Information on Skin Cancer

What is skin cancer?

It is a disease where cancer (malignant) cells are found in the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). Skin cancers can develop from a build-up of sun exposure over the years. There are 3 types of skin cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs on areas exposed to the sun. People with fair complexions who do not tan easily, are most at risk. Basal cell cancers do not usually spread through the body although it can spread below to the bone. Normally it's not life threatening but should be treated immediately.

Early Detection

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has concluded that there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against routine screening (total-body examination by a clinician) to detect skin cancers early. However, USPSTF does recommend 1) that clinicians be aware that fair-skinned men and women aged 65 and older, and people with atypical moles or more than 50 moles, are at greater risk for developing melanoma and 2) that clinicians remain alert for skin abnormalities when conducting physical examinations for other purposes.

Skin cancers include melanoma, basal cell, and squamous cell. Basal and squamous cell are common and treatment is very effective; malignant melanoma, especially in later stages of melanoma, is serious and treatment is difficult. Sun exposure is the biggest cause of melanoma and other skin cancers, but early diagnosis and treatment can increase the survival rate from melanoma. Learn about the signs of all skin cancers, and familiarize yourself with pictures of skin cancer so you can spot it early.

Consider High-Tech Clothing

When selecting clothes for sun protection, consider fabrics that have been specially treated with chemical UV absorbers, known as colorless dyes. These prevent some penetration of both UVB and UVA rays. A number of manufacturers are now making special sun-protective clothing that has been treated with a chemical sunblock during the manufacturing process. In addition, they use fabrics of the weave and colors that provide protection best. The garments are designed to cover as much of the skin as possible.

Skin cancer treatment

The amount of skin to be taken off the site of the mole depends on how large the melanoma was and how close the borders were to the first incision. A parameter of one to two inches in an elliptical shape is typically removed. Depending on the location of the mole, there could be some skin grafting required. Overall, the amount of skin taken off isn’t as radical as it used to be now that more research has been done to determine recovery rates with varying degrees of wide excision.

Next, depending on the size of the melanoma, you may only have follow-up visits with your dermatologist and/or oncologist or you may need more thorough treatment. Some doctors want to perform a sentinel node biopsy prior to a wide excision to determine the accurate drainage pattern of the lymphatic system. What this determines is how the lymph system flows around where the melanoma was and thus tells them which way the cancer might be spreading. But, some physicians practice sentinel node biopsy for lesions over 1.0 mm to try to be certain the cancer has not spread.