.

Interestingly, a 2001 study reported that people with more wrinkles were less likely to develop basal cell carcinomas, even among highrisk groups. Some experts suggest that people prone to wrinkles may respond to sun exposure with biologic mechanisms that protect against basal cell carcinoma. More research is needed confirm this.

Main Article - Skin Cancer Types

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer

2010-05-04T04:33:00.000-07:00

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.

Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer occurs in many different organs, such as mouth, prostate, lung, lips, tongue. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) also called Bowens’ disease, this skin cancer also able to spread away through blood vessels. This skin cancer can break away, leak, or spill from a primary tumor, enter lymphatic and blood vessels, circulate through the bloodstream, and settle down to grow new skin cancer within normal tissues elsewhere in the body, or called Metastasis. Metastasis is one of three hallmarks of malignancy (contrast benign tumors).

Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer patients vary with race, gender, age, genetics and geography. In gender, male have 2:1 ratio compare to females, since most women are love to sunbathe and ignoring the danger of skin cancer. Caucasians are more likely to be affected by skin cancer, especially those with fair Celtic skin, if chronically exposed to UV radiation. Exposure to arsenic in well water or from industrial sources may significantly increase the risk of squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer.

Main article: Types of skin cancer

Melanoma Skin Cancer

2010-05-03T19:33:00.000-07:00

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).

Any of these areas can develop melanoma, but much less commonly than the skin. It is quite common, however, for a melanoma starting in the skin to spread ("metastasize") to the aforientioned areas. The area where a cancer first starts is called the "primary site", as distinguished from later areas of spread. The "primary site" is usually apparent for most cancers, but not uncommonly it riains "occult" in melanoma-- the first sign of disease being distant metastasis. Thus, it is common to first detect metastatic melanoma in the lung, bone or brain, although its occult primary site was probably the skin.

In adulthood, Skin cells divide more slowly to replace cells that have died either from old age or injury. New skin cells arise at the deepest level of the skin, and gradually push their way upwards toward the surface as they mature. The main types of cells found within the skin are basal cells, which form the bottom layer, squamous cells, which push toward the surface to form the skin we see, and melanocytes, which produce melanin pigment that colors the skin. If specific types of gene damage occur in a cell, it can start dividing out of control. When cells divide quickly, they tend to pile up to form a lump, called a "tumor".

A tumor merely means an abnormal swelling; it can be caused by infection, inflammation, or just about anything and is usually not cancer. A "benign" tumor only grows in its local area (albeit quite large), it cannot spread distantly and is not cancer. In contrast, a "malignant" tumor has the ability to spread to anywhere in the body, and this is cancer. This process of spread is called "metastasis", and is what makes cancer so dangerous. Ultimately, cancer starts in a single cell and and is a disease of its genes. Any type of skin cell can give rise to skin cancer, when their reproduction goes out of control, and they divide in a disorganized way. When basal or squamous cells become cancerous, they are called carcinomas, while when the melanocytes become cancerous, this is called melanoma, which has such a different character that it is a different topic from other skin cancers.

Main Article: Skin Cancer Types

Skin Cancer Treatment

2010-05-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

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
Cryotherapy
It can provide adequate control of the disease; both, however, may have lower overall cure rates than certain type of surgery.

Other modalities of treatment such as photodynamic therapy, topical chemotherapy, electrodessication and curettage can be found in the discussions of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Moh's Surgery
Mohs' micrographic surgery (Mohs surgery) is a technique used to remove the cancer with the least amount of surrounding tissue and the edges are checked immediately to see if tumor is found. This skin cancer treatment provides the opportunity to remove the least amount of tissue and provide the best cosmetically favorable results.

If skin cancer has spread (metastasized), further surgical procedures or chemotherapy may be required.

Main Article: Cancer of Skin

Skin Cancer Symptoms and Signs

2010-05-03T18:39:00.000-07:00

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 symptoms are varying due its types. These include changes in the skin that do not heal, ulceration in the skin, discolored skin, and changes in existing moles, such as jagged edges to the mole and enlargement of the mole.

Basal cell carcinoma skin cancer symptoms
When basal cell carcinoma occurs, the symptoms that looks like a raised, smooth, pearly bump on the sun-exposed skin of the head, neck or shoulders. This skin cancer symptoms may also shows times small blood vessels can be seen within the tumor. Crusting and bleeding in the center of the tumor frequently develops. It is often mistaken for a sore that does not heal. This form of skin cancer is the least deadly and with proper treatment can be completely eliminated, often without scarring. (Learn more...)

Squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer symptoms
The skin cancer symptoms that commonly shows are red, scaling, thickened patch on sun-exposed skin. Some of these symptoms are firm hard nodules and dome shaped. Ulceration and bleeding may occur. When squamous cell carcinoma is not treated, it may develop into a large mass. Squamous cell is the second most common skin cancer. It is dangerous, but not nearly as dangerous as a melanoma.

Melanoma skin cancer symptoms
Malignant melanoma symptoms mostly are brown to black looking lesions. Unfortunately, some melanoma skin cancer symptoms are pink, red or fleshy in color; these are called amelanotic melanomas. Warning signs that might indicate a malignant melanoma include change in size, shape, color or elevation of a mole. Other melanoma skin cancer signs are the appearance of a new mole during adulthood or new pain, itching, ulceration or bleeding. (learn more...)

Main Article: Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer Types

2010-05-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

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 Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common cancer of the skin (after basal cell carcinoma but more common than melanoma). It usually occurs in area that often expose to the sun. Squamous Cell Carcinoma skin cancer involves changes in the squamous cells, found in the middle layer of the epidermis, such as lips and ears. This skin cancer often able to spread out to another organ and growing a new one.
Melanoma
Melanoma skin cancer occurs in the melanocytes (cells that produce pigment) and is less common than squamous or basal cell carcinoma skin cancer, but Melanoma skin cancer is the deadliest compared to of skin disease. Around 60,000 new cases of invasive melanoma are diagnosed in the US each year, more frequently in males and in Caucasians. It 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.

Main Article: Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer

2010-05-03T18:10:00.000-07:00

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.
Sun exposure and sunburn: Most skin cancers occur on areas of the skin that are regularly exposed to sunlight or other ultraviolet radiation. This is considered the primary cause of all skin cancers.

There are three common and likely types of skin cancer, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises. Unlike many other cancers, including those originating in the lung, pancreas, and stomach, only a small minority of those afflicted will actually die of the disease. Skin cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed cancer, surpassing lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Melanoma is less common than basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, but it is the most serious—for example, in the UK there are 9,500 new cases of melanoma each year, and 2,300 deaths.

Almost 85% of skin cancer, caused by UV radiation from the sun. The majority of these are called basal cell carcinomas. These are usually localised growths caused by excessive cumulative exposure to the sun and do not tend to spread. It mean for the first protection, protect yourself by using a good clothing to protect yourself from skin cancer, or using a sun screen.