Skin Cancer

What is it?

Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin and is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The three major types of skin cancer are the more common basal cell and squamous cell cancers and the rare malignant melanoma. Most skin cancer develops in the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin.

Who gets it?

Basal cell and squamous cell cancers affect an estimated 1.3 million people annually in the United States. Malignant melanoma is rare and strikes about 400,000 people a year. However, it is the most rapidly increasing form of cancer in the U.S. and is very deadly, accounting for 75 percent of all deaths from skin cancer. This type of skin cancer can spread to other organs, most commonly the lungs and liver.

While anyone can get skin cancer, people with certain characteristics are at a higher risk of contracting skin cancer. Risk factors include fair to light skin complexion, family or personal history of skin cancer, chronic exposure to the sun, history of sunburns early in life, a large number of atypical moles, and freckles (an indicator of sun sensitivity and sun damage).

What causes it?

While the exact cause of skin cancer is not known, many experts believe exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays is the most important factor. Some experts blame the depletion of the ozone layer for the rise in the number of skin cancer cases in recent decades. The ozone layer screens out much of the suns UV rays. Skin cancer can run in families, so genetics may also be involved.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of skin cancer include a lump or patch that grows or changes color or shape. The lump may be smooth, pale and waxy, or red, rough and scaly. Other symptoms include a sore that does not heal or an itchy lump or patch.

How is it diagnosed?

To diagnose skin cancer, the doctor may remove all or part of the suspicious lump or patch and send it to the lab for examination. This may determine whether or not the lump is cancer and what type it is.

Sometimes skin cancer is detected during a patient’s screening for skin cancer. During the screening, the doctor will look for any changes in the patient’s skin, including the appearance or size of moles, using the ABCD guidelines. A is asymmetry (shape of mole is different on each side), B is border (instead of a smooth, circular border, the mole has a jagged or irregular border), C is color (instead of being the same color, the mole contains different shades), and D is for diameter (the mole is larger than the size of a pencil eraser).

What is the treatment?

When detected early, more than 95 percent of patients with skin cancer can be treated and cured. To treat skin cancer, the doctor will surgically remove any cancerous growths that are found. The cancerous area may be replaced by a skin graft to avoid scarring. For patients diagnosed with malignant melanomas, the doctor may recommend radiation therapy or anticancer drugs (chemotherapy) in addition to surgery.

Both basal cell and squamous cell cancers are highly curable and rarely spread elsewhere. Malignant melanoma can be treated if it is detected early enough. This type of skin cancer can spread quickly to other parts of the body, at which point it becomes dangerous and hard to treat.

Self-care tips

Skin cancer is one of the easiest cancers to prevent. People who are at risk should limit their sun exposure by covering up or applying sunscreen. They should also take advantage of any skin cancer screening programs in their area; check their skin regularly for lumps or areas that change in size, shape or color; and tell their doctor if they notice any changes in their skin. The sooner skin cancer is detected, the better the chances of successful treatment, so it's important to recognize the early warning signs.