Skin Cancer

Frequent exposure to the sun or ultraviolet rays (UV) rays can cause a lot of skin diseases and can cause degenerative effects such as freckles and aging acceleration. An acute effect of excessive sun exposure is erythema or more commonly known as sunburn. But the most serious effect of chronic exposure from UV rays is called Skin Cancer.

What is it?

Skin Cancer occurs when there is an abnormal growth of skin cells. It usually develops on skin areas exposed to the sun like the face, arms, hands, and chest. 

When the skin is frequently exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, 

skin cancer starts to develop as skin cells abnormally mutate on the top layer of the skin called epidermis. Although all skin types and colors can get skin cancer, people with less skin pigmentation have a higher chance to develop this type of cancer.

Signs and Symptoms

There are three types of skin cancer which are melanoma,  basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

The symptoms of melanoma are dark freckles, abnormal moles, and lesions. Basal cell carcinoma’s signs include reddish nodules and scaly flat lesions. While brownish scar lesions, abnormal bumps, and a bleeding sore may be indications of squamous cell carcinoma.

Risk Factors

Here are some factors that might increase your risk of getting skin cancer: 

• Ultraviolet light exposure, either from the sun or from tanning beds. The chances increase on individuals that have one of the following characteristics: fair skinned, blue eyes, and blond hair. The risk is at extreme levels when the area is near the equator or of high elevation where sunlight exposure is where its intensity is the highest. 

• A suppressed immune system that might come from underlying diseases such as STDs, infection, cancer, and even medications such as chemotherapy.  

• Exposure to chemicals and machines that radiate produces radiations such as arsenic & Xrays, respectively

• Certain types of sexually acquired wart virus infections

• Having a history of skin cancer can make you  have a 20% chance of developing another skin cancer for the next year

• Old age

Treatment Methods for Skin Cancer

Skin cancer can be treated by several methods. The choice of therapy depends on the location and size of the tumor, the microscopic characteristics of the cancer, and the general health of the patient.     

• Topical medications: In the case of superficial basal cell carcinomas, some creams, gels, and solutions can be used which works by stimulating the body's immune system causing it to produce interferon proteins which attack the cancer. Side effects normally do not occur to everyone but some may experience inflammation, redness, and swelling. One drawback from using topical medications as treatment is that there is no tissue available to determine if the tumor is destroyed or removed completely.

• Destruction by electrodessication and curettage (EDC): The tumor area is numbed down with anesthesia and is repeatedly scraped with a sharp instrument (curette), and the edge is then heated with an electric needle. The advantage of this method is that it is fast, easy, and relatively inexpensive. The disadvantages are that the scar is often somewhat unsightly, and the recurrence rate is as high as 15%.

• Surgical excision: The area around the tumor is numbed with a local anesthetic. A football-shaped portion of tissue including the tumor is then removed and then the wound edges are closed with stitches. 

• Mohs micrographic surgery: The site is locally anesthetized and the surgeon removes the visible tumor with a small margin of normal tissue. The tissue is immediately evaluated under a microscope and areas that demonstrate microscopic tumor activities are cut again and the margins are re-examined until no further tumor is seen. 

• Radiation therapy: This treatment uses high doses of radiation to the tumor and around it. This type of therapy does not involve any incisions and is most useful for those that are not qualified for surgical treatment or procedure. The only downside is that the area cannot be tested or evaluated if the tumor has been removed completely. Furthermore, scars that might appear from radiation might look worse over time.  This type of treatment is usually used for elderly people. 

• Other treatment methods for skin  cancers are  cryosurgery, by destroying tissue through freezing temperatures, photodynamic therapy (PDT) in which a combination of blue light and medication are used to destroy the tissue, and, laser surgery, to vaporize the skin's top layer and destroy lesions.

Is it possible to prevent skin cancer?

Skin cancer can be prevented through making sure that your skin is protected from the sun. Protection can come from sunscreens, protective clothing, and avoiding the sun at its peak hours from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Sources: 

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. “Skin Cancer.” 5 December 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/skin-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20377605. Accessed 3 May 2021.

Medicine Net. “Skin Cancer (Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer or KeratinocyteCancer)”.  3 December 2020https://www.medicinenet.com/skin_cancer_overview/article.htm